President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Stephen Hahn of Texas, to serve as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Hahn currently serves as the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s chief medical executive. In addition, the president announced his intent to nominate Stephen Biegun to serve as deputy secretary of state. Biegun currently serves as the Special Representative for North Korea at the Department of State. Before returning to government service in 2018, Biegun served as vice president of international governmental relations for Ford Motor Company.
Jay Vroom has joined OFW Law as a senior policy advisor. The former CropLife America President and CEO will work alongside former Ag Secretary John Block, the firm’s Chairman Marshall Matz, and other OFW Law staff to represent agricultural clients.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has named Gina McCarthy as its new president and CEO. McCarthy previously served as the EPA administrator during the Obama Administration from 2013-2017. McCarthy starts at NRDC Jan. 6.
Former EPA Admnistrator Gina McCarthy
Christopher Kempczinski has been named president and CEO of McDonald’s Corp. He replaces Stephen Easterbrook. Kempczinski joined McDonald’s in 2015; he most recently served as president of McDonald’s USA. Before joining McDonald’s, Kempczinski worked for Kraft Foods, serving as executive vice president of growth initiatives and president of Kraft International. Joseph Erlinger will replace Kempczinski as president of McDonald’s USA. business. Before this, Erlinger served as president of the company’s international business.
Karey Claghorn has started a new job as the senior director of organizational collaboration and innovation for the U.S. Soybean Export Council. Claghorn previously served as the chief operating officer at the Iowa Soybean Association.
Danielle Beck has been promoted to executive director of government affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. She previously served as the senior director of government affairs.
Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, an international agricultural development organization, has brought on Eleni Gabre-Madhin to serve on the CNFA board of directors. Gabre-Madhin is the founder and chief executive of blueMoon, Ethiopia’s first youth agribusiness/agritech incubator and seed investor. She also founded and served as CEO of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange from 2008 to 2012. Gabre-Madhin has also served in roles at the World Bank, the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, D.C., and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva.
The National FFA Organization elected new officers to serve on the 2019-2020 national officer team. Kolesen McCoy of Ohio has been elected to serve as the national president. Serving as the national secretary is Kourtney Lehman from Oregon. Serving as the western region vice president is Lyle Logemann from New Mexico. Serving as the eastern region vice president is Tess Seibel of Virginia. Mamie Hertel of Montana is serving as the central region vice president. And the new southern region vice president is Yomar Roman of Puerto Rico.
Evan Vaughan has left the American Wind Energy Association, where he served as the manager of media relations. He will begin a new job with Sunshine Sachs, a national public relations agency, as an account director focused on clean economy, environment, and sustainability advocacy. He will be stationed in the Washington, D.C. office.
Joel Leftwich left The Glover Park Group, where he served as the managing director. Leftwich plans to head home to Kansas to become executive director of Envision's Workforce Innovation Center.
Joel Leftwich
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers nominated Brad Pfaff to serve as the Secretary for the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Pfaff, a Wisconsin native, worked for Rep. Ron Kind, R-Wis., then served as the state executive director for the Farm Service Agency in Wisconsin and the national deputy administrator for farm programs at USDA. However, on a 14-19 vote on Tuesday, Pfaff was essentially fired as Senate Majority Republicans decided not to confirm him.
Former state representative Andy Gipson won his first full term as Mississippi's agriculture commissioner, defeating Rickey Cole.
The Kroger Co. announced the retirement of Jerry Clontz, president of the mid-Atlantic division, after more than 48 years of service. Paula Ginnett assumed the role effective Nov. 1. Clontz joined Harris Teeter in 1971 as a bagger in North Carolina and since then has held various retail positions, including store manager, store director and field specialist. In 1997, he was named a regional vice president. He was then named senior vice president of operations in 2007. In 2017, Clontz was named to his current role. Ginnett joined Kroger after more than 25 years with Walmart Inc. For the past five years, she served as vice president, regional general manager for Walmart U.S., based in Phoenix.
Rebekah Rodriguez is now a legislative assistant covering the animal welfare, public lands, and natural resources portfolio for Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah. She previously served as a legislative aide to Curtis.
Matt Dernoga is now a senior legislative assistant for Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán, D-Calif. He covers the portfolio for agriculture and food, energy, environmental protection, trade, natural resources, and transportation. Dernoga ran for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018 but came in fourth in the Democratic primary.
Robert Primus has left the office of Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán, D-Calif., where he served as chief of staff. Barragán’s office has not yet hired a replacement but current district director Francisco Carrillo is filling the role as interim chief of staff.
Malikha Daniels has joined the staff at the House Agriculture Committee to serve as a legislative assistant for Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn. She previously served as a legislative fellow for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.
Caroline Franklin is the new communications director for Rep. Martha Roby, R-Ala. She previously served as Sen. Richard Shelby’s, R-Ala., press assistant.
Flynn Rico-Johnson has joined the staff of Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., to serve as her new legislative director covering the portfolio of labor, trade, transportation, telecommunications, and science and technology. He also covers the Energy and Commerce Committee for Matsui. He previously served as a government affairs manager for the First Responder Network Authority.
Cynthia Patton is now the deputy chief of staff for Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif. She previously served as a scheduler for Davis.
Lucas Smith is now a legislative assistant covering the environmental protection and science and technology portfolio for Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I. He previously served as a legislative aide for Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.
John Kohler has been promoted to legislative assistant from legislative correspondent covering the science and technology and small business portfolio for Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio.
Maddy Russak is now a communications aide for Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. She previously served as the deputy chief of staff for Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa.
Aaron Goldner is now a senior adviser for energy and transportation policy for Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. He previously served as an energy policy adviser. He replaces Bruce Ho.
Carrie Healey is now the communications director for Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J. She previously served as John Delaney’s national press secretary with the Friends of John Delaney (Maryland).
Louis Katz has left the office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., where he served as a legislative aide covering the energy and environment portfolio. The deputy chief of staff, Bruno Freitas, has taken over responsibility for these portfolios.
Sipcam Agro USA has promoted Sam Wineinger to serve as director of marketing. Most recently, Wineinger served as the marketing manager for Sipcam Agro’s turf and ornamental division.
The Mosaic Company announced two changes to its senior leadership team, effective Nov. 15. Corrine Ricard, currently serving as the senior vice president of commercial, has been named senior vice president-Brazil. Ricard joined Mosaic in 1986 and has served in a variety of leadership roles in commercial, supply chain, human resources, international sales, distribution, business development and risk management. Rick McLellan, currently serving as senior vice president-Brazil, will return to the United States to lead the commercial organization as senior vice president of commercial.
Funeral services will be held Friday for Paul John Sweeney, who passed away after a battle with cancer in St. Paul, Minn. He was 65 years old. Sweeney graduated from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and went on to work as a water quality consultant. A passionate conservationist, Sweeney served 39 years at NRCS, leading the USDA conservation drainage initiative and serving as a state conservationist. Sweeney joined Ecosystem Services Exchange upon his retirement at USDA to serve as the director of conservation planning.
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