.png)
Meet Our Team
Get to Know Us
Rick Robbins
General Manager & CEO
Rick Robbins joined Colorado Mills in 2002. Rick has Western Kansas roots where he grew up on a large irrigated farm and cattle back grounding yard. Rick spent over 10 years with Farmland industries as a regional feed sales specialist, training feed employees in feed production quality and feeding nutrition. As General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Rick loves being a part of a very diverse and active company and amazing employee group. Beginning in 2002 with 15 employees, today Colorado Mills has almost 50 fulltime employees. Rick can't wait to see what tomorrow brings and enjoys being a leader for this exciting company.
Kent Wollert
Finance & Marketing Director
Kent Wollert joined the Colorado Mills team in 2019. Kent brings an ag background from his time spent as a rancher/farmer with a 550 head cow/calf operation as well as a business background from his 20 years as an owner of his own business. He has spent many nights at the calving barn as well as days pouring over financial statements. Kent also has an equine background as a timed event competitor for many years. He understands the right type of feed is very important to get what you need from your horse. So, when it comes to developing rations for beef cattle or determining how to feed your horse, Kent is here to help.
Kevin Swanson
Product Safety Manager & Oil Seed Procurement
Kevin Swanson has been with Colorado Mills since the beginning, in 1998. Originally from Minnesota, he grew up on a farm in a small town and earned a degree in Ag Business with a minor in Chemistry from SDSU Brookings. In his early career, Kevin was a Research Associate with Farmland Industries in their swine division, where he gained extensive knowledge about swine nutrition and production. Here at CM, he wears many hats – he’s involved in marketing and sales, and also schedules all outgoing loads of oil. In his spare time, Kevin loves to hunt, and spend time with his family, especially his grand kids.
Marilyn Owen
Office Manager
Marilyn started working at Colorado Mills 20 years ago, when there were only 12 full time employees. Not only does she oversee HR related issues and manages the office, but she also has her own farm/ranch operation. She grew up right here in SE Colorado and attended college in Goodwell, OK before moving back home to assist with the family farm. Her favorite thing about working here at Colorado Mills is the people – not only the customers, producers, and the employees as well.
Zac Kreider
Market Development Manager
Zac Kreider has been with Colorado Mills since 2013. Whether it be at a fancy dinner, a trade show, on a podcast or getting dirty out in a sunflower field, Zac is educating customers on where their oil comes from and how it is created. Connecting customers back to the soil and telling the story of farm to table is a passion of his. In charge of business development, Zac works with food brokers and distributors, manufacturers and R&D groups. Reach out to him, say hi and start building a relationship. Trust Colorado Mills to handle your oil needs - for 20 years we have built relationships on trust and reliability.
Jonna Castanos
Digital Media Specialist
Jonna started at Colorado Mills in 2017 as a part-time Administrative Assistant. In 2019, she was brought on full-time to run all social media accounts, and is now also responsible for the website, newsletter, and blog. Jonna was born and raised here in SE Colorado and is currently attending SNHU Online for a Bachelor's degree in New Media Communications. She enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her cat Lucy.
Michael Ward
Business Development
Business accelerator and pursuer of all innovative things. He embraces the daily challenge of change and contributes to the successes of others and the communities he serves. Having raised four children and successfully operated two companies in Colorado Springs, he has headed south and relocated to Florida. You can find Captain-to-be Mike pleasure cruising the waters near his new home or trying out the latest and greatest recipes in his outdoor kitchen.
Jarrod Lopez
Feed Mill Operations and Personnel Manager
Jarrod was born and raised in Lamar, working in agriculture and manufacturing before attending CSU Pueblo. He began employment with Colorado Mills in 2012 as a feed production operator where he gained knowledge in the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of feed manufacturing. In his time as feed production operator he was awarded the opportunity to get his OSHA 30 certification, food safety quality control certification and attended KSU's feed mill management training. He enjoys the challenges of meeting each individual rancher’s needs and cultivating a relationship with the rancher. When he's not attending his sons sporting events he likes to spend his time fishing.
Chris Isom
Oil Processing Manager
Chris Isom has been with Colorado Mills since 2010 and has been Oil Processing Manager since 2014. He plays an important role as part of the food safety team, ensuring our products are of the highest, safest quality. Before coming to work for Colorado Mills he was one of the welders who helped build the refinery. In his spare time, Chris enjoys playing golf and working out.
.jpg)
Riley Brookshire
Crushing Plant Manager
Riley Brookshire was born and raised in Craig, Colorado. He graduated from Westwood College of Aviation Technology with an Associates in Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics. Riley moved to the Lamar area in 2012 and started working at Colorado Mills that same year in oil operations. He is married and has three daughters, a son, and two dogs.
Tracy Schlichting
Accounts Receivable
Tracy Schlichting started working at Colorado Mills in 2016. She was born and spent her youth in southern New Mexico and then moved to Colorado in 1997 where she graduated from Calhan High School (Go Bulldogs!). Tracy brings a lot of experience to the table; she’s lived and worked on the Tree Top Ranch and has worked as a receptionist, bank teller, accounts payable and accounts receivable. In her spare time, Tracy enjoys spending time with family and friends and donating her time to the community.
Jodi Stephens
Accounts Payable
Jodi was born and raised here in Prowers County where she attended Lamar and Holly High Schools and graduated from Holly in 1995. She has raised her children in Lamar, the youngest of whom will be graduating high school this spring. Jodi has been with Colorado Mills since 2010 when she started as a lab tech in the oil refinery. She transferred to the office almost 3 years ago to learn other aspects of the company. She enjoys spending her free time with her family, working on her yard and operating a skincare business with her business partner.
Tony Melgoza
Oil Seed Handling Expert
Mr. Tony was born here in Lamar in 1948. He started working at Colorado Mills before it was even Colorado Mills! Mr. Tony started working here in 1985, when it was owned by George Tempel. He came in one day to fill in for a friend and after 36 years still hasn’t left. Mr. Tony has always worked in agriculture; he’s worked with farmers and at an alfalfa plant. When not supervising and giving his expertise at work, Mr. Tony likes to do woodworking and spend time with his family. He has three kids of his own, three stepchildren, grandchildren, and a beautiful wife named Kathy. Mr. Tony’s favorite thing about Colorado Mills is working with his fellow co-workers.
Josh Estep
Maintenance
Josh was born in 1980 and was raised right here in Lamar. While attending LHS, he participated in boxing and wrestling. He has a wife and three kids that he loves spending time with. When he’s not at work or spending time with family, Josh welds intricate horseshoe signs and likes to fish. When Josh started at Colorado Mills 3 years ago, he was working on the oil side but now he is in maintenance because of his close attention to detail. His favorite thing about CM is that there are different tasks and challenges every day and the feeling of accomplishment after completing a task.
Rodney Reyes
Feed Production
Rodney Reyes was born here in Lamar in 1984. He has worked on the oil rigs and as a butcher for more than 10 years. In August, he will have been with Colorado Mills for 5 years. Rodney has three kids - two girls and a boy. When he’s not at work, you can find him either fishing or playing ball with his kids.
David Lee
Refinery Operator
David “Punchy” Lee was born in 1947 down in Alpine, Texas, just 70 miles from the border. He attended the University of Sol Ross for 2 years and then moved to Lamar in 1970. He loved growing up on a ranch – especially riding horses, gathering cattle, branding calves, and killing rattle snakes. Punchy has a loving wife who holds down the homestead, a daughter, a son, and 4 grand babies. His favorite thing about Colorado Mills is the people he gets to work with.
Racheal Kisamore
Laboratory Technician
Racheal has been with the Colorado Mills team since 2017. She was born and raised here in Lamar and graduated from Lamar High School. When she's not hard at work in the lab, you can find her crafting, baking, and of course spending time with her two bonus daughters and her son, little man.
Louis Kimble
Feed Production
Louis is a Lamar native, born and raised. He has been working at Colorado Mills for 5 years now. In his free time, Louis enjoys playing in a men's softball league, working out, and cheering on his niece and nephew at their ball games. He also enjoys watching his favorite football team play - Go Cowboys!
Bryan Martinez
Lead Bagging Operator
Born and raised here in Lamar, Bryan has been part of the CM family for 14 years total. He has two daughters and a pet fish. Bryan is a big fan of all Colorado sports teams and in his free time likes playing drums, listening to music, and going to concerts.
Ashley DuVall
Administrative Assistant
Ashley Mick is new to the CM team, joining us in November 2021. As an administrative assistant, she works hard to lessen the workload of our management team. Ashley is involved in logistics management, distribution processes, and animal feed and dietary information. She grew up as a 3rd generation rancher on DuVall Ranches here in SE Colorado. After graduating from West Texas A&M with an Ag Business degree, she returned home to her roots. She and her two daughters still ride horses and help out at the ranch whenever they get the chance. Ashley enjoys being outdoors with her girls, hunting and shooting, relaxing at the lake, and reading a good book.
