BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS, US — GROWMARK has made four appointments to its executive leadership team following retirements of three longtime executives, 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, GROWMARK said in its Dec. 10 announcement.

Brad Drake, currently executive vice president and chief financial officer, will take on the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer, overseeing GROWMARK’s wholesale business, logistics, and marketing functions. 

Drake has been with GROWMARK since 2008 and has held roles in finance, IT, crop protection and MID-CO Commodities. He holds a business degree with a concentration in accounting and management from Trinity International University and a masters in business administration with a concentration in finance from Illinois State University. He also has his Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant designations.

Jeff Lynch, most recently vice president, retail business and strategic relationship lead, will assume the role of executive vice president, retail business, with oversight of GROWMARK’s eight retail divisions. 

Since joining GROWMARK in 2004, Lynch has demonstrated leadership in finance, agronomy and grain, including directing GROWMARK’s Iowa growth strategy. Lynch is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in math and risk management with an MBA from the University of Illinois.

Matt 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. Lurkins is a Southern Illinois University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a juris doctor.

Karmy Kays will step into the role of executive vice president and CFO, leading the finance and IT divisions. Kays has more than a decade of experience at GROWMARK in finance, member resources, and the energy division. He most recently was treasurer, overseeing corporate funds, financing, budgets and risk management.