Nicholas Braden

About Nicholas Braden

Over the past 23+ years, I’ve built and grown businesses by expanding markets and developing high‑performing teams. I lead with toughness and competitive drive, maintaining momentum through challenges while recognizing that sustained success is always a team effort.My experience requires constant agility—from negotiating competitive differentiation with procurement teams to delivering clear, forward‑looking board‑level perspectives. I take full ownership of growth strategy and performance, and I’m equally comfortable engaging directly in deals alongside my team when it matters most.I balance the urgency of winning today with disciplined execution to ensure long‑term relevance. Client advocacy is central to my approach, which is why I regularly engage in sales conversations to listen, learn, and represent our value firsthand.People development is a core focus of my leadership—building confidence, capability, and accountability to drive exceptional growth. My mindset is simple: continuous learning and continuous improvement.

Experience

1. Vice President

   Rangen Group

   Aug 2025 — Present · Decatur, IL, US

   I\'m fortunate to lead our Pet Nutrition and Japanese Trading business. We’re not just in the pet nutrition business; we’re in the business of solving problems.From the start, our focus has been on helping pet food companies find the right answers for their specific challenges. Whether it’s improving palatability, managing shelf life, meeting sustainability goals, or just making better food for pets, we’re here to help. We work closely with our customers because we believe that the best solutions come from real partnerships. Our team brings deep technical know-how, a broad ingredient portfolio, and decades of experience in animal nutrition. But more importantly, we bring curiosity, flexibility, and a drive to understand what’s really needed. Our promise is simple: whatever challenge you’re facing, we’ll dig in and help you find a way forward.We Partner With A Purpose™ – because your goals are our goals.

Education

• Millikin University

  B.S., Marketing

• Millikin University

  Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Tabor School of Business, Business Administration and Management, General

  2014 — 2014