Will McIntee
Will McIntee is heading up the rural outreach for the campaign of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. McIntee is working as a full-time national rural engagement director for the campaign. McIntee’s past work experience includes working as the Midwest outreach director for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and as the lead advance representative at the Department of the Interior.
BASF has selected Nina Schwab-Hautzinger to become head of corporate communications and government relations, effective Nov. 1. Schwab-Hautzinger currently works as the global head of corporate brand & communications of the healthcare company Roche at its headquarters in Switzerland. She succeeds Anke Schmidt, whose last day will be July 31.
Colleen Dekker has been promoted to executive director of global corporate communications at Elanco. She previously worked as the senior adviser for global corporate communications.
GROWMARK has selected Lora Wright to join the board of directors in a new at-large position. She brings more than 20 years of animal agriculture and technology experience to her new role, with her background focusing on meat and livestock production, food safety, animal welfare and sustainability. She has 15 years of experience working for Tyson Foods and currently is the owner and operator of 605 Solutions LLC, a consulting business developing training materials addressing the needs of the food animal industry.
Julie Deering has been hired by the U.S. Soybean Export Council as senior manager of communications. Deering previously worked for the American Seed Trade Association, Farm Journal’s Top Producer magazine, Seed World Media, and most recently HighQuest Partners. Deering and her husband own and operate a small cow-calf operation in Central Missouri.
The Climate Corporation has brought on Ranjeeta Singh as the new chief product officer to create strategic and product roadmap plans for Climate FieldView. Singh brings more than 23 years of expertise in hardware, software and services experience. Most recently, Singh served as vice president and general manager of data science and artificial intelligence at Teradata. Before that, Singh spent 18 years at Intel.
Seaboard Corporation has appointed Ellen Bresky as a director and chairperson of the board of directors, filling the vacancy previously held by her late husband, Steven Bresky. The board also appointed Douglas Baena to be lead director, with responsibility to act as liaison between the board and company management. The board also elected Robert Steer, current executive vice president and chief financial officer, to serve as president and chief executive officer, effective immediately, to succeed Mr. Bresky. Steer has served as executive vice president and CFO of Seaboard since April 2011, and has been with the company for more than 35 years serving in various capacities. Steer will continue to serve as CFO until a successor is identified and appointed.
Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council has selected Kyle Durham, a Norborne, Mo., soybean farmer, as the new chairman of the board of directors. Durham will serve a one-year term as chairman and lead Missouri's soybean checkoff efforts. Also elected to the board was Aaron Porter as vice chairman and Mark Lehenbauer as secretary/treasurer. Outgoing chairman Robert Alpers will continue to serve on the board of directors.
United Fresh Produce Association has promoted Jennifer McEntire to senior vice president of food safety and technology. She joined United Fresh in 2016 and has focused on issues related to outbreaks in leafy greens, the Food Safety Modernization Act and traceability. McEntire started her career at the National Food Processors Association and then became a visiting scientist at the Food and Drug Administration. She has also held roles with The Acheson Group and previously worked for the Grocery Manufacturers Association before joining United Fresh.
Julie Deering
The American Meat Science Association has selected Dr. Temple Grandin as the 2020 AMSA International Lectureship Award winner. The award was established to honor an individual for internationally recognized contributions to the field of meat science and technology. Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and is known as a pioneer in improving the handling and welfare of farm animals.
Jessica Martinez is now the legislative director for Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, covering the portfolio for health and telecommunications. She previously worked at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission as a special adviser and confidential assistant to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Before that she worked on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
John Weber has been promoted to legislative director for Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., covering the portfolio of agriculture and food, animal welfare, energy, environmental protection, public lands and natural resources, science and technology, and small business. He previously was a senior policy adviser.
Marisa McCarthy is now a press aide for Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. She previously was a press assistant.
Virginia Hagerott has been promoted to legislative assistant for Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va. She covers the portfolio for agriculture and food, animal welfare, appropriations, energy, environmental protection, immigration, public lands, natural resources, taxation, and telecommunications. She was previously working as a legislative correspondent.
Hunter Hobart is now the legislative director for Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala. Hobart covers the portfolio for agriculture and food, animal welfare, commerce, energy, environmental protection, public lands and natural resources, telecommunications, transportation and public works. He was previously serving as Palmer’s senior legislative assistant.
Paul Green has been elevated to legislative correspondent from staff assistant for Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif. Green will work on issues related to science and technology.
Kennedy Pope is the new research assistant for Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Pope was previously a staff assistant for the committee.
Covering the portfolio for commerce, science and technology, small business, taxation, and transportation as Rep. Alex Mooney’s, R- W.V., legislative assistant is Curt Bliamptis.
Cesar Ybarra is now the legislative director for Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz. He covers energy, public lands and natural resources, small business, and telecommunications. He was previously a legislative assistant.
Harden Spencer has added legislative aide to his job title for Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. Spencer handles the portfolio for energy and environmental protection.
James Hampson has been promoted to deputy chief of staff for Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo. Hampson was previously the legislative director and focused on the agriculture and food, appropriations, commerce, energy, environmental protection, foreign trade, natural resources, small business, taxation, telecommunications, and transportation portfolio.
Devin O’Brien has moved to legislative aide from legislative correspondent for Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. O’Brien covers the international affairs and immigration portfolio.
Nebe Betre is now the deputy press secretary for Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. Betre was previously a press assistant.
Covering the international affairs portfolio for Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is Maggie Angel. Her title is legislative aide.
Covering the small business and taxation portfolio for Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., is legislative assistant Kevin Taheri. He previously was a legislative correspondent in Gallagher’s office.
Rep. Fred Keller’s, R-Pa., new communications director is Nick Barley. He was previously a legislative correspondent.
Danielle Cohen is the new communications director for Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore. She was acting communications director for Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., since April and before that was her digital press secretary.
Natalie Edelstein has moved up to deputy communications director for Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif. She was previously in the role of press secretary.
Michael McLeod, noted agriculture lobbyist, died July 20 in an Asheville, N.C., hospital from complications of COVID-19. He was 78. McLeod was a former staff director and general counsel of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry under the late Chairman Herman Talmadge, D-Ga., He went on to build a lucrative career in private law practice, lobbying for a wide array of influential clients in commodity futures trading, crop insurance and agricultural commodity promotion boards funded by “checkoff” assessments on producers. When he retired from the industry, he went on to write books and operate a rustic cabin resort in the Appalachian Mountains. To read more on McLeod, click here.
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