Northside Elevator is pleased to add Zak Rau to their team as grain merchandiser. Rau will be deploying tools for both buyers and sellers of grain to help them make informed decisions and is charged with furthering Northside’s reputation for long-term business relationships. He will also be directly involved in the logistics of grain transport and storage and exploration of new geographic markets.

Rau brings a well-established network of contacts in the grain space. He joins Northside following positions with two other commodities companies in central Wisconsin where he worked as a merchandiser and a grain division manager. Relevant skillsets honed over the years include grain contracting, management, collaboration, logistics and developing innovative programs for driving profits.

“Filling this position with Zak is terrific. His skillsets in both trading, market knowledge and working with people will be a tremendous asset to Northside, but even more so an asset to all those who have the opportunity to work with him,” said Ted Brussow, Northside Elevator president and chief executive officer.

Rau also has experience working on dairy operations and has held positions of general manager assistant, feeds and feed manager, young stock manager and owner. He has owned his own dairy and is still involved with his family’s 1,100 head dairy. Outside the office, Rau is very active in the sport of curling and an organizer of charitable causes focused on Parkinson’s disease research and suicide prevention programs.