Dr. Richard Andersen, Executive Vice President, Informa Economics, Inc.
Dr. Andersen joined Informa Ecomonics (formerly Sparks Companies Inc.) in 1978 and has held several positions in the company over the past 36 years. As co-executive of Informa's Livestock, Meat, Poultry and Dairy Group activities, Dr. Andersen's primary responsibilities include market research, client service and business consulting related to these sectors. Prior to joining the company, Dr. Andersen was a regional extension economist for the Alberta Agriculture Department, a livestock market analyst and policy advisor to the Alberta Minister of Agriculture, and a research economist for Cook Industries, Inc. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Alberta and his doctorate degree in agricultural economics from The Ohio State University.
Nate Donnay, Director of Dairy Services, Informa Economics, Inc.
Based in Informa Economics' Eagan, Minnesota, office, Mr. Donnay is primarily responsible for fundamental research, analysis and forecasting in the global and domestic dairy markets. In addition to conducting dairy sector analysis, Mr. Donnay works with Informa's dairy sector clients in developing purchasing and pricing strategies for dairy products as well as consulting on long-term strategic planning, policy analysis and dairy-related projects. With the company since 2005, Mr. Donnay received his bachelor's degree in economics from Winona State University and his master's degree in applied economics from Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota.
Mark Jordan, Director of Poultry & Egg Services, Informa Economics, Inc.
Mr. Jordan has been with Informa since 2007. He heads up research of the broiler, turkey, and egg industries in addition to supporting research efforts associated with special projects involving livestock and poultry. Mr. Jordan developed and operates Informa’s economic forecasting models for each of the three major poultry species to support analytic efforts to meet client needs. Prior to joining Informa, he was an agricultural statistician in the Pennsylvania field office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service where his duties included survey administration and setting commodity estimates at the state and county level. Mr. Jordan was raised on a small cow-calf and contract broiler operation in rural Arkansas, and he remains partially involved with his family’s farm operation. Mr. Jordan received a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Dr. Rob Murphy, Senior Vice President, Informa Economics, Inc.
Dr. Murphy is co-executive of the Livestock, Meat, Poultry and Dairy Group with responsibilities for livestock/red meat research, price analysis, and margin risk management design/implementation. He is a founder of Informa’s MarginQuest Division, which develops and implements science-based solutions such as price optimization and demand modeling to improve margins. He authors price risk management policies for agribusinesses and develops mathematical risk measurement models. Prior to joining Informa, he was a research economist at the CME where he maintained the Live Cattle futures contract and was involved in futures contract design. He received his bachelor's in animal science and master's in agricultural economics from Louisiana State University and earned a doctorate in agricultural and applied economics from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg.
Dr. Mike Sands, Vice President, Informa Economics, Inc.
Dr. Sands joined Informa in 1993 with his primary responsibilities including economic research and market analysis, emphasizing cattle/beef prices, production, trade, price relationships, and risk management strategies. He also coordinates a multi-commodity livestock and meat research team in developing tailored marketing, merchandising and risk management plans for livestock and livestock products. Prior to joining Informa, he was the director of the Livestock Marketing Information Center where he maintained research responsibilities in livestock and meat price analysis, strategic marketing management, and database development. Before joining LMIC, he was an extension livestock marketing economist at Kansas State and Purdue. He received his bachelor's from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and his master's and doctorates from the University of Illinois, all in agricultural economics.