Steven J. Mercer
3000 S. Randolph Street, Apt. 247

Arlington VA 22206
Mobile: (913) 449-4134
Home: (571) 970-4436
Email: stevenjmercer@gmail.com


Accomplished marketing services executive with proven strategic planning, management and implementation experience in agricultural, animal health and business-to-business marketing. Excellent writer, presenter and photographer.

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Director of Communications, U.S. Wheat Associates, Arlington VA, 2006 - Present

• Planned and implemented new international promotional campaign that more consistently and attractively links U.S. wheat producers to the differential advantages of the six wheat classes available for export: http://bitly.com/uswcampaign.

• Editor of bi-monthly Wheat Letter reaching more than 2,000 international wheat buyers and U.S. wheat industry stakeholders: http://bitly.com/wheatletter.

• Led U.S. wheat producer board members on trade missions to Latin America and Asia.

U. S. Public Relations Lead, AdFarm, Kansas City MO, 2003 - 2006

• Established and directed a new Public Relations functional group to support account teams, contributing $1.5 million in annual revenue for this leading, international communications agency.
• Planned and managed an integrated, multi-year, small grains industry relations program for client Bayer CropScience to support the successful launch of five new crop protection products.
• Developed and directed a strategic issues management program supporting the defense of a major producer organization in an international trade dispute, helping prevent the imposition of countervailing import duties.

Director, Client Services, Geoff Howe Marketing Communications, Kansas City MO, 2002-2003

• Led a six-person account management team serving clients in the companion animal industry representing $2.2 million in revenue.
• Contributed to substantial growth by leading the account team in the acquisition of $1 million of new business from Pfizer Animal Health.

Senior Vice President, Weber Shandwick, Bloomington MN, 1996 - 2001

• Led the turn-around of the agency’s major agricultural account, Syngenta, from $150 thousand to $1.5 million in revenue.
• Supervised integrated communications programs for the successful launch of 10 new crop protection products, including Flint® fungicide, later purchased as part of a merger agreement for $690 million.

Account Supervisor, Dudnyk Advertising & Public Relations, Chicago IL, 1993 - 1995

• Gained international experience supporting the Dectomax® parasiticide launch in Europe.
• Directed marketing and communications for an innovative value-added strategy to turn around declining sales of Red Brand® Fence.
• Selected to open and manage a new office following reorganization.

Senior Marketing Communications Manager, Sandoz Crop Protection, Chicago IL, 1988 - 1993

• Managed communications, with a special product management assignment, for the launch of Frontier® herbicide in the U.S. corn market.
• Gained increasing staff supervision responsibility after consistently exceeding performance and sales goals while managing a $6.5 million communications program to within one percent of budget.
• Member of search and selection team to develop new communications agency partnerships.

Additional

• Member of agency team partnered with Merck (now Merial) to launch the ivermectin products, including Heartgard® for dogs and Ivomec® for cattle and swine.
• Strong writing and photography skills developed in both copy and editorial positions.


INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP

• National Agri-Marketing Association
- Past President, North Central Chapter

- Chair, 2009 Trends in Agriculture Conference Committee
- Program Committee, 2006 Agri-Marketing Conference
- Student Marketing Competition Judge
• National Association of Farm Broadcasters
• American Agricultural Editors Association


EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Communications (Journalism), University of Illinois

Continuing Education
• Marketing Strategy Seminar, University of Chicago Executive Education
• MarkStrat Marketing Simulation Program, StratX Simulations
• Collaborating for Results, The Forum Corporation
• Finance for Non-Financial Executives, The American Marketing Association
• Strategic Planning, SCQuARE International