Michael Wick
Maple Grove,MN
Summary
Senior commodity trader and risk management professional with extensive experience across agricultural and energy markets. Deep background in discretionary trading, physical commodity markets, futures, options, basis, spreads, hedging, commodity procurement, market fundamentals, and direct P&L and portfolio risk management. Experienced developing market views and executing trading, merchandising, and risk-management strategies based on supply and demand, regional cash markets, freight economics, relative value, and changing market conditions. Combines practical trading judgment with quantitative analysis and extensive experience working with suppliers, counterparties, commercial teams, and senior leadership.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Commodity Trader / Risk Manager
CARGILL PROTEIN
Wayzata, Minnesota
06.2020 - 08.2025
- Managed commodity trading and market risk across corn, wheat, soybeans, and soybean meal using futures, options, basis, spreads, and physical-market strategies.
- Managed discretionary trading positions across flat price, futures spreads, basis, and options with direct responsibility for P&L and portfolio risk.
- Developed market views and executed trading and hedging strategies based on supply and demand, weather, and market structure, enhancing position profitability and risk mitigation.
- Evaluated basis relationships, futures spreads, options, volatility, and relative-value opportunities across agricultural commodity markets.
- Developed and executed hedging strategies to manage price exposure while supporting procurement, margin, pricing, and broader commercial objectives.
- Monitored physical and derivative positions, P&L, and market exposure, establishing risk limits to align with changing market conditions and protect portfolio integrity.
- Partnered with procurement, sales, operations, and finance on commodity purchasing, pricing, exposure, and commercial decisions.
- Delivered market outlooks, trading recommendations, and risk assessments to senior leadership and commercial teams, enabling informed decision-making and strategic alignment.
- Developed Python-based analytical tools to evaluate derivatives, volatility, relative value, and market scenarios.
Senior Merchant / Senior Risk Manager
CARGILL PROTEIN
Wayzata, Minnesota
10.2014 - 06.2020
- Managed physical commodity procurement, merchandising, trading, and market risk across corn and soybean meal.
- Managed discretionary positions utilizing directional futures, spreads, basis, and options strategies, overseeing P&L and risk exposure to optimize trading outcomes.
- Developed purchasing, merchandising, and contracting strategies aligned with regional cash markets, supply and demand dynamics, and margin objectives to enhance procurement effectiveness.
- Traded basis and futures spreads around regional supply-and-demand conditions, transportation economics, physical commitments, and relative-value opportunities.
- Negotiated physical commodity purchases, basis agreements, supplier contracts, and commercial pricing arrangements.
- Managed relationships with suppliers and market counterparties supporting physical commodity purchasing and merchandising activities.
- Coordinated physical commodity commitments and inbound logistics across multiple feed manufacturing locations to ensure seamless supply chain operations.
- Monitored physical commitments, derivative positions, P&L, and market exposure while operating within established company and exchange risk limits.
- Developed market views and provided trading, purchasing, pricing, and risk-management recommendations to senior leadership and commercial teams.
Energy Analyst
CARGILL, INC.
Houston, Texas
10.2013 - 10.2014
- Analyzed crude oil, refined products, and natural gas markets to support commercial trading activities.
- Developed supply-and-demand forecasts and analyzed market fundamentals affecting prices, margins, spreads, and relative-value relationships.
- Conducted quantitative market analysis, pricing studies, and scenario evaluations to inform trading and commercial decisions.
- Monitored refinery activity, inventories, transportation constraints, regulatory developments, and macroeconomic conditions affecting energy markets.
- Evaluated intermarket and relative-value relationships across energy products.
- Delivered market outlooks, trading relationships, and key risk assessments to traders and commercial teams.
Trading Assistant — Agricultural, Energy & Power Markets
BLACK RIVER ASSET MANAGEMENT / CARGILL, INC.
Wayzata, Minnesota
04.2006 - 10.2013
- Executed trades and conducted portfolio analysis, market research, and derivatives analysis for agricultural, energy, and power trading desks.
- Produced and analyzed daily P&L, position, and exposure reporting supporting traders, portfolio managers, and risk oversight.
- Aggregated and analyzed fundamental, pricing, and market data supporting directional, spread, relative-value, and hedging strategies.
- Analyzed futures and options, monitored positions, executed trades, and conducted market research to support traders and portfolio managers.
- Supported day-to-day communication and coordination between trading desks and related business functions.
Education
Master of Science - Agricultural & Applied Economics
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University (Virginia Tech)
05-2027
Master of Business Administration - Finance
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Bachelor of Arts - Accounting
College of St. Scholastica
Skills
- Commodity Trading
- Discretionary Trading
- Cash commodity markets
- Agricultural Markets
- Futures & Options
- Basis Trading
- Futures Spreads
- Direct P&L Management
- Portfolio Risk Management
- Feed Ingredient Procurement
- Hedging Strategy
- Counterparty relationships
- Supply and Demand Analysis
- Relative Value Analysis
- Market Research
- Python Analytics
- Advanced Excel
- Futures & Options Analytics
- Market analysis
- Basis & Spread Analysis
- P&L analysis
- Exposure analysis
- Supply & Demand Forecasting
- Value analysis
- Quantitative Analysis
- Scenario planning
Technical And Market Skills
- Python
- Advanced Excel
- Futures & Options Analytics
- Physical Commodity Markets
- Commodity Market Analysis
- Basis & Spread Analysis
- Portfolio & P&L Analysis
- Position & Exposure Analysis
- Supply & Demand Forecasting
- Relative-Value Analysis
- Quantitative Analysis
- Scenario Analysis
- Executive Market Reporting
Timeline
Commodity Trader / Risk Manager
CARGILL PROTEIN
06.2020 - 08.2025
Senior Merchant / Senior Risk Manager
CARGILL PROTEIN
10.2014 - 06.2020
Energy Analyst
CARGILL, INC.
10.2013 - 10.2014
Trading Assistant — Agricultural, Energy & Power Markets
BLACK RIVER ASSET MANAGEMENT / CARGILL, INC.
04.2006 - 10.2013
Master of Science - Agricultural & Applied Economics
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University (Virginia Tech)
Master of Business Administration - Finance
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Bachelor of Arts - Accounting
College of St. Scholastica