Meet Our Team
James Smith
President
James Smith, President of Simmons Animal Nutrition (SAN), has extensive knowledge in food production developed over three decades of leading teams in multiple segments of Simmons’ vertically integrated food production business. His background, leadership and intense focus on delivering quality ingredients and nutrition for the pet food industry have positioned SAN as a trusted and rapidly growing industry partner.
James earned his B.S. in Agricultural Business from Arkansas Tech University and is currently a board member on the Arkansas Poultry and Livestock Commission. He was named The Poultry Federation’s 2017 Industry Leader of the Year.
Josh Clary
Senior Vice-President of Sales
Senior Vice President of Sales for Simmons Animal Nutrition Josh Clary believes good relationships are good business. He has more than 20 years of relationships and expertise in the pet and human food industries. Josh earned his Bachelor’s in Sports Medicine at John Brown University and his Master’s degree at the University of Arkansas. He is well-connected in the poultry and agriculture industry as a member of the National Renderers Association, USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, and as a committee member for The Poultry Protein & Fat Council. Beyond the industry, Josh serves as a board member at Jabali Ministries.
Brian Walker
Senior Director Business Development
Brian Walker is the Senior Director of Business Development for Simmons Animal Nutrition. Brian has a tenured career in business development and sales and is known as a robust, lead-by-example executive across many facets of the manufacturing industry. Brian’s experience with multiple industry leading companies makes him an invaluable resource. It was at the University of Arkansas where Brian earned his Bachelor’s in Domestic and International Agriculture Marketing.
Yancy Sweeten
Senior Vice-President of Operations
Yancy Sweeten, Senior Vice-President of Operations at Simmons Animal Nutrition, has been with our company for more than 25 years. During Yancy’s career at Simmons, he has served in many leadership roles across the company developing broad knowledge within the poultry, pet food and animal nutrition businesses. This knowledge translates into a deep understanding of the production of quality ingredients for pet food and other industries. Yancy is known for creating a welcoming and inclusive work environment, fostering a culture of hard-work and gratitude. Yancy studied Agriculture at Carl Albert State College before going on to earn his Bachelor’s of Agriculture in Business and Management at Arkansas Tech University.
Travis Hartley
Senior Director of Strategic Sourcing
Producing safe, healthy ingredients begins with consistent, quality sourcing. Travis Hartley, Director of Strategic Sourcing for Simmons Animal Nutrition, and his team are focused on developing procurement strategies to ensure quality, reliable materials are sourced efficiently to support customer growth. His engineering background shows a proven track record of collaborative leadership and strategic planning. Joining the Simmons team in 2021, Travis played a key role in the opening of Simmons Pet Food in Dubuque, Iowa. Travis earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Arkansas.