Genex Cooperative, Inc., a subsidiary of Cooperative Resources International (CRI), announces Keith Heikes of Shawano as the new Genex Chief Operating Officer (COO).
“With the growth of CRI and the recent addition of the MOFA Global subsidiary, the Genex and CRI boards of directors voted to separate the Genex COO and CRI CEO responsibilities. Doug Wilson, who was Genex COO for 21 years and held the joint position for the past 12 years, will continue as CRI CEO,” states Paul Greene, Genex President and dairy producer from Berlin, N.Y.
“Keith has extensive experience within the artificial insemination (A.I.) industry and within this cooperative. His experience, knowledge and dedication to the membership will assure the relevance, growth and influence of Genex in the future.”
Heikes has devoted 33 years to the bovine A.I. industry. After graduating from Kansas State University, he joined KABSU (Kansas Artificial Breeding Service Unit) where he held responsibilities in dairy sire acquisition, marketing and A.I. training.
He then moved to Noba, Inc., in Tiffin, Ohio, where he served as General Manager and led the initiative for Noba to become a part of CRI. In 1996, Heikes was named CRI Vice President of International Programs and went onto create substantial international growth for the cooperative and develop valuable global relationships.
In 2010, he became Genex Vice President of Dairy Genetics & Global Alliance Development before being named Genex Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing in 2013.
Heikes currently serves as chairman of the National Association of Animal Breeders board of directors and is a member of the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding and the USDA Emerging Markets Program advisory committee.
CRI, a member-owned holding cooperative, is comprised of three subsidiaries: AgSource Cooperative Services, Genex Cooperative, Inc. and MOFA Global. The CRI mission statement summarizes the goal of CRI: “To provide products and services as effectively as possible to maximize the profitability of members and customers worldwide while maintaining a strong cooperative.”
