New hires – July

Mike Cain

Senior Business Manager at Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition
Michael.Cain@churchdwight.com
Territory: U.S.

Education
I obtained my Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Agribusiness from Mississippi State University and a Ph.D. in Food Animal Production from The Pennsylvania State University.

Background/Experience
My interest in agriculture started with the family standard bred business, “Suburban Farms,” where I was involved with the care, feeding and training of standard bred race horses. Experience with ruminant animals was obtained throughout my college education. I especially enjoyed my Research Assistant Position responsibilities while working on my Ph.D. at Penn State University, which included responsibility for research projects at the PSU Haller Beef and Forage Unit.

My experience at the PSU Beef & Forage Unit was great preparation for my position as a state livestock extension specialist for the University of Florida. My responsibilities included management of the commercial cow/calf operation at Chipley, Florida. Since leaving the University of Florida, I have been involved with several agribusiness companies with a focus on the care, health and nutrition of livestock.

How will you be of most help to producers in your area of expertise?
My work will help producers better understand the Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition product portfolio and how they can help cows better perform to their potential throughout their lifecycle.

What’s your best story from the first day on the job?
My first morning on the job went very smoothly. Much like the rest of the company, HR is a well-oiled machine. They had a comprehensive “On Board” program that provided a detailed company overview and standard new hire information.

By mid-afternoon I found a moment to sit in my new office with my computer to review instructions for ordering my new phone. It was at that moment I realized my well-organized electronic world was also getting a new start! It reminded me of a great book, “Who Moved My Cheese,” by Dr. Spencer Johnson. It’s a quick read with a powerful message on coping with change. Within a few days I had my two phones and two computers hooked up simultaneously, synchronized and back on track; it was a great feeling to get reorganized and running smoothly!

What are your new responsibilities?
As Senior Business Manager for Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition, I am responsible for coordinating and overseeing all of the company’s marketing activities, managing marketing profit of all products and brands in the business, and supervising marketing employees. I will also oversee the execution of business management and development strategies. PD .

Ryan Lindsey

Territory Manager at Animat Inc. in Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Territory: Upper Midwest and Northwest

Education
I have many years of personal experience in agriculture that allow me to fully understand the commitment and sacrifices that are made by those who choose agriculture as a career.

Background/Experience
I have been involved in agriculture my whole life. My parents started out with a small hobby farm here in Southwest WI (Mineral Point). They continued to buy land around us as it came for sale and we now own close to 1000 acres with 360 tillable acres and the rest in woodland preservation or pasture. In May of 1998 I graduated from college and moved back home to run the farm. I milked 55 cows in a tiestall barn until October of 2003; at this time I was faced with a decision, to either get bigger or to bow out of the dairy industry. I chose the latter and sold the cows on October 1st of 2003. To this day I still miss many of the day-to-day duties that come with dairy farming. My dad and I now own a small beef herd (60) cows, which allows me to still feel like a farmer on a part-time basis.

What excites you most about working in your new role?
The most exiting part of the job for me is to see satisfied customers and satisfied cows. 365 days a year dairy cattle walk on our rubber flooring with comfort and confidence. The sure footing and pasture-like feel Animat rubber provides puts money in the dairyman’s pocket through reduced occurrences of lameness, decreased fall injuries, better heat detection, and more milk production through increased feed intakes. Our mattress systems provide an excellent bed for the dairy cow and are long-lasting (as we know, comfortable cows produce more milk). Selling great products that will make a dairy more profitable is what excites me about my new position.

What positions have you previously held?
My resume includes: dairy farmer, safety manager, substitute teacher, and a sales representative for Rovibec Agrisolutions. Through my previous position with Rovibec Agrisolutions, I was introduced to the sales field and truly enjoyed working with farmers to solve problems, reduce labor, and increase profitability.

What are your new responsibilities?
As a “Territory Manager” for Animat my responsibilities will be to maintain a good working relationship with the dealers in my territory and through this relationship I will help them promote, market and sell Animat products. I will also work directly with the dairymen if a dealer is not yet established in their area to ensure no questions are left unanswered and that product is delivered and installed on time. PD