The National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation has tapped Scott Stump as the new chief executive officer of both organizations. Stump, who will take over on June 21, lives in Colorado on a small ranch with his wife and three children. He received his bachelor's in agricultural education from Purdue University and his MBA from Western Governors University. He began his career working as an agriculture teacher in Indiana for two years and then worked for the National FFA Organization, where he managed the national officer team and the National FFA Convention and Expo. He is currently working for Advance CTE and before that worked in the Department of Education during the Trump administration.
Scott Stump, National FFA
By a voice vote in the U.S. Senate, Eric Lander was confirmed to become head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Lander, president and founding director of the Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University was the last member of President Joe Biden’s cabinet nominees to be confirmed. During President Barack Obama’s time in the Oval Office, Lander served as co-chair of the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Libby Schneider has moved on to a new opportunity at the Democratic National Committee. She will be the new deputy political director of campaign readiness. Schneider previously served as the national rural political director at the DNC. She also worked as a legislative assistant to former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.
Chase DeCoite is the newest member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s policy team, where he’s now the director of animal health and food safety policy. DeCoite comes to the job from NCBA’s Denver office, where the UC Davis grad was the director of the organization’s Beef Quality Assurance program.
Catherine Laporte-Oshiro is now an economic policy adviser for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. She covers commerce, foreign trade, international finance, small business, and taxation issues. She comes to the Hill after working at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as a China trade enforcement analyst.
Emmet Hedin now works for Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., as a legislative assistant covering the portfolio for agriculture and food, animal welfare, minority issues, and immigration. Hedin previously worked for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as a senior policy adviser, handling the portfolio for agriculture, campaigns and elections, state government, and cybersecurity.
A pair of new legislative assistants will handle key portfolios for Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz. Morgan Guilbeau will cover ag issues, among other things, for the office. She has been with Stanton’s office since 2019 and was most recently a legislative correspondent. Blaine Boyd will handle immigration and judiciary issues in the office. Boyd previously served as a legal fellow for Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. He also served on First Lady Michelle Obama’s senior staff at the White House.
Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., has hired Lauren Holly as a deputy scheduler and assistant to the chief of staff. She previously was with Green Corps as a solar energy campaign intern ... Cody Garner has also joined Boozman’s office as a staff assistant. Garner previously interned in Sen. Tom Cotton’s, R-Ark., office.
Stella Qian, U.S. Grains Council
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., has brought on Daphne McCurdy as his new foreign policy adviser. She will handle the portfolio for international affairs and veteran affairs. McCurdy previously worked at the Center for Strategic and International Studies as a senior associate. McCurdy also has experience working at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Denae Benson is new to the staff of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. She’s now a staff assistant for the Republican staff and previously interned for Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska.
Cordelia Kellie is now the special assistant for rural affairs for Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Kellie received her master’s in rural development from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
Stella Qian has been promoted to manager of global ethanol market development at the U.S. Grains Council. Qian previously served as manager of global ethanol programs. In this role, Qian will develop strategy in markets for expanded ethanol use.
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