Our Staff
Scott E. Davis
President and CEO
Growing up on a progressive farm in Iowa and graduating from Iowa State University provided Scott with a firm foundation that has led him to an over thirty-year career. This career began as a market analyst, then developed into risk management and trading strategies as a licensed broker, before eventually founding Bullpen Trading, LLC. Scott remains involved in his family farm business, which is his roots to the commodity markets.
Scott’s passion is to truly connect with the individuals and corporations he serves, to develop customized strategies. He understands the details specific to each farm operation, how to best manage the cash basis and form sometimes complicated risk management strategies. For him, it is an ongoing process, to work with his clients, and even occasionally their banker, to understand their goals and help those goals be reached. Partnering with his clients, he can define their unique situation. He has worked through all price ranges in grains over 4-plus decades, as well as tight margins, and extreme volatility that changes those markets on any given day. Scott understands that for many producers, the goal is to manage the downside risk as best as possible, while still keeping upside potential alive.
Scott is licensed in Series 3, 7, 24, 66, Insurance, AAMS (Accredited Asset Management Specialist), and is a Licensed Registered Investment Advisor.
Scott has also lent his time to volunteer service in the community being on various boards. Most recent, he has served as Board President of Samaritan Bethany nursing home in Rochester, MN. He has coached community league sports for children, and he has also spent time speaking or meeting with people and groups for specific financial guidance.
In his spare time, Scott and his wife Karen love to seek adventure as avid hikers, skiers, and enjoy time being active in nature. Travel is a passion they enjoy greatly, as well as spending time with family. He loves to read and is a big college sports fan, mixed with some pro football and baseball. Go Cyclones, Twins and The Cubs!
Karen Cady-Davis
Commodity Manager
In 1993, Karen Cady-Davis began her career working with farmers and traders on using advisory tools to educate their path with hedging and managing their positions. This began her passion for not only the commodity markets, but agriculture especially. After six years on the advisory information side of markets, Karen decided to move to the brokerage side of helping producers and traders. She began with a leading brokerage firm based out of Iowa, until later establishing Bullpen Trading with Scott Davis. She works with clients all over the country, helping manage their unique marketing plans. She previously wrote a well-established electronic newsletter that “Sorted It Out” every week on several agricultural markets. For her it is very important to give her clients the tools they need to see the long-term perspectives on the markets, along with risks to help manage a plan that fits their unique situation. She continues to help educate farmers with important information, where you can find her on Twitter. A Midwest girl with grandparent roots in traditional grain farming, her earliest memories are with corn and horses. Karen is licensed Series 3.
Karen is also a big believer in community involvement and volunteering. She has been very involved with Girl Scouts where she led a troop for ten years and participated on several boards and activities. Being part of the Women’s Leadership Council through United Way was another way she helped to raise money for reading and books for preschool age children. She has helped with several local fundraising efforts and is a volunteer when needed at a local nursing home. To this day she will find ways to help encourage and mentor young people that come into her path.
In her free time, Karen and her husband Scott love to seek adventure as avid hikers, skiers, and enjoy time being active in nature. Travel is a passion they enjoy, as well as spending time with family and friends. They are avid sports fans, enjoying both college and professional level sports.
Ryan Backus
Commodity Broker
Ryan has had a connection to agriculture as long as he can remember. From spending time on his grandparent’s farm in Iowa to working on his in-law’s farm for 7 years. Now Ryan is using his experience to help farmers navigate the market. Since 2013, Ryan has been helping clients stay on top of rapidly changing markets by talking through political and meteorological events that influence their business.
Ryan is licensed in Series 3, 7, 66, Insurance, and is a Licensed Registered Investment Advisor.
Ryan is a Rochester native who attended college at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He and his wife, Ann, have been married 17 years and have two children, Sarah and William. He also believes in serving his community. He has been a member of many service organizations including leadership positions on the Board of Directors for Hiawatha Homes.