Mike Lasater Named National Sales Director
ATCHISON, Kan., November 4, 2010—Mike Lasater has been appointed national sales director for the ingredient solutions segment at MGP Ingredients, Inc. (Nasdaq/MGPI). He has nearly 20 years of experience in food ingredient sales, including eight years with MGPI, where he began his career as a territorial sales manager in the company’s former wheat starch business unit in 1992.
“We are very fortunate and grateful for Mike’s decision to return to MGP Ingredients to take on the important role of leading our strategic sales initiatives in the ingredients area, which principally is comprised of specialty wheat proteins and starches,” said Tim Newkirk, president and chief executive officer. “He has developed extensive sales expertise over the years and gained significant respect from customers and peers across the food industry. His familiarity with our company and products through his previous employment here is a definite plus and will enable him to move forward with his new responsibilities at a relatively rapid pace.”
Following his initial years of employment with MGPI, Lasater joined National Starch and Chemical Co. as corporate accounts manager in 2000. In this role, he was responsible for select customer accounts located mainly in major Midwestern metropolitan areas. In 2005, he left National, now a part of Corn Products International, to become a partner and sales associate with Gregg and Associates, a food ingredients brokerage business based in Excelsior, Minn. He remained there until his return to MGPI, representing several food ingredient manufacturers and serving as the primary sales agent for key accounts located in the central and north central regions of the country.
“I am very excited to be back at MGP Ingredients in my new capacity as national sales director for the ingredients segment,” Lasater said. “It gives me great pleasure to work alongside such an outstanding group of colleagues who consistently demonstrate deep dedication to the company, our customers and the community. I look forward to leading a team of experienced sales and technical service professionals, who are focused on meeting current and future customer needs by delivering added value through our products and services.”
Prior to his first stint as a full-time member of MGPI’s sales team, Lasater spent three years gaining experience at the company through a corporate student internship program. In 1992, he graduated from Emporia (Kan.) State University with a bachelor of science degree in business management.