Bayer CropScience Makes Key Hires To Add Strength To Growing Vegetation Management Business

Date:01-23-2015

Bayer CropScience's US Environmental Science business recently announced its expanded team of vegetation management professionals who will bring new value to distributor and end-user customers and to the industry. Key hires include Daniel Zapotok, vegetation management product manager; Steve Williams, eastern sales manager; Jason Belcher, eastern regional stewardship manager; and a team of thirteen sales professionals.

Zapotok brings 23 years of global marketing, project management and engineering expertise to his new position as vegetation management product manager at Bayer. Zapotok most recently served as a specialty herbicide portfolio manager at DuPont Crop Protection, where he managed the range and pasture, permanent crops and the cotton herbicide business. Zapotok has led regional enterprise planning, marketing programs, demand planning, plant scheduling and manufacturing process management and support. He achieved six sigma black belt and master black belt certifications and has supported global business efforts across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

As eastern sales manager, Williams brings more than 30 years of experience to the Bayer vegetation management business. He most recently served as U.S. sales manager for DuPont, where he was responsible for managing the vegetation management, forestry and railroad markets. He has served the vegetation management and crop protection industries in a variety of roles including field research, product development, technical service, distribution, project management, account management and sales. Williams holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a Master of Science in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a doctorate in agronomy from the University of Illinois. 

Jason Belcher is a vegetation management professional with more than 20 years of experience in weed science, herbicide research, row and vegetable crops and turfgrass management. In his new role as eastern regional stewardship manager at Bayer, Belcher is responsible for the field development and stewardship of the Bayer vegetation management portfolio. Previously, he served as the eastern U.S. field development representative with DuPont Crop Protection. Belcher brings to Bayer extensive experience conducting research in vegetation management, including new product development and research trials, and he is an active member in the Weed Science Society of America, Southern Weed Science Society, Alabama Turfgrass Association, Alabama Vegetation Management Society and National Roadside Vegetation Management Association. Belcher holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science, a Master of Science in Weed Science and Turfgrass Management and a doctorate in weed science. He earned all three academic degrees from Auburn University.

To support vegetation management professionals with on-the-ground expertise, Bayer also hired a team of 13 sales managers that includes the following:
•    Michael Owen – key account manager based in North Carolina
•    Leroy Aulgur – area sales manager based in California
•    Gueth Braddock – area sales manager based in Mississippi
•    Joseph Carrigan – area sales manager based in Colorado
•    Randall Denhart – area sales manager based in Indiana
•    Gerald Hobson – area sales manager based in Texas
•    Jack Le Clair – area sales manager based in Texas
•    William Mixon – area sales manager based in Florida
•    Scott Ohnoutka – area sales manager based in South Dakota
•    Kent Pittard – area sales manager based in Washington
•    Myron Rabalais – area sales manager based in Texas
•    Mark Rice – area sales manager based in Pennsylvania
•    Douglas Wood – area sales manager based in Louisiana