Tara Howell – Senior Manager, Sales Support
As a member of the sales support team at Kent Nutrition Group, Tara Howell works cross-functionally with departments throughout the company. Her team is responsible for employee and dealer training, locating stores where customers can purchase products, providing recommendations for particular lines of feed, commodity ingredient sales and responding to a myriad of customer service requests – from consumer concerns to specific questions from dealers, as well as assisting the KNG Territory Sales Representatives. Tara also works with the KNG International customers.
“I really wish people could see what all goes on behind the scenes to produce the quality products they have grown to trust and rely on,” Howell says. “It truly is a team effort and we take customer service very seriously.”
Deciding to work for Kent was an easy one for Howell, who grew up showing sheep in Southeast Iowa where her dad was a loyal customer. He still has her traditional Kent tacker sign from her 4-H days hanging in his shed.
“Kent has always been viewed as a ‘family tradition company,’” Howell says. “Kind of like, ‘My family used it, so I’m going to use it too.’ But I’ve really seen a lot of changes here that have helped raise our reputation for quality feed more than ever. We’re rightfully viewed more now as a complete nutrition company.”
Howell’s five-member team is directly responsible for investigating and following up on every customer call that comes through their department – from concerns about a torn feed bag to questions about specific ingredients or animal health issues. Each email, call or letter is treated the same, she says.
“We try to do the right thing on every level, with every call we get,” Howell says. “We gather details and investigate and follow through with whatever the topic or issue happens to be.”
That kind of customer service is what differentiates Kent from other companies, she says.
“I fully recognize that our customers have choices every day on where they want to purchase their products, and it is our role to give them the attention and care they deserve, so they’ll want to begin or continue using Kent and Blue Seal products.”
Tara lives with her husband, Tom, and four children, Taylor, Victoria, Madeleine and Cael, on a row crop and livestock farm in Southeast Iowa. Her children are active in sports, 4-H and FFA, and show sheep, cattle and pigs at the county and state fairs. They trust Kent feed for all of their livestock needs as well as for their two dogs.