Kelton Spain National Account Manager Vets Plus New Plymouth, Idaho

What education are you bringing to this position?
I hold a Bachelor of Science in animal science and a Master of Science in agricultural and extension education.

Please describe your agricultural background.
I grew up in beef cattle and sheep country alongside the logging industry in the mountains of Central Idaho, near Riggins, Idaho. I started working for ranchers at the age of 13 and developed my love for the beef cattle industry from these early years. I spent several summers while going to college working in the logging and sawmill industries and knew I wanted to continue my education in animal science. My animal science degree was geared towards beef production. After graduating from college I found myself working in the feed business in Twin Falls, Idaho, and from there I have worked in many segments of the animal feed and animal health businesses. I have spent most of my working career in the dairy and beef cattle industry selling products to producers, veterinarians, dealers and distributors.

What territory will you cover?
I will be traveling the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.

What are your new responsibilities?
As a national accounts manager for Vets Plus Inc., I will be calling mainly on distributors and their sales representatives, educating them on the quality, researched products that we manufacture. I will also be doing training with dealers, ruminant nutritionists and veterinarians who purchase and recommend these products.

What previous positions have you held?
I have worked for Boehringer-Ingelheim Vet Medica, Shering-Plough Animal Health, Intervet-Schering Plough Animal Health, Ridley Feed Company, Monsanto Dairy Business, North American Salt Company, and Land O’Lakes Feeds. Most of these positions have been in sales or sales management.

Who has made the biggest impact on my career?
I would have to say that the biggest impact of my career came from a gentleman by the name of Ed Duren. Ed Duren was an extension beef cattle specialist with the University of Idaho in Soda Springs, Idaho. During an intense conversation one evening at a local bar in Idaho Falls, Mr. Duren convinced me that I should go back to school and work on a master’s degree. I had been out of school for 11 years at this time and had a full-time job and a brand new baby daughter. Ed convinced me that this degree may not ever get me a job, but it certainly would put my resume on the top of the list. He told me it would give me the credentials to grow in a technical career path in the livestock industry. I received the Master of Science degree three and a half years later. Working for that degree and finishing the grueling schedule of working full time while completing classwork and writing the thesis prepared me for a rewarding career within the livestock industry in sales.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region?
I will be working with and training distributor reps, dealer store personnel, ruminant nutritionists and veterinarians in the field of nutraceuticals and direct fed microbials. The nutraceuticals include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, probiotics, enzymes and herbs. Vets Plus uses researched natural ingredients in their manufacturing process to produce some of the most innovative nutraceuticals on the market today. Probiotics are “For Life.” Antibiotics are for killing of the bacteria. Keeping animals healthy with the use of good nutrition and nutraceuticals will help minimize the use of antibiotics in the livestock industries. It is time for nutraceuticals in the livestock industries and many progressive producers, ruminant nutritionists and veterinarians are seeing the benefits and believing in the research data.

Why did you choose this company?
I chose Vets Plus because of the people and the products produced. This is a small, family owned company where the owner, Raj Lall, is an inspiration to his employees and his customers. He has formed a professional group of knowledgeable people that work hard and play hard. He has a great sales staff with professional leadership and a research staff equal to none. The support staff and manufacturing is continuing to grow and are a dedicated group of people. This will be a major company one day and I hope I play a small role in helping the company to expand and develop.

What goals would I like to accomplish while in this position?
Vets Plus Inc. is a Midwest-based company with its headquarters in Menomonie, Wisconsin. They have a strong business in the western part of the U.S. but I plan to grow the business and provide support to the customers, making Vets Plus the number one supplier of direct fed microbials in the west, like it is in the Midwest. Vets Plus has the research and innovation along with people to provide scientific data and research to back all claims on the products produced. I will provide this data and support the products manufactured by Vets Plus. PD