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Jerry Skees
Chief Strategy Officer and Director at Global Parametrics
Professional Background
Jerry Skees is a renowned leader in the field of agricultural economics and risk assessment, currently serving as the Chief Strategy Officer and Director at Global Parametrics (GP). With a decade of experience at GP, Skees has been instrumental in guiding the organization towards its goal of creating a more inclusive financial ecosystem, especially for the marginalized populations disproportionately impacted by natural disasters. Under his leadership, GP has successfully launched the Natural Disaster Fund, comprising cutting-edge risk transfer products designed to quickly address the needs of firms and NGOs that support vulnerable communities.
His extensive experience includes founding and serving as the President of GlobalAgRisk, Inc., where he pioneered advancements in agricultural risk management. Additionally, Skees has held several key roles, including Research Director at the Congressional Commission for the Improvement of the Federal Crop Insurance Program and analyst at the Economic Research Service of the USDA. These experiences have provided him with a deep understanding of the intricate interplay between agriculture, economics, and disaster risk management.
Skees is passionate about enhancing the resilience of farmers and communities against natural disasters through innovative financial solutions. His work at GP leverages a proprietary global risk modeling platform backed by patient capital, allowing for rapid and efficient underwriting of risks associated with climate and seismic events.
Education and Achievements
Jerry Skees has an impressive academic foundation, holding a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University, as well as a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky. He also earned a Bachelor's degree in General Studies with a focus on Political Science, also from the University of Kentucky. His educational background provides him with a strong analytical framework to address the complex challenges that arise in agricultural finance and disaster risk management.
Skees' contributions to the field are well-documented and recognized in various reputable publications. Notably, his recent work was highlighted in The Economist, which discusses innovative microfinance solutions for farmers affected by natural disasters. Similarly, his initiatives have been covered by Reuters and Artemis, showcasing GP's commitment to supporting women farmers in Africa and Asia through climate insurance schemes.
Notable Achievements
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Launching the Natural Disaster Fund: Jerry played a pivotal role in the establishment of GP’s Natural Disaster Fund, which aims to provide critical financial resources to communities affected by severe climatic disruptions. This initiative exemplifies his dedication to alleviating the economic burdens faced by vulnerable populations.
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Innovative Risk Transfer Solutions: As part of GP’s strategy, Skees has successfully integrated science, data, and advisory services into the framework of financial products designed for the agricultural sector and humanitarian efforts. This unique approach addresses market shortcomings and fosters greater resilience against natural disasters.
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Thought Leadership: Skees has contributed significantly to the discourse surrounding agricultural finance and risk management through numerous publications and papers. His insights have informed policy discussions and shaped best practices within the industry.
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Teaching and Mentorship: As a former Professor Emeritus at the University of Kentucky's Department of Agricultural Economics, Jerry has dedicated a portion of his career to educating and mentoring the next generation of economists and financial experts. His teaching has impacted countless students and professionals in the field.
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Public Sector Involvement: Skees’ early career included valuable experiences as a Congressional Intern for Senator Huddleston and Congressman Breckinridge, where he gained firsthand experience in policy-making and legislative processes that impact the agricultural sector. This connection to government positions him uniquely to engage effectively with both public and private stakeholders in his current role at GP.
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Mesh makes it much easier to stay in touch with the people you care about. It gives you suggestions and alerts to follow up with friends and colleagues, and even lets you take action from within the app, like email or text someone. Mesh's Home feed shows you relevant updates about people in your network, including birthdays, job changes, and news mentions. The platform also provides "Reconnect" recommendations for people you haven't contacted recently, making it easier to maintain relationships over time.
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Mesh is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
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Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
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