Agricultural Sciences

Penn State Extension names associate directors of client relations, programs

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of recently announced changes to its organizational structure, product development and program delivery, Penn State Extension has appointed two individuals to statewide leadership posts.

Tara Mondock is the new associate director for client relations, and Jeffrey Hyde was named associate director for programs. Together with the director of extension and a soon-to-be-named associate director for business operations, the four positions comprise Penn State Extension's executive leadership team.

Tara Mondock

Mondock's role as associate director for client relations will focus on developing long-term relationships with customers and key stakeholders to match their priority issues and needs with Penn State Extension products and services. She is responsible for communicating the value and impact of the organization to clients, maximizing revenue, growing the customer base, working with key stakeholders to advocate for and secure funding, and overseeing 10 client relations managers who serve defined areas throughout the state.

With a background in business administration and marketing, Mondock comes to Penn State from eSolutions Inc. in Overland Park, Kansas, a company that delivers workflow automation, data analytics and clearinghouse services in support of home health and hospice agencies, skilled-nursing facilities, hospitals, medical equipment suppliers, and physicians.

As chief revenue officer and senior vice president for strategic partner sales, she doubled the company's inside sales force, resulting in an increase in revenue from $27 million to $43 million over two years. She also established its first customer advisory board, which strengthened relationships with clients in the acute and post-acute provider segments across the industry.

Previously, Mondock held sales and sales-management positions with companies providing data and network services to the health-care and insurance industries. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing from Western Carolina University.

"Tara's past experience will be greatly beneficial as she and her team build organizational and brand awareness and work to ensure excellent customer service and satisfaction," said Dennis Calvin, director of extension and associate dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "She will play a major role in assuring that Penn State Extension realizes its vision of providing all citizens with access to unbiased, science-based education."

Jeffrey Hyde

As associate director for programs, Hyde will provide leadership for the development and delivery of high-quality, relevant and impactful extension educational programs, products and services through a variety of formats, with an eye toward expanding reach and access.

He will oversee and guide assistant directors of programs and statewide program teams in the planning, prioritizing, budgeting, development, delivery and evaluation of programs, products and services. The resulting product mix will address customers' changing educational needs while enhancing the organization's agility, lowering costs, improving performance and focusing resources on strategic priorities.

Hyde joined the faculty of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences in 2000 as an assistant professor of agricultural economics, reaching the rank of full professor in 2012. During that time, he developed and delivered extension educational programs on topics such as farm business planning, marketing and human resource management. From 2008 to 2015, he led Penn State Extension's statewide ag entrepreneurship and economic/community development programs.

Before assuming his current position, he served as associate head of the college's Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education and as assistant to the director for special program initiatives for Penn State Extension, each on a half-time basis. A recipient of numerous awards and honors, he earned a bachelor's degree from Frostburg State University in Maryland and master's and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics from Purdue University.

"Since becoming special assistant to the director in 2015, Jeff Hyde has provided strong leadership for Extension's efforts around the development and implementation of our new business model," Calvin said. "He has well-rounded experience and knowledge about the college's land-grant mission of research, extension and teaching, and his many years of dedication and leadership will continue to be a major asset to Penn State Extension."

Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state and county governments, Penn State Extension shares unbiased, research-based information with individuals, families, businesses and communities through nonformal educational programs designed to meet locally identified needs.

Last Updated April 21, 2017

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