The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has advanced the nominations of Dan Brouillette to serve as the secretary of energy, James Danly to serve as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and Katherine MacGregor to serve as deputy secretary of the Interior.
Katharine Emerson is leaving the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) where she has served as the director of public policy and political strategy. On Dec. 2, she will start a new job with Bayer as director of political affairs. Her last day with NCGA is Nov. 22. Martha Smith has been promoted to the global industry affairs lead for Bayer Crop Sciences. She previously handled global issues management for new platforms and emerging technologies.
Katharine Emerson
The Farm Credit Administration has created the Office of Data Analytics and Economics and has selected Jeremy D'Antoni to serve as its new director. D'Antoni joined FCA in 2015 as an agricultural economist in the Office of Regulatory Policy. In addition to this new role, D’Antoni serves as FCA’s chief data officer, a position he was named to in July.
The National Council for Agricultural Education selected James Woodard to serve as the new director of agricultural education, FFA board chair and National FFA Adviser. Woodard currently serves as superintendent of the Morgan Charter School Systems in Madison, Ga. The National Council also named Cheryl Zimmerman executive secretary for National FFA. Zimmerman has served on the National FFA board of directors as a consultant and member since 2016. She currently serves as the Wisconsin FFA executive director.
Kathryn McLay has been tapped as the new president and chief executive officer of Sam’s Club. Her most recent job has been as executive vice president of Neighborhood Markets. McLay joined Walmart in 2015 as the vice president of U.S. finance and strategy. She was then promoted to senior vice president of supply chain before becoming executive vice president of Neighborhood Markets.
The National Pork Board has named Bryan Humphreys to serve as vice president of producer, state and industry relations. Jacque Matsen has also been named to vice president of strategic communications. Both will assume their new roles Dec. 16. Humphreys previously served as the executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Council. Matsen comes to the Pork Board from the Iowa Economic Development Authority where she served as administrator of the marketing & communications division.
Kathryn McLay
The World Food Program USA’s board of directors named Barron Segar as its new president and CEO, effective Jan. 21. Segar currently serves as the UNICEF USA executive vice president and chief development officer. Segar brings over 20 years of experience in growing philanthropic and cause marketing platforms. Before joining UNICEF USA, Segar served as the director of development for Georgia Public Broadcasting.
The Land O’Lakes government relations team hired Michael Daniels as a new director of federal government and industry relations. Daniels most recently served as director of government affairs for NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association. Daniels previously served nearly four years as a White House appointee at USDA, where he focused on rural economic development issues.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota has added Luke Theriot to the committee staff as a professional staff member. Theriot comes to the committee from the office of Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, where he served as a senior policy adviser. He has previously worked for Louisiana State University AgCenter's Audubon Sugar Institute, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Senate Committees on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Energy and Natural Resources. Theriot also served with the Peace Corps in Morocco at Prince Sidi Mohammed Institute of Management and Agricultural Trade.
Premier Crop Systems’s board of directors appointed Darren Fehr to serve as president and CEO and serve as a member of the board of directors. Fehr previously worked as the director of sales and marketing. He succeeds Dan Frieberg, who is transitioning to retirement. Frieberg will remain engaged in the company as vice president of technical services.
The J.M. Smucker Co. has made some changes to its leadership team, effective Nov. 25. Geoff Tanner, currently senior vice president of growth and consumer engagement, will take on the new role of chief marketing and commercial officer. Jill Penrose, currently senior vice president of human resources and corporate communication, will become chief people and administrative officer under the new structure. Amy Held’s title will change from senior vice president of corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions and international, to chief strategy and international officer. The company has also created a chief operating officer position and is in the process of searching for a candidate to fill the position. Mark Belgya, vice chair and CFO, announced he will retire Sept. 1, 2020. Tucker Marshall, vice president of finance, will succeed Belgya. On Nov. 25 he will become senior vice president and deputy CFO and will succeed Belgya on May 1, 2020. Belgya will continue as vice chair until his retirement.
Shawna Blair is moving to Delta Regional Authority as the new communications director. Blair spent the past 14 years in the U.S. Senate in the Senate Periodical Press Gallery, most recently serving as the deputy director.
Maria Martirosyan is now a legislative assistant in Rep. Ilhan Omar’s, D-Minn., office, handling the portfolio for energy and the environment. She previously was a legislative correspondent for Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif.
Matt Slavoski is now the press secretary for Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa. He previously worked at TechNet as a federal policy and communications coordinator.
Cam Shepherd is now a legislative assistant for Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga., covering the agriculture and food, environmental protection, telecommunications, and natural resources portfolio. He previously worked at the Department of Agriculture as a confidential assistant and speechwriter.
Dakar Lanzino is now the communications director for Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla. He previously worked as a senior associate at the Dewey Square Group.
House Ways and Means ranking member Kevin Brady, R-Texas, named J.P. Freire as the new director of communications. Freire previously served as the director of communications for the Joint Economic Committee. Brady also promoted Jesse Solis to deputy communications director. Solis previously served as the press secretary.
Bree Vculek has left the office of Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., where she served as a legislative assistant covering the agriculture portfolio. Mark Gruman has taken over the responsibilities of the agriculture portfolio.
Dan Lindner is now the communications director for Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif. He previously served in the offices of Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., and Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif.
Suzanne Lane is now a digital director for Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. She previously served as the deputy communications director for Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Kristine Lucius has replaced Rohini Kosoglu as the chief of staff for Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.
Rick Calhoun has been elected chairman of the National Waterways Foundation. To see a full list of elected officers and trustees, click here.
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting elected its 2020 officers and board members after NAFB’s annual convention in Kansas City. Rita Frazer of RFD Radio Network was elected as president and Gale Cunningham of WYXY FM Radio was elected president-elect. Agri-Pulse’s Spencer Chase was elected vice president. Regional vice presidents are as follows: South region vice president is Carey Martin of Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network; West region vice president is Carah Hart of the Red River Farm Network; and East region vice president is Eric Pfeiffer of Hoosier Ag today. Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant was also reelected to serve as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Foundation.
The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association elected new members to its board of directors. Janea Danuser, vice president and co-owner of Danuser Machine Co. in Fulton, Mo., has been elected to serve as president. She succeeds Nick Jensen of Thurston Manufacturing in Thurston, Neb. Other board elections can be found here.
For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com.
