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Leadership Team

Scott Schaefers

Senior Vice President, Marketing and Innovation

While a newcomer to the crop insurance industry, Scott is no stranger to agriculture and marketing strategy. He and his wife own Scott’s original homestead farm which has been in his family 161 years. After years of cropping it, they have now turned the 270 acres into fields of native grasses, wetlands and trees in West Central Minnesota.

Prior to joining the ProAg team, Scott was responsible for marketing strategy within a commercial division of Travelers Insurance. He has also held a variety of marketing and strategy roles at Deluxe Corporation where he led several transformational initiatives including New Product Development, eCommerce and Mergers & Acquisitions. In addition, he has previous experience in both the telecommunications and consulting industries and has owned his own small business.

Scott received his MBA from Drake University in Des Moines, IA and his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN. Scott lives in the Twin Cities with his wife Kate and has two twenty-something daughters, Rachel and Clare. In his spare time, he spends as much time outdoors as he can hunting, fishing, hiking and at his farm.

Andrew Headrick

National Claims Manager

Andrew started his career as a loss adjuster after college graduation. He joined ProAg in 2013 as an area claims supervisor and, most recently, a regional claims manager for the Central Region. Andrew has been involved in his family farm his whole life, providing a firsthand understanding of agriculture and the risks inherent in the profession.

Andrew graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business.

ProAg Crop Insurance Vikki Blettner National Underwriting Manager

Vikki Blettner

National Underwriting Manager

Vikki has been in the crop insurance business for over 25 years. Her career began in the Northwest as an underwriter. Through the years, she has held various positions, including claims supervisor, claims processing manager, and legal analysis coordinator.

Vikki joined the ProAg team in 2004. Working to help protect America’s farmers and ensure they can continue to farm, is exactly where she feels she belongs. Vikki enjoys being a part of the crop insurance industry.

Vikki and her husband, Kerry, live in northern Idaho. Together with their children, Kara and Logan, they spend their free time snow skiing, water skiing/wake-surfing, mountain biking or attending the kid’s sporting events.

Jennifer Umscheid

National Compliance Manager

Jennifer joined ProAg in 2012 as a compliance project manager / national compliance analyst and, most recently, a senior process analyst. Jennifer has more than 20 years of crop insurance experience with fifteen years focused on compliance. Her experience will allow ProAg to continue to provide exceptional customer service to our compliance customers, both internal and external.

Jennifer graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s in Agriculture.

ProAg Crop Insurance Chris Ohm Regional Vice President Southern

Chris Ohm

Regional Vice President of ProAg’s Southern Region

Chris brings over 15 years of experience in the crop insurance industry to ProAg. He has worked in positions with various crop insurance companies including being a marketing representative as well as regional and national underwriting supervisor positions.

Chris’ education includes an Agricultural Business bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.

ProAg Crop Insurance Mark Parde Regional Vice President Northern

Mark Parde

Regional Vice President of ProAg’s Northern Region

Bringing over 10 years of crop insurance and sales experience, Mark joined ProAg in 2019 as part of the AmTrust Ag acquisition. Mark started his crop insurance career in 2008 as a regional sales manager at ADM Crop Risk Services while also managing his own agency. In 2013, he joined Climate Corporation and AmTrust Ag, also as a regional sales manager.

Tyffany Basila

Regional Vice President of ProAg's Western Region

Tyffany brings over 20 years of experience in the crop insurance industry. Since starting ProAg in 2008, Tyffany spent five years in compliance before moving into claims as an Area Claims Supervisor and in 2015 she became the Western Claims Manager.

ProAg Crop Insurance Joe Sharp Regional Vice President Eastern

Joe Sharp

Regional Vice President of ProAg's Eastern Region

Joe brings over 10 years of sales experience to ProAg. He is coming to us from Steyer Seeds where he was a district sales manager. Joe also spent six years working for Monsanto Regional Brands as a district sales manager. Joe graduated from Wilmington College with his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business and is a Certified Crop Advisor.

Executive Team

Experience. Experience. Experience—three reasons why the Executive Team adds incredible strength to ProAg. With almost 100 years of cumulative experience in all phases of crop insurance—from adjusting and underwriting to trade organizations and Capitol Hill—this team thoroughly understands the industry. They put their knowledge to work for the benefit of ProAg agents and customers every day.