Michael Spier started his career in the wheat industry 1992 with United Grain Corporation (UGC) in Portland, OR as a grain merchandiser trading soft white wheat both domestically and internationally. In 1997, he joined USW as assistant director of the West Coast Office. In 1998, Spier relocated to Cairo, Egypt, as assistant regional director for the Middle East and East Africa. In 2002, he transferred to Manila, Philippines, as assistant regional director for South Asia. In 2009, Spier was promoted to regional vice president for South Asia in Singapore. In 2015, Spier joined Columbia Grain International Inc. (CGI) as assistant vice president of international marketing and established CGI’s office in Singapore for trading international milling wheat. In 2018, Spier relocated to CGI’s headquarters in Portland, OR heading up CGI’s international wheat trading desk. In 2019, Spier rejoined USW as Vice President of Overseas Operations.   

Over his thirty years in the grain industry, Spier has gained experience in grain merchandising, international wheat trading, market analysis, risk management and hedging, logistics, execution, and negotiating ocean freight contracts.