Kevin W. Ragon
Starkville,MS
Summary
Proactive and goal-oriented professional with excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Known for reliability and adaptability, with swift capacity to learn and apply new skills. Committed to leveraging these qualities to drive team success and contribute to organizational growth.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Professor Sustainable Biproducts
Mississippi State University Extension
01.2022 - Current
- Statewide education to stakeholders and extension agents
- Conduct research-based directives on wood protection, sustainability, formulation, product testing, preservation, and wood utilization
- Manage budget as it relates to each individual research initiatives and statewide extension
- Investigate, develop and refine value-added content to a variety of delivery platforms
- Serve as an expert in the community and speak on panels and at events as requested
- Evaluate and report the impact of programs
- Assist in developing youth programs and education on topics of expertise
- Seek out agriculture and natural resource needs in the state and then develop and carry out appropriate responses to meet needs
- Develop volunteer networks and support strategies required to sustain programs
- Teach courses at state land-grant universities as assigned
- Conduct research that will be helpful to those in the state and produce resources based on that research.
Executive Director
Southern Pressure Treaters’ Association
01.2013 - Current
- Assure that the Association has and implements a strategy for consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives
- Serve as chief spokesperson for the Association, ensuring that its positions are properly communicated to the membership, industry and the public
- Assure that the flow of funds to the Association is adequate to make steady progress toward the achievement of its mission and that those funds are allocated properly to reflect present needs and future potential
- Maintain an environment that fosters participation of all members and cooperation among allied associations and other related industry associations and groups to assure cooperative effective efforts and minimization of duplication
- With the Committee chairpersons, develop agendas for all meetings including two SPTA regularly scheduled Annual and Summer meetings
- Prepare all meeting materials
- Function as the SPTA lead representative in the North American Wood Pole Council
- Function as the main contact for the Timber Piling Council through the associations Timber Pile Committee
- Identify critical Emerging Issues and develop and implement strategies for managing each to a successful conclusion
- Provide the leadership and project management to assure broad member and industry participation, financial support and use of the most effective outside scientific, technical, and political resources.
Member/Manager
TermiSys Technologies, LLC
01.2005 - 01.2015
- Sub-License termite technology to BASF and DOW
- Consulted with BASF & DOW to improve soil delivery of termiticides
- Direct sub-licensee labs on testing protocol.
Vice President of Research
Quality Pole Inspection & Maintenance, Inc
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Quantify biological inspection data to depict wood pole aging
- Directed the development of a successful mobile data collection software program and a compatible web-based GIS system to display the geographical location and system assessment of wood poles and their correlating data
- Integrated payroll stamping into the GIS, maintained receivables to better manage working capital
- Revised and taught new safety strategies and reporting techniques; reducing back strain, ATV and driving incidents from 9 per year to 0
- OSHA recordkeeping & Operational Insurance maintenance
- HR sourcing, onboarding new employees, worker injury, compensation and follow up
- Instructed classes of foreman and trainees biannually on wood pole inspection for biological and mechanical degradation, the products used to control each issue and methods for reinforcement
- Developed durable ergonomic tools that promote, assisted with the development of new remedial products
- Assist with technical sales issues as it applies to biological damage and ANSI Standards, doubled sales after 1st year
- Solving Foreman/worker conflicts, building Interpersonal relationships between crews while increasing production and safety
- Development and submittals of proposals and bid sheets leading to increased sales
- Assist with Human Resources, purchasing and inventory management.
Assistant Research Professor
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, La. Forest Products Development Center
01.2010 - 01.2010
- Manage third party laboratory and field testing for the LSU Ag Center’s Wood Durability Lab (WDL) according to industrial standards (ASTM & AWPA), and development of custom alternative test protocols complying with ICC-ISO reporting format
- Gained over a half million dollars in external industrial testing by quickly providing specific proposals that answered industrial questions and customer concerns
- Oversight of the LSU Ag Center’s Formosan termite field test site, Central Station and Idlewild research station (wood depletion and native termite area), and the Port Fourchon Marine borer test site
- Assisted in securing external funding for research through state, federal, and private donor grants
- Lead new research to better understand wood preservation chemistries, their interaction with wood extractives, mild steel, heat, and wood destroying organisms’
- Dissemination of learned and newly found information in publications and presentations at professional associations and industry training events., Manage third party laboratory and field testing for the LSU Ag Center’s Wood Durability Lab (WDL) according to industrial standards (ASTM & AWPA), and development of custom alternative test protocols complying with ICC-ISO reporting format
- Gained external industrial testing by quickly providing specific proposals that answered industrial questions and customer concerns
- Oversight of the LSU Ag Center’s Formosan termite field test site, Central Station and Idlewild research station (wood depletion and native termite area), and the Port Fourchon Marine borer test site
- Assisted in securing external funding for research through state, federal, and private donor grants
- Lead new research to better understand wood preservation chemistries, their interaction with wood extractives, mild steel, heat, and wood destroying organisms’
- Dissemination of learned and newly found information in publications and presentations at professional associations and industry training events.
Post Doctorial Research Scientist
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, La. Forest Products Development Center
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Manage third party laboratory and field testing for the LSU Ag Center’s Wood Durability Lab (WDL) complying with ICC-ISO reporting format
- (Gained new industrial clients increasing paying contracts)
- Produced methodologies and SOPs for 10 new laboratory and field-testing protocols
- Assisted with private, federal and state proposal submittals for funding.
Member/Manager
TermiSys, LLC
01.2005 - 01.2009
- St student led university start-up at Mississippi State awarded the inaugural Thad Cochran Entrepreneurship Award
- Solicited angel and venture capital groups
- Secured outside funding for the development and sub-licensing of my patents
- Operated daily pest management professionals supporting general and structural pest control operations for the company.
Post Doctorial Research Assistant
Mississippi Forest Products Laboratory
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Teaching assistant when needed
- Assisted with grant writing, publications, and presentations associated with wood destroying organisms
- Aided in project designs and construction of the Southern Climatic Housing research house
- Provided extension resources and presentations about termites, beetles, fungi, and wood product manufacturing.
Research Assistant
Mississippi Forest Products Laboratory
01.2002 - 01.2007
- Patented technologies to enhance control procedures for subterranean termites
- Assisted in the installation and construction of the LSU Port Sulfur C
- Formosanus test site and the MSU C
- Formosansus habitat site, first ever for evaluating whole wood panel products and treated wood products against wood destroying organisms
- Assisted in proposal writing of third-party research for testing products efficacy against termites in both laboratory and field settings.
District Manager
Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha (ISK) Biocides Inc
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Directed company personnel in servicing accounts, collecting debt, and creating new accounts ($1.3 million additional new customers)
- Compiled quarterly, technical and new product data reports
- Assisted with new product research and investigated existing product malfunctions.
Intern
Ensafe
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Conducted weekly observation of in-situ bio-sparging projects documenting the progress of remedial strategies at Weyerhaeuser Company (i.e
- Turbidity, pH, BOD, invertebrate succession, water depth, and flow changes)
- Maintained pumping stations, pumps, and microbial colonies for injection into wells
- Prepared and conducted methylene chloride extractions for PAHs, TPH, PCP, PCB, and heavy metals for soil, and ground water samples in laboratory settings using EPA methods and Good Laboratory Practices
- Monitored plant water effluent and water decks.
Research Assistant
Mississippi Forest Products Laboratory
01.1998 - 01.2000
- Assisted with various environmental research including in-situ and ex-situ bioremediation of organic chemical wastes (PAHs, PCP, PCBs, TPH) in soil, water, wood and sludge
- Completed research that developed site specific toxicity levels of organic and inorganic wood preservatives for use in remediation plans
- Evaluated factors affecting bioactivity of microbes acclimated for bio removal of hazardous chemicals
- Supported laboratory staff with distillations, extractions, analytical analysis and reporting.
Education
Post Doctorial - Renewable Natural Resources
Louisian State Univeristy
Baton Rouge, LA01-2009
Post Doctorial - College of Forest Resources
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS01-2008
Ph.D. - College of Forest Resources
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS01-2007
Master of Science - College of Forest Resources
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS01-2000
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
Louisian State Univeristy
Cleveland, MS01-1998
Associate of Science - Forestry
Northwest Community College
Senatobia, MS01-1995
Skills
- Online learning tools
- Project management
- Syllabus development
- Lecturing
- Academic research
- Student engagement
- Lab safety
- Public speaking
- Academic publication
- Technology-based curriculum
- Time management
- Research expertise
- Workshop facilitation
- Data analysis
- Team leadership
- Group discussions
- Distance learning tools
- Marketing
- Client services
- Operational planning
- Strategic planning
- Relationship building
- Crisis management
- Quality control
- Community engagement
- Vendor relations
- Stakeholder relations
- Sales management
- Negotiation
- Program leadership
- Business planning
- Innovation and creativity
- Financial management
- Government relations
- Human resources management
- Corporate governance
- Budgeting and financial management
- Outreach programs
- Multitasking Abilities
- Attention to detail
- Decision-making
- Analytical and critical thinker
- Active listening
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Reliability
- Sales leadership
- Risk management
- Coaching and mentoring
- Performance monitoring
- Contract negotiation
- Corporate branding
- Budget oversight
- Resource allocation
- Rules and regulations
- Event management
- Publication record
Timeline
Assistant Professor Sustainable Biproducts
Mississippi State University Extension
01.2022 - Current
Executive Director
Southern Pressure Treaters’ Association
01.2013 - Current
Vice President of Research
Quality Pole Inspection & Maintenance, Inc
01.2010 - 01.2013
Assistant Research Professor
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, La. Forest Products Development Center
01.2010 - 01.2010
Post Doctorial Research Scientist
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, La. Forest Products Development Center
01.2009 - 01.2010
Post Doctorial Research Assistant
Mississippi Forest Products Laboratory
01.2007 - 01.2008
Member/Manager
TermiSys Technologies, LLC
01.2005 - 01.2015
Member/Manager
TermiSys, LLC
01.2005 - 01.2009
Research Assistant
Mississippi Forest Products Laboratory
01.2002 - 01.2007
District Manager
Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha (ISK) Biocides Inc
01.2000 - 01.2002
Intern
Ensafe
01.1999 - 01.2000
Research Assistant
Mississippi Forest Products Laboratory
01.1998 - 01.2000
Post Doctorial - Renewable Natural Resources
Louisian State Univeristy
Post Doctorial - College of Forest Resources
Mississippi State University
Ph.D. - College of Forest Resources
Mississippi State University
Master of Science - College of Forest Resources
Mississippi State University
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
Louisian State Univeristy
Associate of Science - Forestry
Northwest Community College
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