Farm Hands West: Lawton promoted at Vision Produce

Vision produce has promoted Dan Lawton to president and managing partner, taking over the day-to-day operation of the company. Bill Vogel will remain as chairman and CEO. Lawton started his career with Dole Fresh Fruit Co. in 1994, and has been with Vision Produce since 1999. 

Nick Young, supervising environmental scientist at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, has been tapped to serve as the president of the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO). At CDFA, Youngworks with the fertilizer industry to achieve compliance with California laws and regulations.

Bringing over 25 years of experience in California’s commodity organizations, Marcy Martin has been tapped to serve as the new president of the Citrus Research Board. She most recently served as director of trade for the California Fresh Fruit Association, but she also served the California Apple Commission for over ten years.

The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, best known as Farmer Mac, hired Todd Batta to serve as the new vice president of government affairs. Batta previously served as the executive assistant and senior policy adviser to Dallas Tonsager, the former Chairman of the Farm Credit Administration (FCA). Before joining FCA, Batta served as the assistant secretary for congressional relations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue has officially sworn in DJ LaVoy as USDA's new deputy undersecretary for Rural Development. LaVoy boasts 22 years of experience in housing and economic development at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Most recently, he was HUD's Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Real Estate Assessment Center. 

Howard Minigh has announced he is stepping down as CEO and president of CropLife International. Giulia Di Tommaso has been selected to serve as the new CEO and president, bringing experience as a leader in executive global roles, including strategy, transformation change, sustainability, communications, reputation management, risk and issues management as well as legal and compliance. Before joining CropLife International, Giulia was chief communications & sustainability officer at the Ferrero Group.

Kind Healthy Snacks promoted Michael Barkley to serve as its new CEO. He succeeds Daniel Lubetzky, who has been elevated to executive chairman. Lubetzky founded Kind in 2004. Barkley previously joined Kind last fall as president and COO. Before that, Barkley was with Pinnacle Foods, where he was president of Boulder Brands from May 2017 to August 2018. ... Succeeding Barkley as COO is Daniel Poland. He most recently served as executive vice president and chief supply chain officer at Pinnacle Foods. Doug Behrens has been named chief customer officer. Prior to joining Kind, Behrens was president of Amplify Snack Brands. Rebecca Bagin has been named chief human resources officer. She most recently was chief human resources officer at Tory Burch, and earlier spent 14 years at Campbell Soup Co.

Indigo Agriculture has expanded into Europe and will open its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. Georg Goeres has joined Indigo as head of its European operations. For the past fifteen years, Georg worked in various leadership roles for Syngenta, including head of commercial operations and strategy.

The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) has hired Jason Troendle to serve as the director of market intelligence and research. Troendle previously served as a senior business analyst for the Context Network. Troendle has a master's in applied economics and management from Cornell University. 

Sixteen individuals have been selected to be inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame during a special ceremony on Friday, Oct. 11, at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md. Each person will be honored for his or her lifetime achievements and contributions to 4-H. The National 4-H Hall of Fame Class of 2019 Laureates recognized for excellence in citizenship, leadership, character and career accomplishments include: Charles Cox, Oklahoma; Richard Freeman, National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA); Frances L. Hagel, New Jersey; Edward L. Horning, Pennsylvania; Lillian Larwood, Oregon; Donna MacNeir, NAE4-HA; Reita Marks, West Virginia; Donna Menart, Wisconsin; Ruby N. Miller, Louisiana; Les Nichols, National 4-H Council; Marilyn N. Norman, Florida; Bill Peterson, Arizona; Howard Scott, North Carolina; LC Scramlin, Michigan; Peter Stortz, Alaska; Chuck Todd, Washington.

This week brings a handful of changes to the minority staff of the Senate Ag Committee. Claire Borzner has joined the staff to cover nutrition, specialty crops, food safety, international food aid and hemp issues. The Holy Cross grad previously worked in the Capitol Hill offices of Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. … Khadija Jahfiya is a new legislative fellow with the committee, where she will will work on nutrition, local foods, specialty crops, and other issues. She comes to the committee from UNC Chapel Hill, where she completed her Masters studies focusing on childhood obesity and other issues. … Rounding out the issues, current staffers Kyle Varner will now focus on trade issues and Rosalyn Brummette will handle biofuels and related issues.

Lance West has left the Senate Energy and Natural Resources' Democratic staff where he served as the deputy staff director to begin a new role as chief of staff in Sen. Joe Manchin’s, D-W.V., office.

Tiffany Angulo has been promoted to legislative director for Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz. She previously served as policy adviser and covers the portfolio for immigration and telecommunications.

Lea Sulkala has left the office of Rep. Linda Teresa Sánchez, D-Calif., where she served as the chief of staff.

Covering the labor, employment and transportation portfolio for Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska., is Kevin Swanson. Swanson is the new legislative assistant, he previously served as a senior associate at Michael Best Strategies LLC.

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