10 CHS operations leaders
Michael Johnston, Senior Vice President Operations at CHS Inc., is one of ten CHS operations leaders listed here, alongside people who hold vice president and senior director of operations roles at the company. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at CHS from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
David Guilmette
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Transportation Operations · CHS Inc.
David Guilmette has been Vice President, Transportation Operations at CHS Inc. since October 2024 and was Vice President, Wholesale Operations at CHS Inc. from 2023 to 2024. David Guilmette was Senior Director, Distribution at CHS Inc. from 2022 to 2023, Director, Supply Chain from 2018 to 2022 and Director, Supply Chain Center at Domino's from 2017 to 2018.
James Lee Hardy III
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director Operations · CHS Inc.
James Lee Hardy III has been Sr. Director Operations at CHS Inc. since January 2025, based in Lewiston, Idaho, and also lists General Manager titles at CHS Inc. from 2017 and 2021, with a profile headline naming CHS Primeland. James Lee Hardy III was a Multi Location Manager at CHS Inc. from 2012 to 2017 and a Manager Trainee in 2012.
Jason Kroener
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of Operations · CHS Inc.
Jason Kroener has been Senior Director of Operations at CHS Inc. since January 2016, based in Okarche, Oklahoma. Jason Kroener was a District Sales Manager at Bayer from 2011 to 2015, a Regional Business Coordinator at Bayer in 2011, a Crop Marketing Coordinator from 2009 to 2011 and a Technical Sales Representative at Bayer from 2007 to 2009.
Joel Sparks
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of Operations South Central and Southwest Grain · CHS Inc.
Joel Sparks has been Senior Director of Operations South Central and Southwest Grain at CHS Inc. since July 2025, based in Dickinson, North Dakota. Joel Sparks was Director Of Operations at CHS Inc. from 2022 to 2023 and a Regional Operations Manager there from 2021 to 2022, and was Director of Operations at The Wenger Group from 2023 to 2024 and Senior Vice President The Wenger Group, President Wenger Feeds Animal Nutrition from 2024 to 2025.
Keith Schumacher
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations · CHS Inc.
Keith Schumacher has been Vice President Operations at CHS Inc. since September 2022, based in Great Falls, Montana. Keith Schumacher was a Senior Director at CHS Inc. from 2009 to 2022, a Commodity Trader from 2000 to 2009 and a Location Manager at CHS Inc. from 1996 to 2000, and the profile lists CHS Inc. as the only employer shown.
Kent Mulder
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Operations · CHS Inc.
Kent Mulder has been Vice President Operations at CHS Inc. since September 2022, based in the Greater Sioux Falls area. Kent Mulder was a General Manager at CHS Inc from 2015 to 2022, Grain Division Manager at CHS Inc. from 2011 to 2014 and South Group Manager from 2000 to 2011.
Michael Bates
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of Operations · CHS Inc.
Michael Bates has been Senior Director of Operations at CHS Inc. since September 2024, based in the Greater New Orleans region. Michael Bates was a Plant Manager at Cargill from 2021 to 2024, a Plant Superintendent at Cargill from 2015 to 2021 and an Assistant Superintendent from 2014 to 2021, and was a Production Team Leader at Cargill from 2011 to 2014.
Michael Johnston
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Operations · CHS Inc.
Michael Johnston has held the title Senior Vice President Operations at CHS Inc. since July 2015, based in St Paul, Minnesota, and describes a long career in retail agriculture and current work in the Country Operations division according to the profile. Michael Johnston was Vice President Of Business Development at CHS Inc. from 2003 to 2015 and a Senior Business Analyst from 2002 to 2003.
Phil Farrell
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director of Operations · CHS Inc.
Phil Farrell has been Sr. Director of Operations at CHS Inc. since September 2022, based in Illinois, and also lists the title General Manager at CHS Inc. from 2016 to 2023. Phil Farrell was Asst. G.M. at Elburn Cooperative Company from 1999 to 2016 and worked in Identity Preserve Procurement at Oakville Feed and Grain from 1997 to 1999.
Ross Keegan
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Operations · CHS Inc.
Ross Keegan has been Senior Director, Operations at CHS Inc. since January 2024, with a profile headline describing the role for CHS River Plains, covering central South Dakota and south central North Dakota. Ross Keegan was Director, Agronomy Operations at CHS Inc. from 2018 to 2024 and an Agronomy Sales Rep at CHS Inc. from 2012 to 2018.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose region and business line are closest to your question, since grain, agronomy, transportation and ag retail operations run differently. Check the start dates to see how long each person has held the role.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your operations role at CHS, and what did you learn from it?
- 02How do you decide which location or regional issues need your direct attention?
- 03What have you learned from your own work about running agricultural operations across many sites safely and efficiently?
Reaching CHS operations leaders
How can I contact one of these CHS operations leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: CHS Inc., based on profile data retrieved on October 19, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach CHS operations leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these CHS operations leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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