Connect with Seed Candidates

I have over 15 years experience in the seed industry with extensive knowledge of Agriculture production and production plant operations. I have developed skills in contract negotiation and strategic planning. I pride myself on my excellent communication, organizing and planning skills, and leadership skills. I also hold a Chemical Applicator’s License with Field Crop, Seed Treatment and Grain Facility Endorsement.

Account Manager

DuPont Pioneer
9 Years – Current Employer

• Create and execute sales strategy to support business goals
• Manage competitive pricing adjustment budget
• Provide leadership and vision for sales reps within district
• Identify coaching opportunities to drive sales activity, build customer relationships and promote Pioneer brand products and services
• Set standards and hold individuals accountable for established performance expectations
• Provide agronomy services and perform direct selling activities as a model, coach and leader for sales reps.
• Identify customer and prospect opportunities, set strategy for sales reps to capitalize on these opportunities
• Lead cross functional work stream to maximize business and grower market share within the LeRoy grower base and production team

Field Operations Manager

DuPont Pioneer
4 Years

• Serve as primary field contact for seed production, including grower management, support acreage planning, contracting and quality control
• Coach growers in developing production management programs to enhance grower profitability and overall production yield
• Manage acre allocations to growers and all aspects of grower contracts (implementation, price elections, contract elections, contract questions, payment problems)
• Coordinate an Integrated Pest Management program including hiring and managing scouts, and developing a cost effective, environmentally sound method of enhancing yields.
• Manage Detasseling daily work load, cutters, pullers and crews.
• Coordinate Harvest operations locally and incoming.
• Scheduling, moisture testing, defoliation, field studies
• Maintain knowledge of current agronomic practices, grain markets, and agricultural programs.

Field Manager and Safety Coordinator

Seed Research & Production Company
2 Years

• Assess safety concerns throughout the plant and in production field; hold monthly safety meetings and field safety meeting to address concerns, suggestions, and new regulations
• Oversee seed field planting/maintenance, harvest activities (preparation, sorting, drying, shelling, etc.)
• Managed grading tower and seed treatment operations while managing throughput at the bagger line to keep up with the tower.
• Work within team environment to promote accurate workmanship, participate in process improvement, facilitate positive working relationships among fellow employees
• Assisted with scheduling, workflow planning, and other issues as needed

Assistant Manager

Grain Producer
1 Year

• Organize and lead monthly board meetings
• Record and figure daily grain futures transactions,
• Manage customer contracts/settlements, LDP forms, transfers, feed sales
• Figure delivery sheets for farms harvested.
• Complete contracts with ADM, Tate & Lyle, and other rail customers
• Direct transfer truck traffic between three locations, and field direct delivery
• Issue/cancel grain warehouse receipts, figure daily grain bids
• Input inbound/outbound tickets
• Implement OSHA regulations and update safety equipment
• Maintain and update company website and perform daily system backup

Custom Operator / Seed Sales Assistant

Agricultural Service Provider
1 Year

• Operate heavy machinery
• Custom blend and spread dry fertilizer
• Deliver and install/troubleshoot ammonia toolbar monitors and tanks; transport herbicide by truck to the fields
• Spray and calibrate pesticides/herbicides/fungicides
• Operate onboard computers in equipment
• Assist Seed Representative with loading/delivering seed as well as taking orders and returns for customers
• Manage hybrid plots and customer side by side comparisons

Assistant Producer

Family Farm

• Assist with growing decisions such as seed, fertilizer, equipment and chemical needs
• Manage day to day activities for a 5,800-acre corn and soybean operation
• Direct hired help and make in-field decisions on operations
• Service equipment, chemical application, cultivation, planting seed, secondary cultivation, secondary chemical application, harvest, grain handling, fall tillage, fall chemical application, and commercial snow removal
• Update GPS technologies, Greenstar, Trimble, tracking/comparing yields for future operation plans

Education

Bachelor of Science - Agri-business Economics, Emphasis in Ag-Resource Management, Minor in General Agriculture
Associate of Arts - Graphic Design

Award-winning Farm/Ag industry professional with 5+ years of success building teams and programs that consistently close the deal and increase sales. Experience leading/developing teams of up to 50 sales reps and 16 Regional Sales Managers. Skilled using farm/ag industry expertise, honest sales approach, cold-calling, prospecting, relationship building skills, and referrals to increase sales in every role during career. In current role increased corn sales by 91%; Increased soybean sales by 72%. Grew up on family farm and have 10+ years of experience farming.

Precision Agronomy Advisor/Key Account Sales Agronomist

Seed Company
3 Years – Current Employer

• Oversee Precision Ag program in this role for family-owned, independent seed
• Manage, lead, train, motivate and mentor team of 50 sales reps and 16 Regional Sales
• Train (1-on-1/group) and educate regional sales managers and sales reps how to best utilize Precision Agronomy to build trusted relationships with customers, and grow, and retain sales.
• Developed sales programs and discount schedules for Precision Ag services to provide support in future sales and retention.
• Create small group presentations and share data/insights to educate/train Regional Sales Manager on how to better utilize Precision Ag during farm
• Took the lead in choosing software platform that fit company needs
• Manage billing for Precision Ag
• Recommend Precision Ag investments to help client improve operational efficiency; suggest product placement, seeding and fertility variable rate recommendations, and soil
• Meet farmers’ onsite to discuss each farm, and provide recommendations on product placement and variable rate seeding.
• Obtain raw data from monitors that have machine generated data and turn it into valuable insight to improve operational efficiencies and increase bottom
• Study multiple years of soil, yield, drone, and satellite imagery data to develop fertility and seeding plan on a field-by-field basis or per farm budget.
• Use benchmarking as a practice to measure the financial health and performance of a farming operation by comparing performance, and compare to similar
• Promoted to Product Management
• Write monthly articles sent out to customers, prospects, and
• Increased corn sales by 91%. Increased soybean sales by 72%.

Regional Sales Manager

Seed Company
3 Years

• Cold call prospects in an assigned 9-county territory, set up farm visits and interview potential seed Utilize marketing plan to highlight brand recognition.
• Manage and coach 32 seed representatives in an assigned territory. Coach new/existing seed reps to support sales, enhance product knowledge, and manage accounts.
• Identify, prioritize and contact targeted prospects: Choose an area within assigned territory and prospect door-to door until area was
• Complete annual seed sales forecast per product through seed sale management tool (SeedWare). Send information to product team that will decide what and how much of each product to bring forward into product lineup for next selling season.
• Achieved largest soybean sales increase (increased 69%) by being honest, driven, building trusting relationships, cold calling, prospecting, product knowledge, and recruiting new sales
• Achieved largest corn sales increase for overall company (increased 52%) by being honest, driven, building trusting relationships, cold calling, prospecting and recruiting new sales representatives.

As Regional Sales Manager, recruited 13 seed reps first year, earning Rookie of the Year award.

• Promoted to Key Account Sales Agronomist within 5 years.

Precision Agronomic Specialist,

Agronomy Services, Ruthven

3 Years

• By becoming Certified Precision Ag Technician, gained training and certification to sell, install, service, and provide after sale support for the following but not limited to these product lines: Precision Planting, Ag Leader, AgXcel, and Climate FieldView (2013).
• Sales success: Grew sales 100% from year one ($250K) to year two ($500K).
• Product knowledge: Trained customers how to operate equipment purchased. Demonstrated how equipment functions to potential customers through farm visits and group presentation.
• Represent a leading precision agriculture business in performance, attitude, and
• Represented company on farm visits or trade shows at Clay County Fair and Ag Outlook.
• Relationship builder: Used honest sales approach, cold-calling, prospecting, relationship building skills, and referrals to increase sales $170K in year one, then another $250K in year
• Sales programs: Also focus on goals outlined in annual sales programs to show more value to

Education

• Certified Precision Ag Technician

Associates of Science, Environmental Technology

Results-oriented, analytical and adaptable executive with extensive experience in research and development operations within the global seed industry. Demonstrated ability to develop, lead and execute R&D Strategies to deliver products aligned with customer needs. Exceptional communication skills to coordinate regional or global activities and interface with cross-functional executives, promoting a positive working atmosphere within a matrix organization. Highly skilled in the creation and application of strategies to drive the development of a functional company structure. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

Head of Global Seeds R&D Operations

Multinational Chemical Company
3 Years – Current Employer

• This position focuses on R&D and regional integration post
• Oversee field, greenhouse, and facility sites within R&D.
• Supervise administrative and technical elements of the operations in North America and steer global activities.
• Define and execute strategies for seeds R&D globally.
• Manage staff development processes and propose appropriate training plans to meet high professional performance
• Validate crop plans at each site.
• Implemented regular reporting to build accountability and identify variances, establishing action plans with management teams to address discrepancies in budgets and FTE plans as well as research results expectations
• Promoted a business culture that motivates teams to maintain a cohesive atmosphere and a collaborative environment between sites’ functional areas.
• Directed quality control, health, safety, and environmental practices/procedures at all facilities, ensuring compliance as well as spearheaded the Operational Excellence program for our field

Head of North America Operations, Breeding & Trait Development

Global Seed Company
6 Years

• Coordinated and directed breeding and trait development (B&TD) operations for Bayer across North America as well as strategy definition and alignment for all crops and
• Designed and established the infrastructure spanning all crops and functions, creating a synergetic atmosphere between people, products, and functions.
• Part of the global breeding and trait development leadership team.
• Spearheaded the planning and deployment of numerous global activities, including Opex (100-200 Mio€), Capex (50- 100 Mio€) and HR (500-800 FTE).
• Directly contributed to the successful purchase of Monsanto and the smooth divestiture to BASF of seed assets by representing B&TD and R&D in management, administration and regulatory approval

Product Manager

Global Seed Company
1 Year

• Led product development and marketing initiatives and provided technical support for existing germplasm and commercial traits to grow the Syngenta corn product portfolio.
• Guided field sales to identify product gaps to drive plan accountability. United with sales and agronomy in product training, campaign development and execution.
• Responsible for the expansion of the seed production plan, including managing introduction, lifecycle, volume, and exit of corn products in the Syngenta portfolio.
• Built product line confidence among our sales

Technical Support Agronomist

Monsanto Company
1 Year

• Collaborated directly with field development teams, crop advisors and management to identify the nutrition, plant protection and branded products that offered the best solution for selected regions’ agronomic requirements.
• Liaised with geography managers and advisors on product initiatives, strategies and action
• Recommended technical and product placements to salespersons and retailers regarding seeds, traits, and
• Participated in the development of an annual business plan that optimized growth and profitability for the
• Offered product, agronomic training and field claim troubleshooting with an emphasis on corn and

Senior Seed Treatment Scientist

Monsanto Company
1 Year

• Conducted and analyzed multi-disciplinary research experiments aimed at improving corn seedling
• Designed and applied new technologies to enhance seed value with a primary focus on seed treatments.
• Research in the development of seed treatments based on innovative chemistry, microbial and natural products.
• Enabled the testing of product concepts in the United States by successfully establishing strategic, long-term relationships with companies and
• Drove the Acceleron® Research and Development strategy in the United States by drafting protocols and negotiating contracts with internal and external partners for corn and wheat seed
• Launched the first-generation proof of concept Acceleron® seed treatment in North America

Technology Development Representative

Monsanto Company
1 Years

• Identified potential products arriving from R&D, targeting local customer needs with appropriate solutions in collaboration with marketing and sales divisions.
• Built and retained solid key account-level relationships and communicated trial strategy and plan to distributors.
• Coordinated trial execution and evaluation on germplasm, traits and agronomic practices in corn, soybeans, canola and sunflowers.
• Facilitated direct demand generation
• Collected market and competitor
• Directed the spring canola product development function for the United States, including trial coordination, execution, and RR spring canola trait
• Expanded the footprint of traits and germplasm by co-writing licensing agreements for specialty crops across
• Performed agronomic and technical support for local dealers and salespersons, accurately diagnosing on-farm

Education

Ph.D., Entomology
Master of Science, Entomology
Bachelor of Science, Agriculture
MBA

In my over 30 years farming experience, I worked on farms in excess of 10,000 acres, directly manage 85+ employees, with successful production, manage operational & capital expense budgets. I’ve developed and maintained extensive crop records, navigated and direct farming operations from planting to shipping, and have been responsible for the purchasing of seed, selection of land and equipment acquisitions.

Potato Seed Sales

Seed Company
6 Years – Current Employer

• Provide potato variety seed sales throughout the United States and Canada.
• Maintain contracts and personal relationships with customers and growers to support production, offer agronomic assistance and oversee the billing to customers.
• Assist with the agronomic growing of the low generation seed varieties.
• Attend trade shows to promote the new and existing seed varieties.
• Ensure all seed production strategies and practices support and strengthen seed requirements.
• Provide guidance to teams on appropriate procedures and practices to mitigate potential new or existing varieties.
• Coordinate production with seed team to support the demand needs.
• Identify and prioritize grower support needs for seed products.
• Help secure transportation for shipments.

Farm Manager

Large Potato Farming Operation
1 Year

• Develop and implement agronomic plans with type of seed varieties, land selection, all operations associated with crop production, management of field records, harvest and packing facilities.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance of equipment and manage farm staff.
• Assist in seed shipping to southern locations. Oversee soil and tissue sampling, weekly scouting and timely reporting of data. 
• Provide guidance on seed cutting operation, seed size monitoring and seed treatment application.
• Coordinate USDA, ND State Seed certification, DOT and pesticide reporting regulations.
• Assist sales team with crop assessments and observations from other growers supplying potatoes.
• Manage annual budgets and capital needs for this location.
• Work on field research trials and ensure field run trials are properly maintained and work closely with local universities.
• Travel to other locations to consult in growing of red potato production.

Vice President of Operations

Large Family Farm
2 Years

• Oversee and direct farm managers at locations of satellite farms, develop farm schedules with type of seed varieties, land selection, management of field records, harvest and packing facilities.
• Mange daily operations of personnel, purchasing, packing facilities and monitor sales and quality with the sales force at Potandon/Green Giant.
• Monitor revenue margins for productivity of packing and farming locations.
• Developed strong relationships with sales force, vendors, landowners and research universities.
• Oversee the completion of yearly farm and packing facility audits.

Table Stock Operations Manager

Black-Gold Farms
4 Years

• Managed 6 different locations, advised on land selection and varieties to be grown, select seed vendors.
• Involved in the daily operations of planting, field and harvest operations.
• Mange operating budget costs.
• Maintain farm records.
• Communicate with sales personnel to schedule what sales would be available.
• Work closely with contract growers to grow quality product for yield potential.
• Oversee all daily operations of the packing facility.
• Took part in the designing of the facility, purchase and location of all equipment.

Owner

Turf Company
8 Years

• Managed 3 companies providing fertilizer, chemical, aerification and verticutting services for multi-million dollar golf courses throughout the state during the summer months.
• Negotiated contracts and maintained quality relationships for continued business.
• Managed the scheduling and traveling plans for the three separate crews traveling, while working in a short time span that was available at each location.

Executive Production Farm Manager

Large Family Farm
22 Years

• Developed three different locations of income producing potato farms, varying from 1,000 to 1,400 acres.
• Directly managed and worked with Chip and Table Stock potatoes, watermelon, green beans and corn; managed operational and capital expense budgets exceeding $7.5 million.
• Managed all aspects from land preparation to custom built equipment to the finished product shipped to customers
• Maintained compliance with AIB audits receiving outstanding scores
• Aided in the sale of crops

Education

High School Degree