AGRI-SEARCH is proud to welcome Phill Zimmerman to its team as a Professional Recruiter. Zimmerman will focus on recruiting within the precision agriculture, equipment, ag technology, and oil and gas industries.
Zimmerman’s addition expands AGRI-SEARCH’s ability to serve employers and candidates through industry specialization, firsthand experience, and established relationships within the markets he will serve.
“Phill has built his career across a wide range of businesses, and now he is bringing that experience, along with a career centered around people and relationships, to AGRI-SEARCH,” said AGRI-SEARCH co-owner Chelbi Alt. “His agricultural background, combined with his experience across related industries, makes him a great addition to our team.”
Zimmerman grew up on a farm in eastern Indiana and earned a degree in agribusiness from Purdue University. He began his career in retail agriculture, spending 10 years with an agricultural cooperative where he managed its precision agriculture program while also taking on responsibilities ranging from fertilizer purchasing to technology and crop protection programs.
He later spent more than seven years managing an equipment dealership location he helped establish before moving into sales roles that took him across much of the Midwest in the oil and gas industry.
That range of experience gives Zimmerman a firsthand understanding of the people, positions, and businesses AGRI-SEARCH serves. Ultimately, though, it was the opportunity to work with people and build relationships that drew him to recruiting.
“I want to help people,” Zimmerman said. “I really want to help folks find their forever job. The satisfaction of being able to pair good companies with good people is what’s going to be the most rewarding for me.”
Zimmerman also brings experience from the other side of the recruiting relationship. Recruiters played an important role in his own career moves, giving him a personal understanding of what candidates experience when considering a new opportunity and the value the right recruiter can bring to that process.
“Phill brings a perspective that is hard to teach,” said Brad Jansen, co-owner of AGRI-SEARCH. “He has worked across industries that intersect with agriculture, and he has firsthand experience working with recruiters during his own career. He understands the industries, but more importantly, he understands both the employer and the candidate. That ability to listen, build relationships, and understand what someone is looking for is central to how we’ve built our team and our business at AGRI-SEARCH.”
Relationships have been a consistent part of Zimmerman’s career. His work has allowed him to build connections across the United States and Canada through sales, industry involvement, trade shows, and professional organizations. He previously served on the Agribusiness Council of Indiana board and as vice president of the Indiana Food and Fuel Association board.
In his new role, Zimmerman will draw on that experience and network to connect employers with candidates who not only have the right qualifications, but also the potential to be the right long-term fit for the organization.
To learn more about AGRI-SEARCH or connect with the team, visit www.agri-search.com.
