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, Strategy & Margin Management

Nathan serves as Vice President of Strategy & Margin Management, where he shapes and executes the business unit’s strategic direction and margin management discipline. Working cross‑functionally with Sales, Operations, Procurement, Finance, and Supply Chain to align resources, Nathan guides commercial decision‑making to ensure sustainable, profitable growth. Nathan plays a key role in translating strategy into actions that support customer value creation while stewarding the company’s assets and capabilities. He closely partners with executive leadership on strategic initiatives, capital investment evaluation, 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

Brock Smith

VP, Finance

Brock serves as Vice President of Finance, where he provides financial leadership across the our business, partnering with operational and commercial leaders to support strategic decision-making, capital planning, and long-term growth initiatives. His prior experience within the organization includes VP Finance for Simmons Prepared Foods. In his current role, Brock oversees operations accounting, financial planning and analysis, performance reporting, and investment evaluation, helping ensure disciplined execution while supporting the continued growth and evolution of the Animal Nutrition platform.

22+ Years Industry Experience

B.S. Business Administration – Arkansas Tech University

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

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

Demand Planning & Commercial Intelligence

Megan spearheads Demand Planning & Commercial Intelligence, driving data-driven decision-making across commercial functions. She specializes in forecasting, analytics, and building automated reporting solutions that improve visibility, efficiency, and execution. Megan plays a key role in advancing enterprise-wide intelligence initiatives, including the development of Agentic applications for A.I. applications.

BBA, Marketing – John Brown University

Operational Leadership

Aaron Gaither

VP, 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.