NutriQuest is pleased to announce that it has added two key people to its NutriQuest Business Solutions team (NQBS), Casey Westphalen and Katie Weiss.
Casey Westphalen will be re-joining the NutriQuest Business Solutions (NQBS) team as Director of Business Services. Casey and Jenni Brown will partner together to serve current customers and expand reach and services provided. Westphalen previously led the NQBS team for nearly 10 years. Prior to working for NQBS, Casey received her MBA from Upper Iowa University and was the CFO of a 6,000-cow dairy and 17,000-acre farming operation. For the past two years, she has served as CEO at Brenneman Pork where her primary focus was to provide clarity for roles, positions and responsibilities within the organization, in addition to enhancing systems and processes, strategic planning and financial/performance analysis.
Katie Weiss joins the NQBS team as a Consulting CFO. She will be responsible for working with the GM/CEO/Production managers/staff members for various clients to create and assist with managing short- and long-term financials. Prior to joining NQBS Weiss worked with Moss Adams, a large regional CPA firm, where she was Audit Manager before working in the Mergers and Acquisitions group. Katie is originally from Iowa and has a passion for animal agriculture and serving swine producers.
NQBS offers five core services:
· Consulting CFO services - core financial/business processes of budgeting, strategic planning, financial analysis, and lender relationships.
· Consulting Controller services - assist producers in developing best practice accounting processes and producing accurate and timely financial statements with a focus on key performance indicators.
· Financial Restructuring/M&A services - leadership role in working with lenders and ownership to work through distressed financial situations with rational, data-driven decisions to drive positive outcomes.
· Advisory services - help clients with strategy, benchmarking, SWOT analysis, planning and capitalizing on opportunities.
· Leadership Services - delivered with our partner, 21st Century Ag Leadership, and include team building/communication, succession planning, and developing future leaders.
“I’m very excited to add Casey and Katie to our NutriQuest Business Solutions team, which is a testament to the commitment that NutriQuest has in serving livestock producers in this unique way, through a talented and experienced team. Our intimate knowledge of the livestock industry, coupled with the many financial tools and relationships we’ve developed, provide NQBS with the capability to help producers of all sizes improve their operations and business strategies, and strengthen their financial position and financial relationships,” said Steve Weiss, President of NutriQuest.
The NQBS team is comprised of leading business and financial experts that brings years of unparalleled experience in the livestock, rowcrop and financial industries.
Meet the remaining NQBS Professionals:
STEVE WEISS, PRESIDENT, is a leading financial and business expert in the U.S. livestock industry having served as Chief Financial Officer for Iowa Select Farms during its formation and rapid growth phase, and providing business and financial consulting services to some of the most prominent livestock producers and financial institutions in the swine and dairy industries. In additional to financial and strategic consulting, Weiss has been a leading provider of restructuring and M&A services to the swine and dairy industries for the last 15 years.
JENNI BROWN, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SOLUTIONS/CFO, is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a BS degree in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Prior to joining NutriQuest, Jenni served as Chief Financial Officer for a Company with multi-state operations in livestock production and row-crop farming. Previously, Jenni was a CPA with Ernst & Young in Chicago. Jenni brings experience in financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, and using metrics and benchmarking to motivate teams and align Company and employee goals.
KATIE WEISS, CONSULTING CFO, received BS degrees in accounting and finance from Loyola Marymount University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Prior to joining NutriQuest, Katie worked for Moss Adams, LLP, a large regional public accounting firm. Katie brings experience in financial reporting and related processes, budgeting, technical accounting matters, and due diligence.
KEVIN CHRISTENSEN, CONSULTING CFO, is a graduate of Upper Iowa University with a BS degree in Accounting and Management and is a Certified Management Accountant. Prior to joining NutriQuest, Kevin held Chief Financial Officer and Controller positions in Ag cooperatives and manufacturing companies. Through these positions, Kevin has developed an understanding and knowledge of financial reporting and planning, operational analysis, financial and information systems that benefits producers as they strive to improve their operations.
DENNIS NUETZMAN, CONSULTING CFO, has served in several financial leadership roles including Director of Finance & Accounting in supporting the growth of Murphy Farms from a small family owned livestock production operation to become the largest component of Smithfield Foods’ integrated pork production business. In addition to his financial and operational knowledge of livestock production, he also has significant experience in the acquisition and divestiture of swine production systems.
CRYSTAL CAPPEL, CONSULTING STAFF ACCOUNTANT, is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a BS in Accounting. Before NutriQuest, Crystal served as the Finance Director for a government agency, as well as working in various accounting roles with livestock production companies. She assists companies in the production of financial reports, maintaining accounting systems and financial budgets. She has the financial knowledge to help provide support in various areas of accounting operations.
