Effective July 2, Donnie Taylor will be joining the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) to serve as the new vice president of membership and corporate relations. Taylor will be filling the position vacated by Jim Thrift, who retired from ARA full-time this spring.
Taylor joins ARA with more than 25 years of experience working in the agriculture industry. He currently serves as a key account executive for Chemtura AgroSolutions in the Western U.S., where he is responsible for managing the revenue and support of several major agricultural distributors and retailers. Prior to this position, Taylor held several full-time and contract positions in sales, distribution, business development, and management for other major companies with agricultural products, including Valent, CDMS, United Suppliers, and Syngenta. He holds a B.S. degree in agronomy from North Carolina State University.
In Taylor’s new position with ARA, he will be responsible for membership development and recruitment and management of ARA’s Member Services Committee. In addition, he will also be an informational resource for ARA members, and will assist members with specific business or regulatory challenges impacting their operations.
“We’re excited to bring Donnie on board and welcome the industry knowledge and business acumen he will bring to the role,” said Daren Coppock, ARA president and CEO.
“The experience that Taylor has gained from working with and for several of ARA’s member companies was a key consideration in recruiting Donnie, allowing him to bring a
practical perspective to the many policy issues our members face on a daily basis.” Thrift will continue to work for ARA on a part-time basis through the end of July, and will assist with Taylor’s transition into his new position.