INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 11, 2020) — AgriNovus Indiana, the state’s initiative to promote and accelerate the growth of the agbioscience sector, has added three new members to its board of directors:

  • Mark “Doc” Holt, president, First Farmers Bank & Trust
  • Courtney Kingery, CEO, Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council
  • Daniel Padrão, COO, Solinftec

“These new additions to the AgriNovus Board of Directors continue to highlight the reach and expanse of the Indiana agbioscience sector,” said Beth Bechdol, president and CEO of AgriNovus Indiana. “As AgriNovus prepares for a transition to its next CEO, having these organizations and their leaders come forward and support the agbioscience community demonstrates the deep commitment we have from our stakeholders.”

Mark “Doc” Holt is president for First Farmers Bank & Trust and serves as a director of both First Farmers Financial Corp. and First Farmers Bank & Trust and serves as the new board representative to AgriNovus. Holt has served as the executive vice president of the Bank since 2015 and served on the Board of Directors of the Bank and the Company from 1997 to 2015.  Holt is a member of national, state, and local veterinary associations, a member of the Purdue President’s Council, and a former member of the Grant County Purdue Extension Board of Directors. He received his bachelor’s degree and doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Purdue University.

Courtney Kingery is the chief executive officer for Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council and serves as the new board representative to AgriNovus. Kingery has provided executive management expertise to the grain industry throughout her career. She most recently served as global director of Health & Wellness Innovation for Tate & Lyle, leading global marketing for the company’s Health and Wellness products that address obesity, diabetes, digestive health and food availability. Earlier in her career, she was a grain trader and marketing manger for oilseeds and food ingredients for ADM. Her family has a farm in White County, Ind. She graduated from Kutztown University with a Master of Business Administration and Hanover College with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

Daniel Padrão is the chief operating officer for Solinftec and joins the AgriNovus Board. Padrão has had an integral role building and expanding the Solinftec footprint from Brazil to West Lafayette, Ind. Padrão has been part of the Solinftec leadership since 2015, first serving as head of sales before transitioning to his current role. Previously, he worked with São Manoel Sugarcan Mill serving in roles from quality control, logistics and innovation development. Padrão has a bachelor’s degree in administration from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, another bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Universidade de São Paulo, and a master’s of business administration from Insper.

AgriNovus Indiana is a strategic initiative that is guided by an Executive Committee and Board of Directors comprised of stakeholders from business, university, community and government leaders across Indiana’s diverse food and agricultural sector. AgriNovus Indiana’s Board of Directors serves as advocates for the initiative to other community and industry representatives.

About AgriNovus Indiana

AgriNovus Indiana is the state’s initiative focused on advancing the agbiosciences sector as a nationally recognized leader through education, research and talent development; strategic collaborations among corporations, industry associations, government and universities; the creation and support of new companies; and branding and targeted promotions to elevate the sector. AgriNovus Indiana is part of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), an effort dedicated to the region’s continued prosperity and growth. To learn more about AgriNovus Indiana, visit www.agrinovusindiana.com.