136 - Private Equity in Local Agriculture

Jonathan Thomas attended the University of Maine, where he graduated with a degree in Accounting and Finance. He began working for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Portland, Maine, a Big 4 accounting firm doing audits of public and private. After 5 years PwC pulled out of the market and Jon relocated to New York City where he continued to work with PwC for 3 more years and met his beautiful wife. Jon then started working for Kohlberg Kravis Roberts as they prepared to go public. He stayed with KKR for a total of 6 years (3 years in public reporting and 3 years in strategic planning/FP&A). He and wife finally moved to Bakersfield, where they have been raising their family for the past 9 years. Jon spent 3 years with Jakov Dulcich & Sons, 2 years with Jim's Supply Co. and has been with Laurel Ag for the past 4 years, 2 years as CFO and now going on 2 years as CEO. Scott Hanson sits down with Jonathan Thomas, the current CEO of Laurel Ag, as he walks us through his time in Maine and New York which ultimately led him to his life here in Bakersfield. Jon has a unique background in private equity which presented major job opportunities in the past and in turn made him a strong asset to the different companies he has worked with. They touch on the biggest challenges Laurel Ag is currently facing as well as what they have on the horizon in the next 10 to 15 years. LEARN MORE ABOUT JON THOMAS: Website: https://laurel-ag.com/ Email: [email protected] Phone: 661-368-3550 Instagram: @laurelagandwater Facebook: Laurel_Ag_and_Water LinkedIn: @LaurelAgandWater