5 minute read
2021 Year in Review
OABA Officers
Chair Robert Mullen, Ph.D., CCA, CPAg
Heritage Cooperative 944 Country Club Dr. Wooster, OH 44691 rmullen@heritagecooperative.com
Vice Chair Grant Gates
Morral Companies, LLC 132 Postle St. P.O. Box 26 Morral, OH 43337 Tel: 740-465-3251 ggates@morralcompanies.com
Past Chair Jackie Seibert
LW Seibert Farms, LLC 07619 National Rd. Wapakoneta, OH 45895 Tel: 419-303-2980 jackieseibert@ohiolink.net
OABA Directors
Travis Algren
Consolidated Grain & Barge Co. 3164 Southside Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45204 Tel: 513-244-7400 travis.algren@cgb.com
Heath Barnes
Mercer Landmark, Inc. 426 W. Market St. P.O. Box 328 Celina, OH 45822 Tel: 419-586-2303 heathb@mercerlandmark.com
Ed Burtch
Burtch Seed Company 4742 Tama Rd. Celina, OH 45822 Tel: 419-363-3713 ed@burtchseed.com
Clark Carroll
Gerald Grain Center Inc. 14540 Co. Rd. U Napoleon, OH 43545 Tel: 419-598-8015 clark.carroll@geraldgrain.com
Rhoda Crown
Coshocton Grain Company 475 Browns Ln. P.O. Box 606 Coshocton, OH 43812 Tel: 740-622-0941 crown@coshoctongrain.com
Nick Franks
Tyler Grain & Fertilizer Co. 3388 Eby Rd. Smithville, OH 44677 Tel: 330-669-2341 nick@tylersfertilizer.com
Bailey Elchinger
StoneX Financial Inc. — FCM Division 19901 N. Dixie Hwy., Ste. B P.O. Box 149 Bowling Green, OH 43402 Tel: 419-373-6345 bailey.elchinger@stonex.com
Andrew Gladden
Luckey Farmers Inc 1200 W. Main St. P.O. Box 217 Woodville, OH 43469 Tel: 419-849-2711 agladden@luckeyfarmers.com
OABA Directors
Blake Rossel, CCA, 4RNMS
Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC 7116 S. St. Rte. 53 McCutchenville, OH 44844 Tel: 419-447-2304 rosselb@helenaagri.com
Neil Rupp
Pettisville Grain Company 18251 Co. Rd. DE P.O. Box 53009 Pettisville, OH 43553 Tel: 419-446-2547 nrupp@live.com
Ann Staugler
Big K Mills, Inc. 2485 Sharpsburg Rd. Ft. Recovery, OH 45846 Tel: 419-375-4578 bigkmills@bright.net
Bill Wallbrown, CCA
Deerfield Ag Services, Inc. 9041 U.S. Rte. 224 P.O. Box 155 Deerfield, OH 44411 Tel: 330-584-4715 billwall@deerfieldagservices.com
OABA Staff
Christopher Henney, CAE
President & CEO chenney@oaba.net Hire Date: May 2011
Job Duties: At the helm, Chris is in charge of the vision, mission and strategy of OABA, along with association governance, public policy, government relations, and membership and industry relations.
Education: MBA — Capital University; BS, Agriculture — The Ohio State University
Work History: Chris joined the Ohio AgriBusiness Association in May 2011 as the president and chief executive officer. Prior to joining OABA, Chris held several positions at the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, including director of legislative relations. In that capacity, he represented the organization before the Ohio General Assembly, as well as agencies and departments of state government.
About Chris: Chris currently serves on the Vice President’s Advisory Council for The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and the 1890 Land Grant Advisory Council at Central State University. He is the past chair of the Ohio Society of Association Professionals board of directors, serves as president of the Ohio Agricultural Council executive committee and the Asmark Institute Board of Directors. He and his wife Beth reside in Columbus, Ohio with their two boys, Aidan and Patrick.
Nicole Volk
Director of Communications & Marketing nvolk@oaba.net Hire Date: September 2016
Job Duties: Nicole handles all aspects of association communications including management of social media accounts, press release and news writing, graphic design, photography and videography. She also manages the association’s yearly directory and serves as the staff liaison for the membership committee.
Education: BS, Agricultural Communication; BA, Public Affairs — The Ohio State University
Work History: Nicole has worked for the association since her graduation from Ohio State in 2016. She currently serves on the OSU Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership’s Alumni Board, where she helps plan events to engage alumni with other alumni, students and the department. She currently serves as the Vice President and has served as President in the past. Nicole is a member of the Ohio Society of Association Professionals, and serves on the Membership and Foundation Communication Committees.
About Nicole: During her free time, Nicole is an avid nature photographer, talented baker and fitness enthusiast. She grew up on a horse and goat farm in Gibsonburg, Ohio, and now resides in Columbus with her husband, Matthew.
OABA Staff
Janice Welsheimer
Director of Educational Programs jwelsheimer@oaba.net Hire Date: April 2017
Job Duties: Provide leadership, direction and delivery for OABA’s education programs by creating synergy with volunteers and partnerships. She also serves as executive director of the Ohio Certified Crop Adviser program and the Ohio Agricultural Council.
Education: BS, Agricultural Economics; MS, Agricultural Education/Adult Learning — The Ohio State University
Work History: Janice has always had an interest in serving those in the agricultural industry. Her previous experience includes working with state farm bureaus and agricultural cooperatives for Nationwide Insurance, as a regional supervisor and organization director for Ohio Farm Bureau and providing student recruitment for OSU’s agricultural and natural resources areas.
About Janice: She grew up on a general livestock and grain farm in Pickaway County and now resides in Clark County, Ohio with her husband and their two children on a commercial beef farm operation.
