Paul Clark, San Luis Obispo County Farm BureauPaul Clark has been tapped as the new executive director of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau. Clark is a Shandon cattle rancher and attorney. He attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and McGeorge School of Law. He succeeds Brent Burchett, who became executive director in 2019, and has moved back to Kentucky to be closer to family.
GLC Cerritos, an avocado grower-shipper, has brought on Armando Garcia as the director of sustainability. Garcia most recently worked as the managing director of the Jalisco Avocado Growers and Exporters Association, based in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Anne Thompson has joined the Farm Credit Council as vice president of young and beginning farmer programs and industry outreach. She will oversee Farm Credit's strategic partnerships and engage with industry partners throughout the ag and rural space. She most recently served as senior director for PAC and political strategy at the National Corn Growers Association. Before that, she worked at Bunge and CoBank.
Kim Cooper has been promoted to vice president of government affairs at the North American Millers' Association. She joined the organization in 2019 as the manager of government affairs and most recently was the senior director of government affairs. Before joining NAMA, Cooper served at National Head Start Association, Growth Energy, and worked on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in Ohio.
The International Dairy Foods Association has announced new roles and responsibilities for three members of the association’s executive team following the retirement of Neil Moran, who will move into a part-time role and will officially retire on June 30. Moran has been with the organization for 15 years leading the financial and accounting activities of IDFA. Effective immediately, Tom Wojno has added the title of chief operating officer to his current title of senior vice president of innovation and member advancement. Wojno joined IDFA in 2017. Becky Rasdall has been promoted to senior vice president of trade and workforce policy. She joined IDFA in July 2020 as the vice president of trade policy and international affairs. Before that, she worked at USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Colin Newman has added the title of senior vice president of strategic initiatives to his current title of chief of staff. He joined IDFA in 2017 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he served as manager for corporate relations.
TIPA, a compostable packaging provider based in New Jersey, has appointed Rodrigo Castaneda as vice president and general manager of North America. He has over 25 years of experience, previously working for Amcor, Smurfit Kappa, and Intradeco.
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Nathan Dadap is the new senior legislative assistant for Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif. He will handle the portfolio of energy and environmental protection. He previously worked in the office of Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and also was a land division project manager at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Cierra Walker has transitioned to the role of executive assistant at the U.S. Grains Council. She previously was the global ethanol programs coordinator. In her new role, she will assist the council’s president and CEO, and vice president.
William “Billy” A. Pizer has been tapped as the next president and CEO of Resources for the Future, effective May 1. He succeeds Richard Newell, who has been in the position for the last 7 years. He will be a senior adviser to the CEO after April 30.
Len Richardson, ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock PhotoThe FDA Foundation has picked new officers and members to serve on its board of directors. Adrian Hernandez has been selected as the new vice chair, and Debra Ness is the new treasurer. Lynne Zydowsky has been elected as the new secretary. Pietro Antonio Tataranni with PepsiCo and Reed Tuckson with Tuckson Health Connections have joined the FDA Foundation board.
Janell Hendren has been tapped to serve on the USAID Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS) looking to help provide insight on how to solve global challenges such as global food security and the climate crisis. Hendren also started a new role with XLA as a program and management analyst. She previously was a budget analyst for MSAG and before that worked for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
California agriculture journalist Len Richardson died on March 5 at his home in Danville, California. He was 85. He was the tenth editor of California Farmer, a 160-year-old publication that was originally privately owned and in its later years became part of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Farm Progress Cos. and Penton Media, which was California Farmer's publisher at the time its doors closed on April 1, 2013. His tenure at California Farmer spanned over 32 years.
