Connect with Crop Protection Candidates

15+ years’ agricultural sales experience in crop protection. Strong sales growth with both independent and cooperative retailers. Works closely with customers to grow and foster relationships. Works closely with clients in the development and execution of business plans.

District Sales Manager

Specialized Chemical Distributor

3 Years

 

· Responsible for sales and profitability of chemical adjuvant, nutritional and seed treatment portfolio in 3 state area

· Key Account Manager for Growmark in 6 State area.

· Collaborated efficiently and effectively with distributor, wholesale and retail customers

· Responsibilities included key account management and development/ implementation of marketing/training programs at the district level

· Developed strong relationships within the Growmark Leadership Team

• Received sales leadership award for high performance

· Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a large sales geography

Education

Bachelor of Science - Agriculture

A driven account manager has worked in the agriculture industry for over 27 years. Expertise includes Product Development, Build & Launch Experience, Strong Technical Chemical & Agronomy Skills, Strategic Territory and Business Planning, Consultative Selling to Consumers and Retailers, Excellent Written & Verbal Communication Skills, and Strength in Collaboration & Teaming.

Business Account Manager

BASF

3 Years – Current Employer

· Selected as account manager to establish and build new business segment and territory.

· Top Sales Territory in US in 2020 with growth and volume.

· Account management position to develop seed business and soybean portfolio with key retailers in a 50-county territory to build brand recognition, grower establishment, grew soybean volume 233% in 2 years.

· Interim Regional Sales Lead in the absence of direct manager. Managed team of 6 account managers with program launch, sales monitoring, communication to executive leadership team.

· Created seed and soybean portfolio recommendation guides to provide customized product information at the local level for growers and retailers.

· Responsible for building brand awareness by developing marketing strategies with print, social media communication and agronomy workshops.

· Manage 15 key retail business accounts by developing business plans, pricing structures, product portfolios with company and division leads and provide sales development and leadership to 175 sales personnel, covering 61 locations.

· Build multi segment go to market strategy with 3 key product areas of seed, seed treatment and crop protection to bring growers and retailers a comprehensive portfolio.

Innovation Specialist

BASF

4 Years

· Established newly implemented role within BASF to bring product information, agronomic and technical solutions to growers and retailers.

· Exceeded sales goals 3 consecutive years to grow sales territory in highly competitive, mature agricultural chemical industry.

· Developed geo-targeted marketing tactics utilizing print, radio, direct mail and social media to bring product information and new technologies to growers and retailers at the local level.

· Built full-farm relationships through multi-service/product platform including chemistry, seed, precision equipment, agronomy and technology.

· Built and executed trade shows, agronomy workshops, retail kick off meetings for communication of new products and market introductions for sales area.

· Launch new products and programs to retailers and consumers by differentiating and localizing marketing strategies.

· Educated consumers on new active ingredients and formulations by building targeted promotions.

· Collaborated with national product management team to develop new product launch campaign to bring new herbicide formulation to market.

· Member of HR boarding task force, develop programs, prepare BASF internship and PDP hires.

· Member of Customer Experience Management (CXM) task force providing field-based knowledge and grower focused ideas, improving customer programs, processes and ultimate experience.

Co-Owner

Family Farm

27 Years – Current Employer

· Currently manage corn and soybean production on family farm in partnership with siblings.

• Collaborate and advise on seed, chemistry and fertilizer inputs.

· Experience with custom alfalfa mowing, raking and bailing operation.

· Oversaw livestock production with cattle and farrow to finish hog operation.

District Sales Manager

Monsanto-Dekalb

3 Years

· Managed direct selling with Ag retailers and Independent Seed Dealers to develop $25 million row crop territory comprised of four counties.

· Built relationships and strategic business plans as team lead to collaborate and coordinate efforts of multiple Ag Coop retail locations, across 3 territories and 2 states in the absence of key account manager.

· Ensured effective product placement and program utilization while managing resources through communication with dealers and growers.

· Developed and executed local marketing campaigns including billboards, postcards, radio platforms, trade shows, built brand and product awareness.

· Drove sales through developing relationships with growers and dealers, built product knowledge, utilized programs with concise follow up.

· Created, conducted new seller training for retail seed sellers on tactics, products, programs, agronomy.

· Provided customer service at dealer and grower level from business development to in-field diagnostics.

Creator/Co-Owner

Container Company

3 Yeas

· Directed product development, sourcing, vendor selection and quality control. Managed web-based business with shopping cart, merchant services and gateway applications.

· Realized market void for eco-friendly lunch products amongst environmentally-conscience families.

· Developed and launched website, marketed reusable products to consumers and wholesalers.

· Grew and sold entrepreneurial business with several accounts, including Whole Foods stores, with national distribution.

Marketing And Retail Consultant

6 Years

· Provided vision and innovative marketing ideas to consumer product companies including American Greetings, Sears, and Crate & Barrel.

· Consulted on merchandising, distribution communication, pricing, and promotion tactics.

· Supported new product launches in a strategic, hands-on manner with sales responsibility to clients and their customers.

• Lead and managed teams of demand planners, assistant buyers in absence of managers.

· Excelled at the sales persuasion process through customer relationship building and providing value added products and services.

Group Product Development

Clothing Wholesaler

13 Years

· Progressed through numerous corporate positions. From Assistant Buyer to Product Line Financial Planner, Associate Buyer, Customer Service Liaison, Product Development Buyer, Program Manager, Merchandise System Team Lead, and Group Product Development. This progression was the result of effective job performance, resulting in increased profitability and efficiency for the company.

· Created and executed product development for home interior products in direct market media to grow sales volume over 50%.

· Identified new market opportunities and increased space allocation for direct marketing by 40%.

• Handled the creative development of product assortment for $65M department for 200+ pages.

· Managed domestic and international vendor communication on quality assurance, product sampling and price negotiations growing new product lines to $20M.

· Analyzed business to determine buying needs on inventory positions, sales projections, budget levels, and liquidation and lead times for a $25M department to achieve and exceed goals.

 

Associate Product Manager

Clothing Store

2 Years

· Developed women’s cross training apparel department and youth soccer and fitness departments to bring emerging categories to 32 stores across the nation.

· Identified trends and consumer demand through customer focus groups, consumer analytics and market awareness.

· Developed product lines with suppliers Nike, Reebok, Adidas through design collaboration, inventory forecasting, and retail store displays.

· Built and managed pricing and sell through execution through seasonal and promotional marketing programs.

· Grew women’s cross training and youth soccer/fitness to $13M.

Corn Marketing Board

· Member of the ethanol team to promote and raise consumer awareness of ethanol through public speaking opportunities with media, organizations and schools.

Education

Bachelor of Science; Marketing, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Continuing Education Strategic Agri-Marketing Course

Proficient with Salesforce, Microsoft programs of Word, PowerPoint and Excel, Tableau

Honest, personable, and energetic Sales Professional with extensive track record of increasing sales 15% to 25% year-over-year while maintaining high margins. Dedicated and up-to-date with knowledge of products in the agricultural chemical/fertilizer industry. Demonstrated success establishing rapport and providing excellent customer service. Goal-oriented, strategic seller with excellent communication skills.

Retail Market Manager

Chemical Manufacturing Company

15 Years – Current Employer

· Manage sales territory, establishing growth by marketing a portfolio of agricultural products and developing new market segments in the Pacific Northwest.

• Develop and execute account plan, negotiating to meet sales targets.

· Represent company and products at industry trade shows. Obtain and communicate market information related to sales volumes.

· Prepare sales presentations, call plans, proposals, and reports for internal and external communications.

· Achieved $4M to $20M in annual sales. Grew sales 15% to 25% on average consistently.

· Won sales award for top performance 3 years

· Worked within budget constraints each and every year through cost consciousness.

· Frequently served on product launch teams, crop segment teams, and market program teams.

· Successfully handled crop complaints while maintaining good relations with customers.

· Educated customers with the information needed to properly use products. Amassed record with very few crop complaints.

Sales Representative

Chemical Manufacturing Company

2 Years

· Sold foliar fertilizers, plant growth regulators, and spray adjuvants to distributors and retailers in a 7-state territory.

· Achieved sales ranging from $280K to $440K through persistence and strong work ethic.

· Realized 55% growth in first year through effective prospecting and sales strategy.

• Quickly built productive, trust-based relationships and rapport with key customers.

Sales Representative / Certified Crop Advisor

Crop Protection Company

6 Years

· Provided hands-on technical expertise to growers regarding crop protection and fertilizer products.

· Helped to identify potential risks for problems and give grower solutions.

• Coordinated application of chemical/fertilizer products on fields.
• Provided recommendations for crop protection and fertilizer.

· Crops included potatoes, corn, alfalfa, legumes, asparagus, wheat, cereals, and grasses.

· Started from small customer base and grew it steadily to a sustainable, respectable, and profitable customer base. Earned the trust of customers in making tough decisions.

· Increased annual sales 500% in 4 years using effective sales approaches based on established expertise, culminating in sales exceeding $2M annually.

· Ranked in the Top 5 Representatives in annual sales, gross profit, and sales growth for the Inland Division in 2001 – 2003.

Research & Development Technician

Crop Protection Company

2 Years

· Managed irrigated crop research demonstrations and trials in collaboration with Agronomist and crop advisors. Participated in ongoing product research, marketing, and program development.

· Designed and conducted field trials on row and dry land crops for effective adaptation of new agricultural products and procedures into farming operations.

· Monitored experiments, analyzed and evaluated research data and prepared reports.

Sales Trainee

Simplot

1 Year

· Provided technical support for crop consultants (pulling tissue and soil samples, chemigation, etc.).

• Monitored the fields and set up tanks for fertilizer and pesticide applications.

Education

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Agricultural Business

Minors: Business Administration, Agricultural Economics

Licenses

Certified Crop Advisor

Pest Consultant License

Thirty years of professional leadership experience in crop protection, seeds, traits and crop nutrients have resulted in successfully navigating cross-functional organizations while quickly earning the respect and trust of internal and external stakeholders in key business segments across the globe. Key roles of increasing responsibility include Global Marketing, Business Strategy, Brand and Product Management, Corporate Communications, Organizational Design, Technical Service, Field Research, Sales and Sales Leadership Strategic Account Management, Price Modeling, Customer Segmentation, Forecasting, Product Launches, Market Research, Channel Approach, and CRM Strategies.

Manager of District Sales

Bayer

3 Years

· Led field-based team of 8 Sales Representatives and 2 Customer Business Advisors responsible for achieving sales targets, business planning while stewarding all aspects of the business across 4 states.

· Designed, vetted and implemented localized customer incentives to grow sales of branded seed, crop protection and traits in all key segments.

· Increased sales across all product segments by $33M, market share by 2%, exceeded targets by 6+% annually while managing to OPEX.

· Forged strong business relationships with top 20 retail CEOs, key crop consulting companies, distributors and trade organizations.

· Attracted 2 key competitive sales reps as fulltime members to the district, 3 interns chosen US Intern of the Year for their projects.

· Successfully led the field launch of a brand soybeans, developed forecasts, production plans and retail channel structure.

· Managed an insecticide broadacre marketing launch tactics, trainings and forecast for sugarcane aphid control in sorghum.

· Developed, vetted and created training materials to launch a new Retail and Grower Stratification based sales incentive program.

· Designed and implemented new CRM software to utilize Grower Point of Sale (GPOS) data measuring joint business plan success.

· Led the successful launch of a fungicide.

· Appointed to the US Corn Marketing team that designed, vetted and presented marketing and product lifecycle plans to key stakeholders.

· Appointed to herbicide relaunch team to develop value propositions and tactics vs. private label offerings.

· Member of the US People Management Leadership team that developed tools and metrics to attract and retain top talent.

VP of Global Marketing

Fertilizer Producer

1 Year

· Designed and led a global team of 12 MBA-level managers to create strategic marketing tactics, market research, price elasticity models, brand management, private label and brand licensing strategies, CRM data management, communications and design through global agencies.

· Developed marketing P&L, global budgets, product brand valuation, brand health, matrix goals utilizing price elasticity by market share targets.

· Responsible for collaboration with a cross-functional team leading to the successful launch of four new proprietary nitrogen stabilizer brands and integration of five newly acquired poly-coated stabilized fertilizer brands.

· Guided design and implementation of brand standards, ensuring brand adherence and IP protection of company and product branding while evaluating R&D product advancement timelines for product lifecycle adjustments with value propositions.

· Developed global customer relationships with strategic account sales and marketing counterparts, industry trade associations, research and university ambassadors while managing compliance and legal accuracy based on scientific panel reviews.

· Presented at company leadership meetings to assess global vision, strategy and value of acquisition and capital investment proposals.

· Experience in UK, Australia, Germany, Holland, France, South and Central America, Asia, South Africa, Morocco and Middle East.

Strategic Account Manager

Monsanto

6 Year

• Responsible for the relationship and customer experience overseeing the management, licensing and business planning of Corn States germplasm/trait combinations and national seed brands with leading strategic accounts.
• Led design, training and execution of multi-brand marketing strategies, driving results to exceed LRP goals.
• Led seed production plan to maximize germplasm and trait mix budgeting for projected unit needs for cotton, corn, soy, and alfalfa crops.
• Developed and communicated Corn States trait and germplasm pricing strategies along with national seed brands to develop marketing, finance and marketplace initiatives with strategic account senior leadership, product management, production planners and sales.
• Prepared customers to develop strategies to successfully move to agronomic system selling approaches.
• Managed all aspects of Monsanto’s largest CPP territory measured in dollars sales and geography.
• Managed sales and product allocations for Western US
• Designed and implement incentives growing Harness^® herbicide 616% and Roundup ^® herbicide brands 342% in 4 crop years.
• Developed strategies and tactics through retail and wholesale accounts coordinated through National Account teams.

Herbicide Manager

Monsanto

2 Years

• Brand, product and business manager for all herbicide brands
• Managed all aspects of herbicide brands including product management, price modeling, promotional strategies, North America channel placement, retail/grower sales tactics leading to brand share growth from 32% to 58% while exceeding GP targets.
• Product management lead and developed strategic direction on all U.S. branded glyphosates, premixes, salts and formulation innovations, glyphosate forecasting, LRP planning along with annual financial budgets tested through market research computer simulation.
• Planned, created and delivered all regional, national and global sales targets, strategies and channel sales incentive tactics to drive value.
• Led U.S. market research that designed and analyzed phased crop protection brand and brand health projects to measure price to value, price elasticity, volume, market share, share mix and tactical response rates.
• Measured market conditions, product innovations, forecasting and competitor activity to adjust marketing and sales tactics through collaboration with U.S. area sales managers to deliver performance and quarterly business targets.

Technical Marketing Manager

Monsanto

2 Years

· Managed all aspects of a Monsanto’s research farms in territory along with three US satellite research farms.

· Led a team of 8 masters level members summarizing data into information for TV, radio and print generated from US research protocols.

· Presented materials to Wall Street analyst, company new hires, industry association seminars and industry research associates.

· Develop and manage all SG&A, capital requests and employee development plans and incentives.

Learning Center Manager

Monsanto

2 Years

· Managed 65 acres on research farm to demonstrate and train groups on agronomic systems, traits, herbicides and germplasm.

· Led a team of 5 research agronomist managing all SG&A, capital requests and Learning Center employees and summer intern projects.

· Designed, implemented and trained guests using extensive systems trials with ~1,500 international and U.S. participants annually.

· Developed US wide marketing/TD exchange hosting senior managers to review research results, investor groups and global conferences.

Local Market Manager

Monsanto

5 Years

• Responsible for managing all aspects of the second largest seed and CPP sales territory located across five counties in NW Iowa.

• Member of initial commercial launch team developing tactics to support and capture herbicide traits.

Midwest Market Manager

BASF Corp.

1 Year

• Responsible for developing and managing dealer & distributor incentive program and sales budgets across eleven Midwest states.
• Completed National Segmentation Analysis, managed seven brand launches with agency support across the corn, alfalfa and soybean markets.
• Designed and implemented all promotional marketing concepts and programs for existing and new product introductions for N. America.
• Responsible for content and presentations at national sales meetings, distributor summits and technical review sessions.

Communications Manager

BASF Corp.

1 Year

• Managed three technical sales reps and two administrative assistants along with hiring, training and managing four interns.
• First line of response for herbicide recommendations, label requests and technical information for North America.
• Designed US based computer-generated geographic herbicide recommendation tool and newsletters.

Sales Representative

BASF Corp.

2 Years

• Responsible for dealer account relationships in 22 counties across 3 states.
• Responsible for forecasting, customer relationships balancing costs increasing sales 230% while reducing cost by 17%.

Technical Service Representative

BASF Corp.

4 Years

· Responsible for gaining field insights on pest control for crop and rangeland acres across North and South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.

· Implemented university grant and aid work, individual protocol development, conducted and summarized research trials on core crops.

Education

Masters of Science - Agriculture Sciences

Bachelor of Science - Crop and Weed Science