About
“We say what we’ll do and we do what we say”, says Tim Carlson, AgMotion’s Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer. When clients trade with AgMotion, they can rest assured they are dealing with a solvent, reliable, and prudently managed counter-party.
Financial strength is central to any merchandising company, and AgMotion takes this aspect of physical trading seriously. Unmatched attention to customer service is another. Fast-Pay, Fast-Friends™ is an oft-mentioned phrase at AgMotion!
“We treat our people well so they can treat their customers well”, agrees Rolf Peters, Co-Founder and CEO. “My job is to ensure we hire smart, competent team members; clearly communicate the business strategy to everyone; and then get out of the way while amazing things happen.”
History
AgMotion is an agri-business holding company based in Minneapolis, MN. Tim Carlson and Rolf Peters founded the company in February 2000 as a growth platform with the vision of bringing together great people and emergent technology to create a better kind of trading company. Today, AgMotion has around 90 team members, does business around the world, is an integral player in multiple supply chains in the agri-business sector, has earned a spot on the 100 Largest Private Companies in Minnesota list for a number of years, and was recognized in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Minnesota by Minnesota Business Magazine.
That is a far cry from the company’s roots as a two-person grain trading company located above a St. Paul bar! Yet, that is where Tim and Rolf set-up their first office in the mid-nineties for their trading business, Viking Ag Commodities, Inc. Viking became AgMotion’s first subsidiary. AgMotion quickly acquired US Commodities and North Star Commodity Investment Co. in 2001 and combined Viking’s operations with US Commodities’, retaining the USC brand.
The next decade saw meteoric (but prudent, always prudent!) growth with several more acquisitions – including United Bio Energy in Wichita, KS in 2007 – operations expanding and the company’s capital base strengthening commensurately to support the growth. AgMotion also has trading operations in Mexico and Canada and purchased its first grain handling facility, Sunburst Grain and Transload, in 2013.
Rolf Peters, Co-Founder and CEO
Rolf Peters, Co-founder and CEO, began his career at The Pillsbury Company as a commodity trader after graduating with a BA from Carleton College, Northfield, MN, in 1986. He left Pillsbury in 1988 to found R. S. Peters, Inc., a trading firm whose operations became Viking Ag Commodities, Inc. and are housed today within AgMotion.
Along the way, Rolf dropped in and out of William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN, an experience he found academically and intellectually enriching, but not enough to actually graduate.
Rolf’s professional and personal affiliations:
Past President (2016) and Council Member 2012 – 2018 of GAFTA, the Grain and Feed Trade Association, London, UK
International Trade and Ag Policy committee of the National Grain and Feed Association, Washington, DC.
Commandeur, Commanderie de Bordeaux, Minneapolis Chapter.
Trustee, Carleton College, Northfield, MN
Golf junkie
Tim Carlson, Co-Founder and COO
Tim Carlson, Co-founder and COO engaged in his first commodity trading activity as a Senior at the University of Minnesota while working for International Proteins Corporation (now a division of the Scoular Co.). Tim graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Management. Within a year of graduating, Tim joined Rolf Peters, working for Viking Ag Commodities which is now part of AgMotion. Tim has enjoyed integrating several acquisitions into AgMotion over the years.
Tim is a delegate to the US Grains Council and currently serves on the “Value-Added” advisory team. He enjoys time spent with his wife and four children pursuing their many outdoor activities and musical interests.
Kyle Heath, CFO
Kyle Heath is a graduate of the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota where he majored in Accounting, Finance & Management Information Systems. He began his career auditing and preparing tax returns for a variety of small clients in the Agricultural space. He currently maintains a Certified Public Accountant license. Kyle started at AgMotion as the Corporate Controller in 2014 and has enjoyed the dynamic and evolving atmosphere within the company, as well as the unique and diverse nature of the agricultural industry.
Kyle enjoys being outdoors, and spending quality time with his Wife and 4 children.
