Rod Snyder is departing from his post as top agriculture adviser at the Environmental Protection Agency. Snyder has been with the agency since October 2021 and was the first director of the EPA’s Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs established by Administrator Michael Regan in March. In an exclusive interview with Agri-Pulse, Snyder said he did not have specific plans for his next career move, except that he wanted to stay in the agriculture, conservation and climate space.
Robert Guenther was hired as executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange and Florida Tomato Growers Exchange and manager of the Florida Tomato Committee. A Florida native, Guenther is a produce industry veteran from serving in public policy roles at the United Fresh Produce Association, International Fresh Produce Association, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Sugar Cane League. He started the onboarding process and will assume full responsibilities in September.
Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., named Emily Carwell as chief of staff in her personal office. Carwell worked in the Michigan Senator’s office for nearly a decade before most recently serving as policy director for House Minority Whip, Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass.
Robert Guenther, Florida TomatoesJason Smith joined Valent U.S.A. as vice president of sales. Most recently, he was director of strategic supplier alliances and procurement at Winfield United, the agriculture inputs subsidiary of Land O’ Lakes. Smith also worked at Bayer Crop Science for over 32 years in sales, marketing and commercial leadership positions. Smith has served on various boards during his career, including the National FFA Sponsors Board, Western Plant Health Association and United Fresh Produce Association.
Stephanie Pizzoferrato joined CropLife America as director of state government relations. Pizzoferrato has previously held government relations positions at LANXESS, Covestro, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and the Ohio Governor’s office.
The Mushroom Council tapped Amy Wood as president and CEO. She will oversee strategic marketing, communication, research and promotion programs designed to increase awareness and consumption of fresh mushrooms. She has more than two decades of food marketing experience, most recently working as senior vice president for food strategy at Curious Plot representing the Mushroom Council, California Avocado and the National Watermelon Promotion Board.
Amy Wood, Mushroom CouncilKP Public Affairs added Brenda Bass to staff as a lobbyist focused on water, environmental, agriculture and energy policy issues. She was previously a senior lobbyist at CalChamber working on similar issues.
Mariah Lancaster joined the office of Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., as a legislative assistant covering the agriculture, food, energy and environmental protection portfolio areas. Lancaster recently completed an American Veterinary Medical Association Fellowship in the office of Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn.
The House Committee on Agriculture has hired Ben Nichols as deputy communications director. Nichols comes from Rep. Eric Burlison’s office where he served as communications director and has a background in digital media and fundraising.
Allison Starmann joined the American Beverage Association as general counsel and executive vice president of legal and regulatory affairs. She has previously worked for the American Chemistry Council, as deputy general counsel for the EPA during the Bush administration and at Winston & Strawn LLP doing litigation and regulatory work. Starmann is a Notre Dame alumnus.
Sun-Maid tapped Steve Loftus as president and CEO of the nation’s largest raisin grower cooperative. Loftus has been with the company since 2022, most recently as chief operating officer. He will succeed Harry Overly who is leaving Sun-Maid to lead Minneapolis-based snack company Flagstone Foods.
The North American Plant Protection Organization selected Jessica Mahalingappa as associate deputy administrator of international phytosanitary issues management and standards programs for APHIS-PPQ and the US NAPPO executive committee chairperson.
Devin Cole was named president of Tyson’s international business segment and president of Tyson’s global McDonald’s business unit, where he is responsible for leading the company’s relationship with fast food company. Cole previously worked at Keystone Foods, George’s Inc. and Tyson. He succeeds Amy Tu following her retirement after seven years with the company.
Dion McBay joined Land O’ Lakes as director of retail growth services. He was most recently vice president of sales at Valent U.S.A. and has held positions with Bayer Crop Science and Monsanto.
Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif., added Katy Mary Albiani to staff as a legislative assistant covering agriculture, food, energy, environmental protection and public lands portfolio areas. Albiani was most recently scheduler in Fong’s California state legislature district office.
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Lorene Parker joined Redding Firm Inc. as an agriculture legislative analyst. She was most recently a legislative correspondent in the office of Rep. Rick Allen, R-Ga.
Synchrony added Mitch Erdel to staff as vice president of government affairs. He previously worked in Republican Hill offices.
Hannah Fonseca, Agri-PulseHannah Fonseca – a familiar byline you may recognize as Hannah Pagel – is transitioning to Agri-Pulse’s sales team after over five years on the editorial team. During her time with the company, Fonseca wrote the weekly Farm Hands job changes column, contributed to the weekly Newsmakers TV show and the daily DriveTime podcast. Fonseca is now based in North Carolina while her husband pursues his MBA at Duke.
Nutrien promoted Mark Thompson to executive vice president and chief financial officer effective Aug. 26. Thompson has been with the company since 2011, most recently working as executive vice president and chief commercial officer. He will succeed Pedro Farah, who will remain with Nutrien in an advisory capacity until his departure at the end of the year
Disha Banik joined the World Food Programme as head of partnerships, reports and communications for the Republic of the Congo. Banik was most recently a policy advisor for House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies, D-N.Y.
Jennifer Altenburg Boka was promoted to senior director of livestock operations at the National Western Stock Show. Boka has been with the show since the summer of 2022 most recently in a director role and previously led communications and member relations at the Red Angus Association of America.
Ron Young joined Evans & Associates as a senior government affairs manager. He has held an array of legislative positions in Prince George’s County, Maryland, the Maryland General Assembly and founded his own firm, McMillan & Young Policy Consultants
Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., hired Alicia Seagraves as a senior legislative assistant focused on agriculture, food, energy and environmental protection. She has previously held legislative roles on the Hill, at the Texas Legislature Sunset Advisory Commission and the Texas House Energy Resources Committee.
Trent Bowers joined the staff of Rep. Greg Lopez, R-Colo., as a legislative assistant covering animals and small business. Bowers was most recently on Lopez’ campaign team as a research strategist.
Kara Hecker recently stepped away from the position of California regional director and resilient agriculture west advisor at the American Farmland Trust. She has worked in the field for 24 years.
Produce industry leader Tom Nunes died August 5 in Carmel Valley, California. He was 95. Nunes began his farming career over 70 years ago in the Salinas Valley and started two grower-shipper companies, Growers Exchange and Nunes Bros. of California, Inc. He also served as president of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California.
Joe Tavaglione, longtime California Transportation Commission member, died last week. He was 101. Tavaglione was appointed first by former Gov. Gray Davis and was appointed five more times, including two terms as CTC chair. He was also president of his Riverside construction company since 1962. “Up until the very end, Joe Tavaglione dedicated his life to improving transportation for all of the people of California,” California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said.
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