The C Suite: Todd Simmons

Achievements: Chief executive officer and vice chairman since December 2012; previously served as chief operating officer for six years; appointed as 2015-2016 chairman of National Chicken Council; named 2015 Industry Leader of the Year by The Poultry Federation; serves on executive committee and board of Pet Food Institute.

Hometown: Siloam Springs

What got you pointed toward your current career? Since I was 5 years old, I have wanted to be a  ‘chicken man’ like my dad. My grandparents were both entrepreneurs, and I have always loved working with people to build a business.

What aspects of your work do you find most rewarding? Seeing people grow and develop over time inside our business. It’s also great to build career-long relationships with customers and suppliers that have been a part of a successful partnership.

What do you consider the greatest achievement of your professional career? Working in our plants as an hourly team member and being complimented by my fellow employees as being a hard worker, especially when they didn’t know my last name.

What one word best describes you? I have Kinetic on my license plate: Energy derived from motion.

What was your first job? Besides mowing our neighbor’s lawn, working as an hourly team member at our Jay processing plant.

What’s something interesting about you that people would be surprised to learn? I’m an introvert. And, I love those orange circus peanuts at the convenience store.