Charlie Hoffman

Job title: Performance Specialist
Company: CowManager

What education are you bringing with you to this position?

I have a major in biology and animal science from Cornell University, and I am currently seeking a master of computer and information technology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Please describe your agricultural background.

I grew up on a small dairy in New Jersey and then continued to work as a farmhand at nearby farms. I have managed a 1,500-cow dairy and a 3,500-cow dairy, both in New York, plus a beef cow-calf operation, also in New York. 

What territory will you cover?

Although I am not assigned a specific territory, it is likely my primary focus will be in the eastern region of the U.S., including New York, Pennsylvania and the Southeast.

What are your new responsibilities?

As a performance specialist, I will work with dairy farmers and their trusted advisers to navigate the data generated from the company’s sensors, as well as generate actionable insights to drive tangible improvements on-farm.

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What previous positions have you held?

Aside from my herdsman experiences:

  • Application support specialist – Dairy One
  • Software support specialist/farm performance consultant/product manager, research and development – VAS
  • Product manager, DairyBOS – VES-Artex
  • U.S. business development manager/some PM – CattleEye
  • Manager, product manager, On-Farm solutions – Ever.Ag

Who has made the biggest impact on your career?

There are several people who have influenced my career and left lasting impacts. Here are a few of them:

  • Mark Doornink – vice president of digital technology, Parnell
  • Bill Prokop – DVM, Arm and Hammer, Dairy8
  • Lisa Furman – dairy research support specialist, Cornell University
  • Mary C. Smith – professor of ambulatory and production medicine, Cornell University
  • Mike Baker – beef extension specialist, Cornell University
  • Chris Marconi – leadership, BouMatic
  • Angela Bedient – Bedient Farms
  • Doug Young – Spruce Haven Farms
  • Ryne Braun – Vita Plus

How will you be of most help to producers in your region or area of expertise?

Combining my high fidelity for data and understanding of various tools to manipulate data, gives me a unique advantage to combine these skills with my existing farm management knowledge. I am also well-versed in being able to tie the company’s data to dairy farmers' existing on-farm technology.

Why did you choose this company?

This company has a long-lasting and successful product in the marketplace. The company has a perfect balance of innovation and stability, making a meaningful difference for farmers. In my short career, I've worked with several dairy tech companies, and I am excited to be a part of a team that really takes their job and mission to heart.

What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?

My goals include forging new relationships, becoming an expert in utilization of the Nutrition module (plus also be a resource for the other modules), working heavily with data generated from the system and automating processes for the CPS team, being one of the leading experts on sort gates in the U.S. (from a software perspective), and continuing to bridge the gap between the CPS team and product management.