The United Soybean Board has announced new members of its management team. Keenan McRoberts was named executive vice president of strategy. He has been with USB since 2018 in a variety of positions focused on strategic alignment, science and program strategy and meal strategy. Darryl Chatman is now executive vice president of compliance. A former deputy director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, he has been with USB for five years.
Sandi Schwarzen is now executive vice president of finance for USB. Jon Jansen will lead marketing efforts as senior vice president of marketing. Prior to joining USB in 2016, he worked at Bunge for more than 30 years. A new member of the USB team, Doug Ackerman has been tapped as senior vice president of reputation and insights. He will advise board members and staff on reputation-related matters and oversee U.S. Soy and soy checkoff brand channels. Regina Cleary is now vice president of board relations and farmer outreach. She previously was at the Osborn Barr agency office in St. Louis. All appointments were effective June 17.
CropLife America and Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE) have made staff changes. Dillon Gabbert joined the associations as state regulatory affairs director. He is an alum of Bayer Crop Science, where he spent 11 years in state regulatory engagement, state registration and research and development. Alex Smith has been named government relations coordinator. A recent Texas A&M graduate, Smith worked for USA Rice as a government affairs intern. Breyanna Tulipane was hired as manager of meetings and events. Katie Stump has been promoted to senior manager of regulatory affairs and sustainability. Previously manager of science policy, Stump has been with CropLife America for four years.
Susan Skiles Luke is leaving Bayer after seven years. She led North American communication during the Bayer-Monsanto merger as director of global issues and crisis communications for the crop science division. She has not announced new employment plans.
The American Soybean Association has added Jacquie Holland as an economist. Based in the St. Louis office, she will work with ASA Chief Economist Scott Gerlt. Previously, Holland was a grain market analyst for Farm Futures-Farm Progress-Informa Markets.
Lauren Smith joined the office of Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., as a legislative assistant covering animals and immigration portfolios. Previously, she completed fellowships with Heritage Foundation, Health Reformers Academy and Foundation for Government Accountability.
Katherine Schneider departed from her position as communications director for Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M. After working on Capitol Hill since 2019, she has taken a position with the Bureau of Industry and Security as deputy director of public affairs.
John Deere named Rex Curtiss chief tractor officer. In the newly created position launched through a social media campaign with San Francisco 49ers quarterback and Iowa State alumnus Brock Purdy, Curtiss will be the new face of John Deere social media. He comes from a family of fourth generation farmers and recently graduated with a degree in environmental studies.
Rex Curtiss, John Deere Chief Tractor Officer. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has made changes on her communications staff. Palmer Brigham was promoted to communications director after being deputy director for a year. She has worked for Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga. Zach Kraft has joined the office as a press secretary. Previously, he held positions with Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and the Republican State Leadership Committee.
Sam Edwards joined the staff of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., as legislative assistant for agriculture, food, energy, environment, public lands and natural resources. An Arizona native, Edwards has worked on the Hill since 2021 in various offices and the House Budget Committee.
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McDonald's named Cesar Piña North America senior vice president and chief supply chain officer, succeeding Bob Stewart, who will retire Oct. 1 after 30 years with McDonald's. As corporate vice president of global strategic sourcing for food, Piña led the company’s commitments around soil health and deforestation-free beef.
Shane Behler has joined the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies as an agricultural policy program manager. A Clemson graduate, Behler previously served as a policy intern at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
The International Poultry Welfare Alliance has announced new directors. Andy Rojeski of Pilgrim's Pride will be the integrator/processor representative, Dan Fields from Herbruck's Poultry Ranch will represent growers and Maria-Elena Varas from the World Wildlife Fund will be the civil society representative.
The Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance has tapped Jeff Lucas as executive director. Previously, he worked in marketing management for a logistics company and as a rodeo announcer. Lucas succeeds Sean McMahon who started a consulting business after nearly 10 years at IAWA.
Jeff Lucas, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance. The North Central Poultry Association will gain a new member July 1: The Missouri Egg Council. Created in 2022 with the merger of the Iowa Poultry Association and the Chicken and Egg Association of Minnesota, the group will represent members in all three states.
Aiyha Abdelbagi has been promoted to legislative assistant to Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., handling animal agriculture. Originally from Sudan, Abdelbagi has worked on the Hill since 2020.
Jacob Sanders has been promoted to legislative assistant in the office of Rep. Mark Green, R- Tenn. He will oversee animal agriculture, science and technology and trial issues.
The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs elected new board members. Stephen Williams from Butterball will represent live turkey production, Kathleen Long from Maple Leaf Foods will be the broiler live production representative, Katy Tarrant from Fresno State will be academic representative, Ashley Peterson of the National Chicken Council will represent civil society, and Mohamed Mousa of Herbruck's Poultry Ranch will represent live layer production.
The Clean Fuels Alliance presented Steve Howell with its Eagle Award at the semiannual ASTM International D02 Committee meeting. Chair of the biodiesel task force since 1994, Howell has been instrumental in securing consensus fuel standards for biodiesel in diesel and home heating oil applications for ASTM and the International Standards Organization (ISO).
Abit Massey, who as president of the Georgia Poultry Federation for 48 years became one of the most influential lobbyists for the poultry industry, died June 14 of cancer at Gainesville, Georgia. He was 96. Massey joined the federation when it was created in 1960 and retired in 2009. He was a force in state politics as the integrated poultry industry expanded, and he gained national influence because he was close to powerful U.S. senators from Georgia; Richard Russell, who chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Herman Talmadge, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
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