In an on-going effort to improve efficiency and strengthen the organization, develop employees, and reflect expanding roles and responsibilities, Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. Executive Vice President and COO Jim Dietz on Jan. 22 announced several promotions and changes to the PotashCorp Operations Department, effective Feb. 1, 2007.
Tom Regan is assuming the presidency of both the Nitrogen and Phosphate divisions, and will continue to report to Dietz. He had held the position for phosphates. There was no president for nitrogen.
Brent Heimann will assume responsibility for the newly-created position of vice president Phosphate/Nitrogen operations, reporting to Regan. He is currently general manager, Arab Potash Corp. Reporting to Heimann will be Richard Atwood, general manager, Aurora; Keith Thornton, general manager, White Springs; Ian Welch, managing director, Trinidad; Warren Stroman, general manager, Augusta; Hanson Leonard, general manager, Geismar; and Don Johnson, general manager, Lima.
Mike Lalond is promoted to manager, product quality, responsible for both phosphate and nitrogen products, also reporting to Heimann.
Clark Bailey will assume responsibility for the position of vice president, capital and technology for Phosphate and Nitrogen, reporting to Regan. Bailey is currently vice president, Manufacturing and Technology for Nitrogen.
Clark Huff continues as vice president, technical services, reporting to Clark Bailey. John Kowalczyk and Doug Middleton, managers, engineering services, will continue to report to Clark Huff.
Also reporting to Bailey (from their respective Nitrogen locations) will be Joel Rivers, senior project manager, Augusta; Gary Osborne, mechanical engineering manager, Geismar; Mel Weber, process engineering manager, Augusta; Henry King, urea technology manager, Augusta; and Keith Wilson, ammonia technology manager, Augusta.
Brad Peacock is promoted to senior director, industrial phosphate, and will continue to report to Regan. Jack Sullivan, plant manager, Cincinnati, will continue to report to Peacock.
Paul Dekok continues as general manager, feed, reporting to Regan. Bob Startzer, Bill Donohue, and Paul Shoup, plant managers in Marseilles, Weeping Water, and Joplin, respectively, will continue reporting to Dekok.
Andy Strang and Bruce Townsend, directors, financial analysis Phosphate and Nitrogen, respectively, will report directly to Regan.
Tony Lok, manager of supply and distribution, will retire from Agrico Canada Ltd., effective Feb. 1. He has been with the company for over 16 years. He has agreed to assist for a period of time until a replacement can be found.
John East, a Leesburg, Ala., grain, cotton, and beef producer, is the new chairman of Southern States Cooperative Inc.’s board of directors. He succeeds Wilbur Ward, Clarkton, N.C. East had been vice chair for three years and has been on the board since 1999. Succeeding East as vice chair is Eddie Melton, a grain and cattle producer from Sebree, Ky. He has been on the board since 2000.
Eugene (Gene) D. Smith 67, of Prairie du Chien, Wisc., passed away Jan. 18, 2007. He was employed with IMC Global Fertilizer Co. for 25 years and later was a sales agent with Inter-Chem before retiring in 2006. He was a past president of the Wisconsin Fertilizer Association. Inter-Chem said he was a true champion of the fertilizer industry and will be dearly missed.
Meghan Kolassa has joined the Agricultural Retailers Association as associate director of public policy, a newly created position within ARA. She will be responsible for legislative and regulatory issues, such as the farm bill and chemical site security, and will assist with ARA’s political action committee (ARAPAC) fund-raising. She will report to Richard Gupton, recently promoted to vice president of legislative policy and counsel for ARA. Kolassa previously worked for Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-Mich.), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, on issues including small business, trade, housing, postal, government reform, ethics, civil rights, judiciary, and second amendment issues. She holds a juris doctorate from Michigan State University College of Law, and a bachelor’s of science in anthropology-zoology from the University of Michigan.