Virgil is a successful senior manager with experience as a Leader in Agriculture Research & Development and Seeds Supply Chain. Expertise in directing a team of geographically dispersed applied scientists responsible for field experiments resulting in the delivery of high performing crop varieties, hybrids and crop protection products. Strengths in product evaluation, product development, seed production and product marketing of corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, grain sorghum and cotton. Management skills extend to the international markets of Brazil, Argentina and Chile for Product Development and Seed Production. His expertise includes:

• Head North America Soybean Product Evaluation, Syngenta Crop Protection
• Head of North America Corn and Soybean Development, Syngenta Seeds
• Director of Soybean Product Development, GarstSeed Company
• Director of Operations, GarstSeed Company

Sarah joins The Context Network with experience in project management, economic development, customer strategy, as well as specialty crop production in the agriculture industry. Through prior roles, Sarah conducted value chain analyses for a variety of specialty crops in the Western US. She has also managed state and federal grants focused on advanced research and marketing of new, high-value crops for NC, such as food colorant and bioenergy crops. Sarah currently resides in Raleigh, NC.

• BS, Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University
• BS, Business Management, Oklahoma State University

Ronnie brings a broad experience and deep knowledge of the fresh produce supply and distribution channel throughout the retail and foodservice market segments. Having worked 20+ years in the fresh produce industry, Ronnie is actively engaged in consulting, speaking and educational/training endeavors. His high-energy, highly interactive style imparts “real world know-how” to his clients, audiences and trainees. He has worked with the full range of the fresh produce supply channel, from seed companies, to growers/shippers, to consumers. His areas of expertise include:

• Consultation on a full range of issues from post-harvest technology quality and handling, to sales and marketing restructure and strategies, to consumer attitude/preferences
• New business venture opportunity assessment and strategic business partnership and acquisition
• Development of long-term strategic plans, and implementation of new go-to-market strategies.
• Extensive training to both U.S. and foreign grower/shipper organizations on product standardization, and sales and marketing techniques

• MS in Industrial Psychology – San Jose State University in California

Rob has extensive experience in finance, systems, and process from multiple perspectives:  as an employee, an owner of several companies and as a consultant.  With an emphasis on practical and robust solutions that transform business results, Rob ensures clients can implement and maintain gains going forward.

Experience / Specialties:

• Outsourced CFO
• Streamlined month end processes to produce accurate and timely financials
• M&A financial due diligence
• Analysis of Customers/classes and Items/groups to drive strategic decisions
• Insightful financial and operational reporting
• Risk management
• ERP system design, selection and implementation.  Architecture of simple or complex custom systems
• Data hygiene – GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out)
• Process mapping, re-engineering and documentation to drive consistent results

Education & Certification

Philip Shull worked for 30 years as an Agricultural Attachein the U.S. Department of Agriculture, retiring as one of its highest-ranking diplomats.  His posts included China, Argentina, Philippines, and Korea, and Washington. He worked with hundreds of companies covering virtually all food and agricultural products. Since 2016 Mr. Shull has consulted in international agriculture and trade.

Experience / Specialties:

• Led trade negotiations and other market access initiatives for dairy, biotech, packaged foods, meat, genetics, etc.
• Evaluated and consulted on strategic plans for USDA-funded cooperators, designed strategic plans for all USDA overseas offices.
• Performed commodity and market analysis on dozens of products in countries where I served.
• Planned and Implemented dozens of promotion activities to expand and build markets for U.S. food/agricultural products.
• Conceived, implemented, and evaluated capacity building and technical exchange programs on topics ranging from dairy to cold chain to inspection and food safety.

Education & Certification

After 35+ years in the agriculture business arena, Matt founded AgMatters Consulting as a source of independent consulting services.  He has experience both in the U.S. and international markets working with many crops, seed and crop protection products, and channel/licensing strategies.  Matt has worked with Context Consulting on various projects for the past 2 years.

The areas where his interest and experience bring the most value include:

• Strategic Planning/Business Planning
• Distribution/Access to Market
• Seed Business Operations
• Seed Asset Valuation and Acquisitions

Matt grew up on a dairy farm and still owns acreage managed for black walnut timber and wildlife/resource conservation. He earned BS and MS degrees in Agronomy and Plant Breeding from the University of Missouri.  Matt is an active member of the U.S. Walnut Council, Forest and Woodland Association, and the Missouri 100  (Advisory Council to the University of Missouri).   He and his family reside in St. Louis area where he enjoys following professional and college sports.

Kris has over twenty-five years of experience in marketing and finance across different industries including agriculture. His focus areas stretch across the global ag value chain and include crop inputs, with an emphasis on application methods, crop protection, fertilizers and nutrition, seeds and traits, and biologicals. Kris leads multiple market research and strategy projects for Context including its biennial Global Biologicals Report and works extensively with companies exploring investment opportunities across the ag value chain.

Jay Vroom retired from CropLife America (CLA) in summer of 2018 after 30 years as the organization’s President and CEO. CropLife is the national association for the crop protection and biotech industry and provides advocacy and public outreach for the sector. He also helped found and operate CLA’s non-ag specialty affiliate, RISE, from the early 1990’s.  Earlier in his career he worked in ag trade associations serving the grain, fertilizer and input retailer sectors. Vroom is now CIO for his family business, Vroom•Leigh•Agriculture, LLC.

He is engaged in a variety of business strategy, marketing and crisis communications, and government affairs consulting assignments. One of Jay’s new work engagements is with DCLRS as a Strategic Advisor.  In his spare time he provides volunteer service on the boards of the Soil Health Institute, FFA Foundation and Wheat Foundation. He earned a BS in Ag Science from the University of Illinois.

He and his wife Jamie live at McLean, Virginia, and both of themmaintain active management and ownership interests with their respective farm family operations in Illinois.

Glenn has accumulated over 33 years of experience in the field of ag chemical, seed and biotech traits in sales, marketing, strategic account management and regional as well as global business unit leadership. His specific areas of expertise include:

• Organizational design and effectiveness of sales, marketing, strategic account management and related functions.
• Development of sales channel/distribution strategies, design and execution of sales channel approaches and programs as well as building and maintaining strategic distribution partner relationships.
• Assessing individual and team leadership effectiveness at all operating levels providing feedback, insight and coaching to improve effectiveness, morale, motivation, focus and professional development.
• Assessing, benchmarking and improving external and internal customer satisfaction.
• Assessing and benchmarking external and internal customer satisfaction and assisting in developing tactics for improvement.
• Assistance in developing effective negotiating strategies and tactics.

• BS Ag. Economics, University of Kentucky
• Executive MBA, Washington University in St. Louis