Vice President of Marketing, Portfolio Management

Rick’s primary experience is in the crop protection industry with herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, plant growth regulators, and biological products.  He attended the University of Guelph, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology.  During his career, Rick has held progressive positions in sales, research, and management in various sectors of the agricultural business, with postings in all major North American markets, including row crops, tree fruits, and vegetables, as well as turf and ornamentals.  In 1977, he joined Uniroyal Chemical, where, over the next eight years, he held the positions of Technical Sales Representative, Field Research Representative, National Accounts Manager, and Sales Manager.   

In 1985, he formed Gustafson Canada as a separate business unit of Uniroyal Chemical and he served as the company’s General Manager.  In 1994, he was appointed Vice President – Marketing for Gustafson LLC and was named President in 2004.   

In 2005, Rick joined Bayer CropScience as Vice President Sales 
Northern Region.  Rick currently serves on the Ag Retailers Association Board of Directors, the Mid American CropLife Association Board of Directors, and the International Seed Federation Seed Treatment and Environment Committee.  He is a member of the National Agri-Marketing Association, the American Seed Trade Association.  Rick also has served on the CropLife Canada / Crop Protection Institute Board of Directors, the CropLife America Board, and the Chemical Producer and Distributor Association Board.