NEA C-Suite: Ryan Bane

How would you describe your company? My company is an agricultural retail company. We sell seed, chemical, and nutritional products in Northeast Arkansas, serving more than 75 farmers in the region and currently employing 12 staff members.

Apex recently acquired 7.5 acres and 50,000 square feet of greenhouse, laboratory, office, warehouse, and equipment storage space previously owned by Syngenta. A second location allows us to serve our clients better and offer more services to benefit farmers in the region. This acquisition will allow us to double and potentially triple the acres we currently serve, and it will grow our staff by 50% next year.

Which skills do you think are most important when it comes to leadership? Honesty, integrity, and willingness to hear and not just listen are the most important skills when it comes to leadership.

Do you think Artificial Intelligence (AI) can take jobs in your industry? I think they can take jobs in any industry. I see good and bad with AI. As a business person, I have a person keeping an eye on this one and how we can use this technology to help us and our growers. 

What is the best business advice someone has ever given you? If you take care of the people in your business, the business will take care of you.

How significant to you is developing a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) culture within your organization? I don’t typically approach it with this mindset. I try to hire the best person for the job no matter what. I have found by doing this, the diversity is brought from within with many different ideas and opinions. Culture matters and a with clear direction, everyone tends to pull the train in the right direction.

If you had $1 million to give, what would you support? AG for Autism is kind of near and dear to me. I am a sucker when it comes to supporting youth. You won’t find a happier kid than those kids.

If you could change one thing about your leadership style, what would it be and why? I would hold more people accountable. I’m usually a softy on this and would rather take on the work myself than to put a strain on them sometimes.

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? Probably one of my kids or employees to truly learn how they think and feel about me to possibly make me a better person for them. I would learn a lot, I’m sure. 

What are your thoughts on working from home? Depends on the situation. I believe if a person can get the job done, who am I to critique the process or where the work gets done?

What is the most used app on your phone? The weather app of course! Come on. I’m in agriculture. A close second is Spotify because I got to have my tunes while I’m working.

When you were growing up, what did you want to be? When I was growing up, becoming an architect was first love for sure.

What’s your favorite movie or television show? The movie “Tommy Boy” hands down, and “The Simpsons” would be my favorite television show of all time.