Russell Consulting Group Makes Two Appointments

Russell Consulting Group, a Midwest-based risk management and financial planning firm, and its majority owner Country Hedging Inc., commodity brokerage subsidiary of leading grains, energy and foods company CHS Inc., has made two appointments to the Russell Consulting sales team.

Preston Zacharias joined Russell Consulting Group as a sales associate. Working out of the Inver Grove Heights, Minn., office, his role will be business development, including bringing new clients on board and establishing those account relationships, as well as ongoing sales support functions for the broader associate team.

Zacharias has a background in commodity futures. For nearly 20 years, he has worked directly and indirectly with producers managing commodity brokerage functions including floor operations and execution, compliance and accounting. He is currently an NFA associated person.

Also, Lonnie Wells in the Kansas City, Mo., office will now fully focus his efforts on growing Russell Consulting Group business in that region. He will be identifying and developing new clients as well as continuing to serve the current producers he has in the Russell Consulting program. Wells has been with Country Hedging since 2007, coming to the Kansas City location after managing a Country Hedging branch office through United Farmers Cooperative in Hampton, Neb. Prior to that, he had already developed more than 20 years experience in agricultural banking as a loan officer and in management with several financial institutions in Nebraska.

Russell Consulting Group works with the top 20 percent of crop and livestock producers in some 36 states and Canada advising these agri-operators on risk management and income protection.

Topics Agribusiness