Meet the team

Built on relationships

Our leaders invest in long-term partnerships, not short-term transactions.

Driven by science

From R&D to operations, evidence guides every recommendation we make.

Committed to your growth

Every team leader measures our success by yours.

Executive Leadership

Derek Baucom

President

Derek leads Simmons Animal Nutrition with a passion for operational excellence and a relentless focus on people, safety, and innovation. Over a 25-year career in the poultry and pet food industries, he has built a track record of developing high-performing teams and delivering measurable results. Prior to his appointment as President, Derek served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Simmons Pet Food, where he played a pivotal role in advancing manufacturing capabilities and expanding the premium pet food portfolio. He holds a B.S. in Poultry Science from North Carolina State University.

25+ Years Industry Experience

B.S. Poultry Science – NC State University

Former SVP Operations, Simmons Pet Food

Nathan Hudson

VP, Finance

Nathan serves as Vice President of Finance, where he leads financial operations, performance reporting, and investment evaluation alongside the business unit's strategic direction and margin management. He works cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Procurement, and Supply Chain to align resources and guide commercial decisions that drive sustainable, profitable growth. Nathan partners closely with executive leadership to translate strategy into action, connecting customer value creation, capital investment, and long-range planning.

13+ Years Industry Experience

B.S. Business Administration (Accounting) – Arkansas Tech University

MBA – University of Arkansas

Josh Clary

SVP, Commercial

Josh believes that good relationships are good business – and his 20+ year career in the pet and human food industries is proof. As SVP of Sales, Josh leads a team built on trust, expertise, and a genuine commitment to customer outcomes. He is a recognized voice in the poultry and agriculture industry, holding membership in the National Renderers Association and the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, and serving on the committee for The Poultry Protein & Fat Council. Josh holds a Bachelor’s in Sports Medicine from John Brown University and a Master’s degree from the University of Arkansas.

20+ Years Pet & Human Food Industry

Member, National Renderers Association

Committee Member, Poultry Protein & Fat Council

M.S. – University of Arkansas

Commercial Leadership

Brian Walker

Sr. Director, Business Development

Brian is a lead-by-example business development executive – known across the manufacturing industry for his tenured career building high-value customer relationships and opening new commercial opportunities. His experience across multiple industry-leading companies gives our commercial team an invaluable external perspective and a broad network across the pet food supply chain.

Business Development & New Market Entry

B.S. Agriculture Marketing – University of Arkansas

Brooke Lewis

Director, Sales

Brooke leads key account relationships across dry, brokered, and ReGen, with a focus on transparency, responsiveness, and long-term partnership value. With deep experience in the rendering industry, her ability to translate customer technical needs into actionable sourcing solutions makes her a trusted resource for brands navigating complex formulation or supply challenges.

15+ Years Industry Experience

Key Representative – North American Renderers Association

Board Member – International Market Development Committee

Kellie Brown

Director, Sales

Kellie leads raw protein customer relationships at Simmons Animal Nutrition, and she knows the job from the buyer's side. As the former protein category manager for Simmons Pet Food, she negotiated pricing, quality and supply with poultry suppliers every day. She builds long-term partnerships on open communication, reliable supply, clear pricing and real market insight. She works closely with customers and internal teams to deliver consistent quality and lasting customer satisfaction.

25 Years in Procurement & Sales

Former Protein Category Manager, Simmons Pet Food

Contract Negotiation & Key Account Management

Angela Phipps

Sr. Manager, Customer Service

Angela is the operational heartbeat of our customer relationships – managing the day-to-day service experience with precision and care. Her team ensures that orders, communications, and issue resolutions are handled with the speed and accuracy our partners depend on. Her leadership in customer service is a direct embodiment of our commitment to OTIF performance and people-first culture.

25+ Years Industry Experience

Megan DuCote

Manager, Analytics & Intelligence

Megan leads the Simmons Animal Nutrition Analytics & Intelligence (SAI) Team, an embedded analytics function serving all of our commercial areas, from Sales and Forecasting to Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Finance. Collaborating with the ERP and data lake teams, she is leading our transition to real-time Business Intelligence dashboards while championing data governance and master data integrity across the business. Megan’s team turns complex data into clear, actionable insights for leaders and is advancing agentic AI capabilities to accelerate decision-making across Simmons Animal Nutrition.

BBA, Marketing – John Brown University

Operational Leadership

Aaron Gaither

Sr. Director, Operations

Aaron oversees end-to-end operational performance across our production network, with a focus on efficiency, capacity optimization, and quality execution. His operational leadership ensures that every specification committed to a customer is delivered with consistency – from raw material receipt through finished ingredient shipment. Aaron brings a systems-minded approach to managing complex manufacturing environments, with a deep understanding of how operational decisions translate into commercial outcomes for our customers.

Production Network Oversight

Quality & OTIF Performance

Process Optimization

Greg Lopez

VP, Operations

Greg brings a collaborative, process-driven leadership style to our operational framework, with an intense focus on manufacturing reliability, cross-plant coordination, and continuous improvement initiatives that reduce variability and strengthen service levels. His operational expertise spans multi-line production environments, making him a critical resource in managing our diverse product portfolio across species and formats.

Multi-Line Production Management

Continuous Improvement

Cross-Plant Coordination

Keith Sizemore

Director, Process Safety Management

Keith leads our Process Safety Management program, driving regulatory compliance, industry best practices, and consistent protection of team members across all production facilities. His leadership plays a key role in safeguarding team members and reinforcing operational integrity by embedding process safety into daily facility operations.

33+ Years Industry Experience

Process Safety & Regulatory Compliance

Team Member Safety Programs

IIAR Standards

Research & Development Leadership

Mike Blanchard

VP, Research & Development

Mike leads our R&D with a dual focus: advancing our internal innovation pipeline, and serving as a direct technical resource for customers navigating complex formulation challenges. With over 25 years of experience in the pet food sector, Mike has built R&D teams with a reputation for collaborative co-development, rigorous analytical standards, and the ability to translate ingredient science into finished product performance. His team operates at the intersection of protein chemistry, processing engineering, and consumer trend intelligence – ensuring that every specification is built to perform. Mike is known for building strong partnerships, fostering collaboration across all levels of the organization, and driving innovation that delivers real value.

40+ Years Industry Experience

Formulation Science & Ingredient Innovation

Protein Chemistry & Processing Engineering

Willy Núñez, Ph.D.

R&D Research Scientist

Dr. Núñez brings advanced scientific expertise to our formulation and ingredient research programs. His work focuses on ingredient performance characterization, analytical methodology, and the development of novel protein applications aligned with evolving consumer and formulation trends. Dr. Núñez plays a critical role in supporting customer technical inquiries with data‑driven precision ensuring that our recommendations are grounded in science. His expertise in animal nutrition science strengthens our capabilities in specialty diet development, functional ingredient design, and performance validation.

20+ Years Industry Experience

PhD, Meat Science – Iowa State University

MBA, Business – Iowa State University

MS, Meat Science, Iowa State University

Novel Protein Applications

Specialty Diet & Functional Formulation Support

Anthony Seidel

Sr. Manager, Product Development

Anthony leads innovation and development efforts supporting animal protein ingredients for strategic customers. With more than 15 years of experience in research and development, new product innovation, and cost optimization, Anthony brings deep technical expertise and a customer-focused mindset to product development. Anthony’s background in meat science allows him to connect scientific rigor with commercial execution. He works closely with customers, sales, and operations to deliver scalable, high-quality solutions that meet customer, regulatory, and operational requirements. He is known for translating complex technical challenges into practical, value-driven outcomes that strengthen long-term customer partnerships.