About us
Procurement Strategies Inc. is a private consulting firm specializing in meat markets, assisting in the scientific formulation of optimal strategies for companies engaged in the buying and/or selling of meat products. Our strengths are derived from many years of experience in meat trading and futures trading; from extraordinarily advanced analytical techniques; and from efficient management and assimilation of large amounts of data relating to the discovery of meat prices.
Our company was founded in 2005 by Kevin Bost, who has traded livestock futures since 1979. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Arkansas and a Master's Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois. He entered the business as a commodities broker in 1981, and moved on to serve as Agricultural Economist for USDA's Economic Research Service; as Director of Procurement Strategy for a nationwide cooperative of supermarket chains and distributors; and as Director of Supply Chain Management for one of the largest restaurant companies in the U.S. Through this experience, Kevin has developed an intimate knowledge of meat operations within the wholesale, retail, and restaurant segments, and the way in which budgeting, cost control, and market analysis come together to form a strategic advantage.
Kevin is partnered with Dr. Branislav Cobanov, whose unusually proficient knowledge of statistical and forecasting methodology meshes uniquely with Kevin's analytical experience and PSI's extensive data base. A native of Serbia, Dr. Cobanov possesses a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Sciences from the University of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia; a Master of Science Degree in Software Systems from the University of Belgrade; an MBA degree from Otterbein College; and a PhD. from the Ohio State University. Dr. Cobanov has extensive experience with forecasting algorithms; neural networks; calculus; linear and Boolean algebra; FFT, DFT, "s" and "z" transformation; regression; ANOVA; GLM and mixed models; discrete data analysis; numerical analysis; and game theory, among other techniques. He is also familiar with the intricacies of many different programming languages, operating systems, and software packages.
PSI is thus qualified to discover and deliver information and strategies that are highly scientific and, at the same time, delivered in a form that is easy to understand.