Kelley Schlabs Customer Support and Technical Lead Amarillo, Texas Alta Seeds

Please describe your agricultural background.
We raise commodities such as corn, cotton and beef cattle on my family’s farm.The time I spent growing up on our farm helped me develop a strong passion and excitement for agriculture. As someone who comes from a farming family, I embrace the responsibility of providing food and fiber to feed the world and that is why I chose a career working in this great industry.

What territory will you cover?
I work in the corporate office of Alta Seeds located in Amarillo, Texas.

What are your new responsibilities?
I am the customer service and technical support lead for Alta Seeds a brand of Advanta, U.S. In this position I will be responsible for customer service, internal reporting as well as product and technical support.

What previous positions have you held?
Prior to joining Alta Seeds, I worked as a customer support representative for Micro Beef Technologies, a division of MWI Veterinary Supply and as a manager at Dimmitt Feed & Supply.

Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
The veterinarian that I completed an internship with while in college has probably been the most influential person on my career to date. The knowledge and experiences I gained while working for her helped me to realize the importance of a solid work ethic and commitment to superior customer service.

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?
I will be the first line of contact for Alta Seeds, providing product and technical support to new and established customers. As part of the training for my position, I traveled throughout the United States for three months to gain firsthand knowledge and field experience with our hybrids. This will allow me to assist our customers in making the right seed decisions for their farms.

Why did you choose this company?
I chose to work for the Alta Seeds brand because of the company’s values and dedication to providing producers with superior and innovative products. Its commitment to developing new technologies make this company an exciting place to work.

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
I hope to provide Alta Seeds customers with superior customer service and technical support while helping to grow our brand as a well-respected and valued seed company.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Throughout my career I hope to work for a company that shares my passion and commitment to the agricultural industry. I feel that Alta Seeds provides me the opportunity to further develop my knowledge and understanding of an industry that has been such a huge part of my life. PD