Meet the EHedger Team
Chicago Team
Justin Kelly | Paul Nelson | Gavin Maguire
Dan Dempsey | Dustin Johnson | Chris Crawford | Reggie Griffith
Justin Kelly - President
Justin Kelly grew up working on his family’s farm in Western Illinois, and has been intimately involved in the agricultural industry his entire life. After graduating from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness Management, Justin was a CBOT member and corn pit broker for Iowa Grain Company until 2006. Upon leaving the trading floor, Justin became President of EHedger, LLC where he applies his hands on experience of both farming and futures trading to help EHedger customers implement risk management strategies tailored to their specific requirements.
Paul Nelson - Director/VP
Paul is a 30-year veteran of the Chicago commodity markets, trading grains, oil seeds, livestock, and dairy products. Paul has developed extensive relationships with some of the largest livestock and dairy producers in the world, as well as numerous fortune 100 companies whose businesses are exposed to the agricultural markets. Throughout his 30-plus years in the industry, Paul has worked directly with his clients to deliver first-rate risk and trading strategies, and remains one of the astute livestock and dairy market analysts in the business. Paul received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management; Northwestern University, and his BA/Finance from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.
Dan Dempsey - Risk Management Specialist
Dan Dempsey was raised on his family’s grain farm in Western Illinois. Upon graduating from Northern Illinois University, Dan worked in healthcare sales for a Fortune 500 company. His responsibilities included handling the office technology for the largest healthcare facilities in Illinois and nurturing those professional relationships. After assuming his role in healthcare for two years, Dan returned to his roots in the grains industry by bringing his fundamental understanding of the markets and his unmatched ability to take care of the needs of his clients. Dan’s focus is on the grain markets, supplemented by a strong understanding of both crude oil and gold contracts.
Dustin Johnson - Risk Management Specialist
Dustin is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelors Degree from the Haworth College of Business, where his studies targeted the Financial Markets. Dustin has experience in helping agricultural producers with their price risk management needs, and has recently started to concentrate his energy into foreign currency markets. He believes that trust, hardwork, and great customer service are essential for the contemporary commodities broker.
Chris Crawford - Risk Management Specialist 
Chris was raised on his family’s grain farm in Central Illinois, and while growing up actively traveled with his family during summers to show hogs at many statewide fairs. Being active in 4H and later FFA, Chris continued to develop a strong interest in the business of agriculture, and graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Finance and Consumer Economics. After graduation, Chris returned to work on his family’s farm, before joining the EHedger team in 2006. His previous farming experiences and his passion for finance and economics give Chris a unique ability to assist EHedger’s customers in making informed marketing decisions and capitalize on opportunities in today’s active marketplace.
Reggie Griffith - Director of Trading Operations
Reggie is a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, and spent more than three years on the CBOT grain floor helping large speculative clients execute orders. Previously, Reggie worked as a registered representative at Morgan Stanley’s San Francisco office where he worked with high net worth investors, and so brings a unique understanding of the needs of speculative investors in the futures and options markets. Reggie is a graduate of the University of Texas, and is currently earning his law degree.
Dayre Lashnits - Director 
Dayre Lashnits was born and raised in Denver CO, and graduated from the University of Kansas in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies. She moved to Chicago in 2005 and has been in the futures industry ever since. Dayre started at Iowa Grain Company as a runner and pit clerk, but quickly moved up into the office as Treasury Manager and comes to EHedger directly from the Risk and Margins Department. Along with her broad experience in all the key components of the futures industry, Dayre brings a strong commitment to excellent customer service, solid financial risk controls and resolute ethics that define EHedger’s philosophy.
Hoxie, KS Team
Gary Moss
Gary Moss has been a broker with E-Hedger since Feb. of 2004. He understands the pitfalls farmers encounter when marketing their grain as he owns and operates a 1500 acre irrigated corn, soybean and wheat farm in northwest Kansas. Gary attended Dodge City Community college and Fort Hays State University and has been a lifelong farmer. He serves on The FSA county committee and is chairman of the board on a rural electric and gas coop. He is also an elder at the Christian Church. Gary has 4 children; Lindsay and Haley of Kansas city, Jake a student at Kansas State University and Jaxsen in high school.
Arcadia, Nebraska Team
*Linda Cruikshank - President/Senior Broker
Linda grew up in the small, beachside town of Encinitas, California. She attended college at San Diego State University where she was a pre-law and international business major. She became interested in marketing and sales, and worked as a private consultant for businesses in the San Diego area. In the late 1980’s, Linda became a Commodities Broker and gained an expertise in hedge and speculative trading strategies. Moving to Nebraska with her family in 1991, she utilized her skills to facilitate and assist in the development of several corporations as well as local economic development groups. One of the areas she felt was underserved was the Ag industry. In early 2003, she launched Progressive Farm Marketing, Inc. and became the Branch Manager for E Hedger, LLC. The company has been assisting area farmers and ranchers in their business and marketing needs ever since. Linda holds a Series 3 and Series 30 Commodities license.
*Becky Trotter - Grain Sales Manager
Becky grew up in a rural area in mid-Nebraska. She attended college at Kearney State College and received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Accounting. Becky has been with Progressive Farm Marketing, Inc. since November 2005, utilizing her administrative and accounting skills as the office manager. Becky is also the grain sales manager, ensuring the profitability and coordination of both the grain sales and bulk programs.
*LeAnna Wohlgemuth - Broker/Marketing Consultant/Crop Insurance Specialist
LeAnna grew up in rural Southeast Nebraska and was active in the family dairy farm. She attended SCC in Beatrice where she received her Associates Degree in Agribusiness. She previously worked in underwriting within the crop insurance industry and still holds her Producer’s License which she continues to keep active. LeAnna joined PFM in July of 2008, and has since secured her Series 3 Commodity Brokerage License. She enjoys working with producers and with her diverse experience in agriculture is able to assist them with many aspects of running a profitable operation.
Pacific Northwest Branch
Jason Ludeman - Missoula, Montana
While in college at Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR, Jason held an Internship with United Harvest, L.L.C. (formerly Harvest States) in their West Coast Wheat 
Export Office. That experience yielded a Senior Grain Merchandising position for Connell Grain Growers (A Division of CHS, Inc.) in Connell, WA. Jason helped local Grain Producers market Soft White Wheat, Hard Red Winter Wheat, Dark Northern Spring Wheat, Corn, Feed Barley, and Oats. In addition, he managed various Grain Positions for the company, as well as procured grain for their Feed Division. Jason has also held his Series 3 Commodity Brokerage License since February 1998, enabling him to manage a Branch Office for Country Hedging, Inc. for Connell Grain Growers.
In 2004, Jason left the company to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Montana in Missoula, MT. Most of his elective coursework was centered on Entrepreneurship, and he received his degree in May of 2007. After graduation, he realized that he was eager to re-establish relationships with the Agricultural Community; bringing a more focused role to implementing Risk Management strategies into their operations. In addition to running a Branch Office of E-Hedger, Jason has continued the theme of managing risk by becoming a licensed Crop Insurance Agent in Montana, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Jason uses his free time to fish the abundant lakes and rivers of the Pacific Northwest, and to keep in touch with family and friends.
