Alvin Fults
Alvin Fults was born in Dumas, TX on May 15, 1968. He grew up on the family ranch near Dumas which is approximately forty miles north of Amarillo, TX.. Alvin worked on the family ranch through his high school years and then went on to Panhandle State University to earn his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Marketing in 1991.
In 1992, Alvin became an Associated Person with Dudding Commodities and RB&H.. In 2000, Alvin partnered with Mike Smith who was a customer of his at the time to form Tejas Brokerage LLC. Following Mike's transfer of his ownership interest in Tejas Brokerage LLC to his son, Cody in 2008, Alvin and Cody have continued to manage the day to day operations of Tejas Brokerage LLC.
Jacky Evans Criado
Jacky joined the Tejas Brokerage LLC Team in 1999 as office manager, after working for a large meat packer in a similar position. Jacky quickly caught on to the ins and outs of the commodities industry. She learned all clearing house rules and conducts all daily settlements for the office. Of Tejas' brokers, she is typically the first to know of new developments in the ever changing rules and regulations that all Introducing Brokers must abide by. In addition, Jacky talks to almost every customer with an account at Tejas on a daily basis and routinely advises them on their position. Jacky decided to become a broker in 2009 and as well holds her current position as office manager. Anyone who knows Mrs. Criado knows that she is a woman with her eye on the ball here at Tejas and we attribute much of our success to her as well.
Chad Smith
Chad Smith was born in Amarillo, Texas in 1976 to Eddy and Debbie Smith. Chad grew up in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School in 1995 and at the early age of 16 Chad already knew that he wanted to spend his life learning and promoting the cattle industry. He attended Texas Tech University and at West Texas State University studying agriculture finance. His desire to gain a real-world education in the cattle industry led him to doing research for the agriculture research company, Koers-Turgeon Consulting Services. During his time there he specialized in the study of feed production and animal pharmaceuticals. Chad also knew he wanted to gain experience in the feeder industry. Therefore, in 1999 he went to work for Cactus Feeders in their agriculture research department and then into management at Cactus Feedyard located in Cactus, Texas.
His interest in the administrative side of the agriculture industry led Chad Smith to get his brokers license and he joined Tejas Brokerage, LLC in Amarillo, Texas as a commodities broker in 2005. Chad’s attention to detail and ability to look at both technical information and fundamental news sets him apart and helps him provide his clients with educated information to help make the best possible decisions. Chad believes that by being available to his clients and by having an open line of communication he provides each one with the type of personal service that sets him apart as a broker.
Chad likes to spend his extra time on ranches across the Texas Panhandle, promoting agriculture, wildlife preservation, hunting and fishing. Chad also enjoys spending time with his wife, Angie, and his children, Corinne and Byron. He especially enjoys attending their sporting events and school activities.
Cody Smith
Cody Smith was born in Lubbock, Texas in 1974 to Mike Smith and Deborah Smith. Cody grew up in Amarillo and spent his childhood working on the family ranches across the panhandle. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1994 and spent some time at Texas Tech University. Cody’s love of ranching and the beef industry drove him to get his formal education, not in the classroom, but working on the ranches and in the feed yards. He also spent much of his young adult career buying cattle from Wyoming to Mexico. Cody broadened his experience in the cattle industry by working at Tejas Feeders; feeding cattle, running the mill and apprenticing underneath the feedlot manager, to get an education on the ins and outs of the feedlot industry. During this time, Cody began getting more involved in commodities and gaining an understanding of the different aspects of the beef industry, like grain production and hedging risks.
In 2000, Cody's father Mike Smith along with his partner, Alvin Fults, formed Tejas Trading Co. in Amarillo, Tx. Cody took over Mike's ownership interest in Tejas Trading Co in 2008. Cody and Alvin continue to operate as Tejas Brokerage LLC and serve their clients to this day. With 10 brokers and over 800 customer accounts, Tejas Brokerage LLC prides itself in providing the most educated information and personalized service as possible for each and every client. That personal service and their day to day attention to changes in the world production of meats and grains is what sets Tejas Brokerage LLC apart in the commodities industry.
Over the years Cody continues to invest in the future of the cattle industry and educating people on the importance of ranching and preserving that way of life. He has also pursued many other interests related to ranching. He has purchased land, held ownership interest in feed yards and helps to oversee the daily operations of the family ranches in the Waco area and Texas panhandle. Cody hopes to pass on his love of ranching and the beef industry to his son, Hunter, who is currently attending Texas Christian University. Cody and his girlfriend, Kori, enjoy spending time with each of their children and their family. They love going to the ranches, hunting, fishing and traveling.
David Hales
Reared on a farm outside of Amarillo, in the Texas panhandle, David has been involved in agriculture since an early age. A Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University in Animal Science-Beef Cattle Production enhanced a practical working knowledge of farming and ranching. After a year's stint as a market analyst with Texas Cattle Feeder's Association, David worked for a publicly held cattle feeding operation for four years before jumping into the futures business in 1976.
Initially moving to Chicago, David worked for Lincoln Commodities and wrote the cattle segment of their commodity letter. In 1978, David moved from Chicago to Dumas, Texas, opening a commodity office for REFCO, Inc. It was here that he started his own brand of analysis published as the Cactus Commodities Market Letter. In 1989, he started a new weekly market letter titled Hales Cattle Letter which is still being published today.
Wage and price controls in the early 1970's, $80.00 cattle in 1979, 20%+ interest rates in the 1980's, and the stock market crash in 1987 were real life learning experiences for David, not text book studies for an MBA. Carcinogen scares, hoof and mouth disease, and BSE in 2003 were challenges that had to be overcome during the last 40 years of trading cattle futures. In June of 2005, David closed his Rosenthal Collins Group office and joined long time friend Tejas Brokerage LLC.
Having been involved in all segments of the cattle and commodity business while living in Texas, Colorado, and Illinois, David developed a wide-ranging circle of contacts that has proved invaluable in gathering market information on a daily basis. Although he specializes primarily in the market analysis of fed cattle and cattle futures trading, he actively trades all agricultural and energy markets.
David Moore
800-700-4149 • 806-463-2144 • Fax: 806-463-3113
Sasha Reif
Compliance in Customer Relations Administrator
800-700-4149 • 806-463-2144 • Fax: 806-463-3113
Katherine Hales
New Accounts Administrator
800-700-4149 • 806-463-2144 • Fax: 806-463-3113
