GROWMARK announced the appointment of Brad Drake, Jeff Lynch, Matt Lurkins and Karmy Kays to key roles on the company’s executive leadership team, effective Jan. 2, 2025. These appointments follow the announced retirements of Wade Mittelstadt, executive vice president and chief operating officer; Barry Schmidt, executive vice president, Retail Business, and Bill Covey, executive vice president and general counsel.

With more than 100 years of combined experience in the GROWMARK System, they have provided invaluable contributions in shaping the growth and success of GROWMARK. As Drake, Lynch, Lurkins and Kays transition into their new roles, GROWMARK is positioned to build on this foundation of leadership excellence, the announcement said.

Drake will take on the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer, overseeing GROWMARK’s wholesale business, logistics and marketing functions. Since joining GROWMARK in 2008, he has held diverse roles in finance, it, crop protection and MID-CO COMMODITIES. Currently serving as executive vice president and chief financial officer, Drake has been instrumental in shaping GROWMARK’s financial strategy.

He holds a business degree from Trinity International University and an MBA from Illinois State University and also has his Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant designations.

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Lynch will assume the role of executive vice president, Retail Business, with oversight of GROWMARK’s eight retail divisions. Since joining GROWMARK in 2004, he has demonstrated leadership in finance, agronomy, and grain, most recently serving as vice president, Retail Business and strategic relationship lead, where he directed GROWMARK’s Iowa growth strategy. Lynch is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University with an MBA from the University of Illinois.

Lurkins has accepted the position of executive vice president, general counsel and grain. In addition to overseeing GROWMARK’s legal functions, he will continue to drive strategy in the grain division. Since joining GROWMARK in 2012 as senior staff attorney, Lurkins’ leadership has extended to roles including executive director of acquisition/business development and vice president, grain and strategic relationships lead. He graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s in finance and a Juris Doctor degree.

Kays will step into the role of executive vice president and chief financial officer, leading the Finance and IT divisions. With over a decade of experience at GROWMARK in finance, member resources and the Energy division, Kays most recently served as treasurer, overseeing corporate funds, financing, budgets and risk management for the enterprise. Kays holds a bachelor’s degree in risk management from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MBA from Illinois State University.

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As Drake, Lynch, Lurkins and Kays prepare to take on their new roles, they will collaborate closely with Mittelstadt, Schmidt and Covey to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. This new team is well-positioned to guide GROWMARK’s strategic direction, the news release said.

GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative serving almost 400,000 customers across North America, providing agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services. Headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by member cooperatives.