Meet Your Speakers

See what to expect from your 2023 speaker lineup by learning about their backgrounds and experiences.

Full Name
Kim Lear
Job Title
Founder, Generational Research Consultant, Public Speaker
Company
Inlay Insights
Speaker Bio
Kim Lear is a writer, researcher, and the founder of Inlay Insights. She is known for skillfully weaving eye-opening statistics, insightful stories, and relevant case studies to make presentations come alive. Kim was recently named one of today’s best speakers by Meetings and Conventions Magazine, and she appeared as keynote speaker before some of the most renowned companies in the world. She has received rave reviews from clients such as American Express, Cisco Systems, Deloitte, Disney, General Mills, LinkedIn, Mastercard, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Wells Fargo, and more. In addition to speaking, Kim was head of research on the book Gen Z @ Work. She has written whitepapers on generational wealth transfer, retirement trends, and Gen Z’s impact on higher education.

She is a highly sought-after generational expert and serves as an advisor to FORE, an AI startup focused on predictive analytics for attrition. She also volunteers for The 78 Cents Project, an organization dedicated to helping young women develop strong presentation skills. When not delving into the minutia of human behavior, Kim can be found spending time with her husband and daughters in Minneapolis.

Opening Keynote Speaker Kim Lear shares a message on Understanding Cross-Generational Communications or Winning the Talent War
Kim Lear
Full Name
Jones Loflin
Job Title
Speaker, Author, Coach
Speaker Bio
Jones Loflin has made it his life’s work to deliver powerful ideas and practical solutions to individuals around the world so they can achieve more of what is most important to them. His books are described as “illuminating” and his presentations as “unforgettable.” In his 28 years as a speaker and coach he has helped countless people regain confidence in their ability to achieve greater success in work and life.

Jones’ “3P Approach” of Powerful Ideas connected to Practical Solutions delivered with a Personal Approach has attracted the attention of organizations around the world. His client list includes Federal Express, Wal-Mart, Choice Hotels, Toyota, Bridgestone, and Tractor Supply as well as the United States military.

Looking for ways to expand the reach of his message, Jones chose to become an author. His book, Always Growing, is a fresh approach to leadership and offers powerfully practical strategies for individuals who have been leading for two days or two decades. Juggling Elephants is a witty and profound parable about one man’s search for solutions for the struggle of too much do. The book is available in the US and over 14 countries. He is also the author of Getting The Blue Ribbon, a unique story offering simple strategies to get better results in your work and life. Getting to It is considered a field guide to accomplishing what is most important.

Jones has also expanded his reach with Jones U, offering online courses and coaching plans for those who want their learning to be self-paced.
Prior to becoming an internationally-recognized speaker, Jones was an educator. His past work also includes serving as the "Trainer of Trainers" for the best-selling book, Who Moved My Cheese? Jones holds a BS and M.Ed. from North Carolina State University. He is a member of the National Speaker’s Association as well as the Association for Talent Development.

Jones believes the key to success is being passionate about certain things in life, including family, spiritual beliefs, career and relationships. His favorite quote is by Zig Ziglar: “Go as far as you can see by faith, and when you get there you can see farther.”

When not working with some amazing individuals and organizations seeking better results, Jones resides in North Carolina with his wonderful wife Lisa. They have two perfect daughters and one really cool son-in-law.
Jones Loflin
Full Name
Dave Mitchell
Company
The Leadership Difference, Inc.
Job Title
President
Speaker Bio
Since founding the Leadership Difference in 1995, over 450,000 people have attended Dave Mitchell’s “enter-TRAIN-ment” seminars on topics that include leadership, customer service, selling skills, and personal performance enhancement. His clients include Allstate Insurance, Bank of America, Universal Studios, Hilton Worldwide, Sub-Zero Wolf Appliances, Electrolux Appliances, Trek Bikes, Walt Disney World and the CIA.

Prior to starting his own organization development consulting firm, the Leadership Difference, Dave was the Vice President of Human Resources and Quality for Buena Vista Hospitality Group, Corporate Director of Training and Development for Marshall Field’s and a television reporter and producer for CBS News. He has a B.A. in Mass-Communications with an emphasis in Business Administration and a Masters Degree in Global Human Resources Development. Dave has served as adjunct professor at the University of Illinois and has been designated as a Certified Advanced Wine Sommelier (som-uh-yay) by the International Wine Guild. Having failed to achieve his dream of playing professional baseball, he went on to a successful coaching career at the tee ball level. Dave is the author of the book Live and Learn or Die Stupid! The book focuses on personal contentment and performance excellence. It was released in July of 2006 and was at the top of his publishers’ best seller’s list in the very first month of its release. In December 2013, The Power of Understanding People hit book shelves. Amazon selected it as Editor’s Choice for best business book. His next book, The Power of Understanding Yourself was released in January 2019 and was named “Top Read” by Training Magazine and Editor’s Pick by getabstract.com. Dave’s fourth book, Peak Performance Culture: The Five Metrics of Organizational Excellence, was released in September 2020 to critical acclaim.

Dave lives in the wine country of Washington with his wife of 35 years, Lori. He has two adult children: Brooklyn and Slade. Among the Mitchell critters are three horses and Mingus the Menace – a large, smart, scary dog who is secretly a cuddler.
Dave Mitchell
Company
People Spark Consulting
Job Title
Co-Founder
Speaker Bio
Founders Kristen Ireland and Erin Mies are human resources experts who focus on simple, practical business and HR strategies to boost a company’s bottom line by increasing profits and margin, increasing retention and engagement, and creating a culture of success. The People Spark Consulting team works with ag business clients across the US to implement strategies and processes to create a thriving company culture where everyone has shared goals and is headed in the same direction.

Kristen and Erin collectively have 40+ years’ business and human resources experience, and have a passion for simple, practical solutions. Erin and Kristen are also adjunct faculty members at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s School for Labor and Employment Relations, teaching on change management.

You can visit the website to learn more about the company, read full bios, and check out the latest blog posts. They share a monthly blog and a newsletter with subscribers. You’ll also find them on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Kristen Ireland
Full Name
Mike Carroll
Company
MFI
Job Title
President
Speaker Bio
Mike Carroll grew up on a tobacco farm in Benson, North Carolina. After graduation from NC State University in 1980 with a degree in Agriculture, he began his fertilizer career with Kaiser Ag Chem. Later Mike transitioned from retail to wholesale sales and in 1999 he was involved in the starting of Meherrin Fertilizer, Inc. MFI operates on the East Coast as a wholesale distributor of fertilizer materials. In 2015 MFI acquired Weaver Fertilizer in Winston Salem, NC. Mike is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He enjoys spending time with his family and is active in his church. He is proud of his 43 years in the fertilizer industry.
Mike Carroll

 

Leaders from several international ag organizations will join a panel, International Retailers: Hot Issues & Trends in their Markets, moderated by The Scoop's Margy Eckelkamp.

 

Full Name
Matheus Cônsoli
Company
Markestrat Group - ANDAV
Job Title
Founding Partner
Speaker Bio
Matheus Cônsoli is an enthusiast about agricultural retail and farm input distribution. He is a founding partner at Markestrat, a Brazilian based consultancy group, developing projects with retailers and manufactures in more than 30 countries. Specialist in Business Strategies, Distribution, Market Access, Marketing and Sales, Supply Chain Management and Digital Transformation. He has extensive experience in agribusiness in Brazil and abroad, supporting various global input manufactures, and more than 600 retailers and cooperatives, as well as public entities and companies from other sectors to define and implement their strategies, redefine structures and position themselves in the market in search of competitiveness and performance. He holds a PhD in Production Engineering from EESC / USP (and research at Texas A&M), Master and Graduate in Business Administration from FEA / USP, also acting as professor in MBAs and specialist instructor in several executive training programs worldwide.
Matheus Cônsoli
Full Name
Luis Mogni
Job Title
Argentina Distribution Consultant
Speaker Bio
- Agronomist Engineer with a long trajectory in the agricultural inputs market;
- Specialist in Agro Distribution Channels;
- Agroconsultant in the pheromones and semiochemicals products;
- Partner of SOMERA, Agro Consultant in Agribusiness Management and Strategy;
- Member of the Committee organizing the First CDA (Agro Distributors Congress) in Argentina 2023.
Luis Mogni
Full Name
Mathieu Naddeo
Company
Group Societe Commerciale Agricole de Distribution (SCAD)
Job Title
CEO
Speaker Bio
Mathieu Naddeo began serving as Chief Executive Officer of Group SCAD (Société Commerciale Agricole de Distribution) in 2019. The family business counts 30 employees and is specialised in providing services for rice and durum wheat producers in the South East of France, bulk blending mineral fertilisers, managing logistic of mineral fertilisers products and software development related to the compliance of the European Standard for Fertilisers. Group SCAD through its subsidiary Sud Engrais Distribution is an historical member of AFCOME, the professional organisation bringing together the majority of agricultural supply companies, cooperatives and private companies distributing fertilisers and manufacturing fertilisers by mixing in France. Naddeo became the leader of the AFCOME International Commission in 2022.

Prior to joining Group SCAD, Naddeo worked 13 years as a mechanical engineer and project manager in the Nuclear industry in France on nuclear fuel fabrication, the United Kingdom on decommissioning programs, United Arab Emirates on a new build project and Canada on medical isotopes production.

Naddeo holds a masters in mechanical engineering and a qualification from the British Association of Project Management.

Naddeo was born and raised in Provence, France. He and his wife Elizabeth have two children.
Mathieu Naddeo
Full Name
Mitch Rezansoff
Company
Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR)
Job Title
Executive Director
Speaker Bio
Rezansoff joins CAAR with over 34 years of experience in agriculture, from his early days as a territory manager with BASF to, most recently, as the Integrated Solutions Manager at Enns Brothers. He possesses a keen understanding of agri-retail and the value that retailers bring to their customers.
Mitch Rezansoff
Full Name
Margy Eckelkamp
Company
Farm Journal
Job Title
Brand Leader
Speaker Bio
Margy Eckelkamp is a multimedia journalist providing the agricultural industry with leading service journalism. As editor of The Scoop, Margy provides editorial guidance, organization, and reporting for the publication serving ag retailers, crop consultants and farm managers. She also continues to be part of the team that aligns Machinery Pete with farm equipment dealers to build the fastest-growing farm equipment website. Before her current position, Margy was the machinery editor and test plot director for Farm Journal. She helped launch the Corn College series of events and also provided agronomic content for Corn College TV. She lives in east-central Missouri with her husband and two children. In 2021, Governor Mike Parson appointed Margy to serve a 6-year term on the Missouri Conservation Commission.
Margy Eckelkamp

Speaker Lineup

Check back later to see what new speakers we've added!

Full NameCompanyJob Title
Daren CoppockAgricultural Retailers AsssociationPresident & CEO
Margy EckelkampFarm JournalBrand Leader
Mike CarrollMFIPresident
Kim LearInlay InsightsFounder, Generational Research Consultant, Public Speaker
Ian McGregorThe McGregor CompanyPresident
Dave MitchellThe Leadership Difference, Inc.President
Erin MiesPeople Spark ConsultingCo-Founder
Kristen IrelandPeople Spark ConsultingCo-Founder
Matheus CônsoliMarkestrat Group - ANDAVFounding Partner
Mathieu NaddeoGroup Societe Commerciale Agricole de Distribution (SCAD)CEO
Luis Mogni(not set)Argentina Distribution Consultant
Mitch RezansoffCanadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR)Executive Director
Jones Loflin(not set)Speaker, Author, Coach
Leah DuzyCSI/FESTFPrincipal Consultant
Ashlea FrankCSI/FESTFPrincipal Consultant