American Takii / Our Team

Steve Wiley

General Manager/COO Steve is a long-time professional in the vegetable seed industry. He has 34 years of combined experience at Monsanto Vegetable…Read More

Keiji Nakamori

Assistant General Manager Keiji is from Osaka, Japan and graduated from the Faculty of Business, Osaka City University with a Bachelor of Business…Read More

Jerry Vosti

National Vegetable Sales Manager and Marketing Jerry has more than 38 years of sales experience in the vegetable seed industry. At Takii he is responsible for…Read More

Trace Pafford

Western Technical Vegetable Sales Manager Trace is the primary contact for seed dealers in the Central Valley, Nevada and the Pacific Northwest. He also manages…Read More

Mitchell Young

Eastern Technical Sales Manager Most of Mitch’s agricultural education came from his father (a Cornell Cooperative Extension agent for 25 years).During college he worked…Read More

Jose Solorzano

Research Station Manager, Yuma, Arizona Jose has been with American Takii for over twelve years. He oversees Takii’s Research Station in Yuma. He is also…Read More

Manuel Jimenez

National Product Development Manager Manuel has been at Takii since 2005. Prior to that he worked a combined 24 years at Dole Fresh Vegetables…Read More

Julia Paul

Julia has been with American Takii for more than 15 years and provides marketing support for both the flower and…Read More

Yukie Benech

Vegetable Customer Service Manager Yukie began her career with Takii after graduating from California State University, Fresno and has experience working in several areas…Read More

Silvia Escalera

Vegetable Customer Service Silvia has been at Takii for almost 17 years; she started as a Flower Sales Assistant and later moved to…Read More

Stephanie Benabides

Logistics Coordinator Stephanie was born and raised in Salinas and has been with American Takii since 2006, assisting many different departments within…Read More