Proviera Biotech in Kansas City has added agribusiness executive and investor Thad Simons to the company’s board of directors.

Simons is a veteran attorney and backer of entrepreneurs who brings decades of corporate and venture capital experience to Proviera, which makes probiotic-based biochemical products that replace hazardous chemicals in the leather-tanning process.

Simons is the former CEO of Novus International, Inc., a St. Louis company that produces and sells nutritional supplements for livestock and poultry feed. Simons’ objective at Novus was encapsulated in this mission statement:  “Help feed the world affordable, wholesome food and improve the quality of life.”

Currently, Simons is a managing director at the Yield Lab, a seed venture fund/accelerator that supports AgTech startups. He also serves as board president of the International Food and Agribusiness Association (IFAMA), which is devoted to sustainable agriculture for the future of the food industry.

In addition, Simons is board president of the International Food and Agribusiness Association (IFAMA). His career honors include being named central region EY Entrepreneur of the Year, World Trade Center St. Louis (WTC-STL) International Businessperson of the Year and National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Agribusiness Leader of the Year.

Proviera Biotech is a subsidiary of SCD Probiotics, a 25 Under 25® winner from 2010. Proviera focuses on the leather-tanning industry. SCD Probiotics produces a wide range of probiotic solutions for health, agriculture, pets and the home.