Marcus Jones

Experience

• 

  Veenker Memorial Golf Course

  Mar 2006 - Aug 2008

  Assistant Golf Course Superintendent

  I managed an 18-hole golf course and driving range facility. Primary duties included managing a seasonal crew and overseeing the daily course operations. I also helped plan and coordinate a renovation of the green, tees, and fairways which were re-established to improved cultivars as part of a sustainability initiative.

• 

  Iowa State University

  Aug 2008 - Jun 2012

  My primary responsibility involved managing the field turfgrass research program at Iowa State University. I maintained 20+ acres of research plots while collaborating with industry and academia partners to design and carry out research projects for the turf and ornamental industry. I also taught undergraduates and was actively involved in continuing education for industry professionals. My doctoral research investigated the competitiveness of different creeping bentgrass cultivars and their potential for renovating existing golf course putting greens through interseeding. I also received a teaching excellence award for my efforts instructing undergraduate students.

  • Assistant Scientist I

    Apr 2011 - Jun 2012

  • Graduate Research Assistant

    Aug 2008 - May 2011
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  Stoller USA

  Jun 2012 - Apr 2015

  Regional Product Development Manager

  - Evaluate, develop, and refine processes to optimize product evaluation approaches through trial design, protocol development, and data requirements - Write research protocols using fundamental design principles to ensure proper evaluation of new plant nutrition technologies - Work collaboratively to execute trials internally within the Answer Plot® program and externally with private cooperators and universities - Work with data analytics, technical marketing, and agronomy to interpret and summarize trial data into marketing content with appropriate product claims and positioning statements Onboard, train, and integrate product development intern to support plant nutrition product development activities Show less

• 

  Land O'Lakes, Inc.

  Apr 2015 - now

  - Consult with senior leadership to establish future portfolio strategies to align with business goals and retail owner’s needs among rapidly changing market dynamics. - Supervise research managers overseeing HIF, adjuvant, plant nutrition, seed treatment, and services portfolios to deliver projects on time and within budget. - Lead seed treatment business development activities aligning marketing needs with internal resources and vendor opportunities. - Lab management of phenotyping team to expand testing capabilities and provide marketing support for proprietary products and vendor fee-for-service opportunities. Show less - Inventor and patent holder on two proprietary plant growth regulator formulations, Ascend2, and Ascend ST3.- Develop strategies for the plant nutrition portfolio in the areas of product development, vendor relationships, pricing, and marketing. - Direct plant nutrition R&D project prioritization by scoping opportunities, while considering strategic, business, financial, and resource criteria. - Lead plant nutrition business development activities as a primary contact to interact and evaluate technologies from supplier partners. - Collaborate with research managers to gain consensus on field testing program activities, data interpretation, product launches, and communication to technical marketing and agronomy. Show less - Evaluate, develop, and refine processes to optimize product evaluation approaches through trial design, protocol development, and data requirements - Write research protocols using fundamental design principles to ensure proper evaluation of new plant nutrition technologies - Work collaboratively to execute trials internally within the Answer Plot® program and externally with private cooperators and universities - Work with data analytics, technical marketing, and agronomy to interpret and summarize trial data into marketing content with appropriate product claims and positioning statements - Onboard, train, and integrate product development intern to support plant nutrition product development activities Show less

  • Senior R&D Manager

    Nov 2021 - now

  • Senior Research Manager

    Oct 2016 - Oct 2021

  • Research Manager

    Apr 2015 - Sept 2016