Names in the News
New hires, promotions, retirements
CWT Farms announces retirement of president
CWT Farms International Inc. announced that Rickey Smith will be retiring as president in July of this year. Smith joined the company in 2015. He led the company as it has continued modernizing its feed mill and expanded operations into Kentucky and New York.
“We extend our profound appreciation to Rickey for his steadfast dedication and exceptional leadership, which have been instrumental in fostering our growth and success here at CWT,” said Christopher Hill, chief executive officer of CWT Farms International. “His extensive knowledge of the poultry industry has helped guide our expansion and his experience has been a great asset to our CWT management team."
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Jacob Berkes promoted at Lemar Industries
Jacob Berkes has been promoted to manufacturing and quality engineer for LeMar Industries, a subsidiary of Brock Grain Systems, according to Nicholas Kiederlen, plant manager for the CTB Inc. business unit. In his new position, Berkes will be responsible for designing and implementing process and quality improvements for LeMar’s Des Moines, Iowa, facility.
Berkes has been a CTB employee since 2015, previously holding the positions of Quality Control, Designer I, II, and III, Detailing Lead, and Structural Designer. Prior to joining CTB, he gained nine years of construction and supervisory experience in the Carroll, Iowa area.Read more
Elemental Enzymes selects new chief commercial officer
Elemental Enzymes, a St. Louis company that develops and markets sustainable solutions to aid in crop nutrient absorption and immune response, has added Jagresh Rana as its new chief commercial officer.
Most recently, Jagresh worked as senior vice president of global business development & licensing for Bayer Crop Science, after serving in previous leadership positions in marketing and product management and Global Strategy for the company. Prior to that, he spent a number of years with Monsanto in India, Singapore, Hungary and St. Louis. Before moving to Bayer in 2018 his last role in Monsanto was Asia-Africa Regional Lead.Read more
Dr. Kis Robertson Hale appointed chief veterinarian officer of USPHS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) commends the appointment by the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) of Dr. Kis Robertson Hale as chief veterinarian officer. Dr. Robertson Hale is a rear admiral in the USPHS Commissioned Corps and serves as FSIS’ chief public health veterinarian and deputy assistant administrator of the Office of Public Health Science, positions that she will continue to hold. This appointment underscores the critical role veterinarians play in safeguarding public health.
Hybrid Turkeys welcomes Andrew Hunt
Effective March 18, 2024, Andrew Hunt joins Hybrid Turkeys as president while Dave Libertini moves into the role of senior advisor.
Hunt is an experienced animal and agribusiness executive who has worked throughout the United States and Canada. He has vast experience and a proven track record of success in the feed and animal health industry. He started his career with Shur-Gain and held general management positions with Nutreco USA and Trouw Nutrition. Most recently, he was senior vice president (Animal Health & Wellness) with PBI Gordon, a U.S.-based company working in the pet animal health sector.
Compeer Financial hires Bruce Feist as chief information officer
Compeer Financial, a Farm Credit cooperative based in the Upper Midwest, has announced the appointment of Bruce Feist as the organization’s chief information officer.
A resident of Woodland, Minn., Feist will assume the responsibilities currently held by Jerry Wiese, who is set to retire from his role as CIO in April. With over 15 years of experience at Cargill, Feist brings extensive technology and leadership experience to Compeer Financial, having served in division chief information officer roles and other leadership positions. His global experience in technology, data and information, particularly in the agricultural sector, positions him well for his new role.