My professional interests focus on improving agribusiness firms marketing and management skills that lead to improved decision making, firm performance, and industry viability. Research determining the effect of firm, spatial, and market factors on firm and industry performance provides critical information for improving firm marketing and management decisions, identifying sources of competitive advantage (firm specific or regional), and forming effective policies targeted toward agri-based industry development. Educating public policy and economic development stakeholders about existing market conditions and structures, and the limiting factors that can influence economic development is emphasized. Extension programming and outreach efforts serve to disseminate applied research results through industry education and improve the understanding and linkages between agribusiness firm development and the public policies that address or impact it.