|
DR. MICHAEL JOHN BEST
|
|
|
DR. MICHAEL JOHN BEST
|
DR. MICHAEL JOHN BEST primary responsibility is performing market analysis for proposed feasibility projects. The market analysis includes target market identification, estimating market potential, product positioning, developing marketing strategies and identifying marketing channels. He also assists in evaluating the effectiveness of marketing, promotional campaigns and key word identification for search engine optimization.
EDUCATION:
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - in Agricultural Economics, University of
Kentucky - 1995, Lexington, KY. Specialization in Marketing and Price Analysis. Dissertation: "A Nonlinear Dynamic Modeling Approach to the Analysis of Biotechnological Innovations in the U.S. Beef Cattle Industry." Research performed under supervision of Barry W. Bobst and Joe T. Davis.
MASTER OF SCIENCE - in Agricultural Economics, University of Tennessee - 1990, Knoxville, TN. Specialization in Marketing. Thesis: "Sequential Cropping of Vegetables for Market Windows." Research performed under supervision of John R. Brooker.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - in Agriculture, Major in Agribusiness, Berea College - 1988, Berea, Kentucky.
EXPERIENCE:
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS – at Tennessee Tech University. Responsibilities: To teach courses in Agricultural Economics, Finance, Farm and Agribusiness Management and Statistics, Advise 50 students as well as perform public service and research in the agricultural business discipline. (August 1, 2005 – Present)
STATE EXTENSION SPECIALIST – at the University of Georgia, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Responsibilities: To perform feasibility studies (financial and marketing analysis) for agricultural crops and value-added enterprises in Georgia (May 2004 – August 2005)
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF AGRIBUSINESS – at Southeast Missouri State University. Responsibilities included teaching courses such as Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Policy and World Food and Society. (August 2003 – May 2004)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR and AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST– at the Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center in Berea, KY. Responsibilities include: Directing Internship Program, Managing the Production of Seed Stock and Produce for Sale, Budgeting, Fundraising and Directing Ongoing Research Projects. (August 2000 – July 2003)
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURE AND ECONOMICS - at Berea College. Responsible for teaching such courses as: Microeconomics -- Intermediate and Principles, Farm Management, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Agricultural Economics. Responsible for Horticultural Farms and was a labor supervisor. (September 1996 –July 2000)
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS - at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. A 75/25 teaching/research split appointment. Responsible for teaching such courses as: Futures Marketing, Agricultural Economics. Research areas are in Horticultural and Beef Cattle Marketing. Responsibilities also included advising 28 students and serving on University committees.
(August 1995 - August 1996)
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT - in Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky. Research included analyzing the current beef cattle industry situation in the U.S. using nonlinear dynamics.
(January 1991 - July 1995)
TEACHING INTERN - for two courses, one under Joe T. Davis for Agricultural Futures Marketing, a 300 level undergraduate course (Three semesters). The other course was General Agriculture Economics, a 100 level Micro and Macroeconomics based course under Stephan Goetz, Larry Jones and Richard Ready each during different semesters.
(January 1992 - May 1995)
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT - in Agricultural Economics at the University of Tennessee. Research on vegetable market windows along with production risk analysis, utilizing varietal constants and growing degree days.
(September 1988 - December 1990)
GREENHOUSE COORDINATOR - for the Berea College Agriculture Department. Worked under supervision of Dr. Pat Shugars. Involved in production of transplants, plant rentals, and in charge of maintaining all equipment.
(1984 - 1988)
PRODUCTION & MARKETING MANAGER - for the Best Family Farms. In charge of production and marketing for a farm which produced ten acres of vegetables and fruits. On average 10,000 tomato plants were produced along with corn, beans, okra, eggplant, squash, tobacco, as well as beef cattle and hogs.
(1982 - 1989)