Six people identified as USDA staffers during the George W. Bush Administration (2001-2009) are among 200 Republican officeholders who signed a letter endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president. The letter was reported Monday by USA Today. Those with USDA connections include Dawn Riley, who was chief of staff for Deputy Secretary Jim Moseley; Alisa Harrison, director of communications; Raegan Bartlo, communications specialist; Brandon B. Beshears, confidential assistant to the undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs; Nicol Andrews Jones, deputy communications director, and Thomas Roberts, special assistant. Karen Kirksey, who was a special assistant for congressional relations at USDA, signed the letter as former deputy associate administrator of the General Services Administration.
Cory Huck will step into the role of Provimi, Inc. CEO on Sept. 1. He succeeds Pedro Coelho who will transition to chief business officer at the company. Huck led the global biological business at Syngenta for the past five years.
Amy France was elected chairwoman of the National Sorghum Producers at its board’s annual meeting. The third generation on her family farm in Western Kansas, France grows sorghum, corn, wheat and black Angus cattle with her husband and son. She has served on the NSP board since 2018. NSP directors elected include Garret Love of Montezuma, Kansas, as vice chairman, Barry Evans of Kress, Texas, and Dustin Borden of Gruver, Texas. Craig Meeker of Wellington, Kansas, is past chairman.
Amy France, National Sorghum Producers ChairwomanAllison Starmann joined the American Beverage Association as general counsel and executive vice president of legal and regulatory affairs. She has worked for the American Chemistry Council, as deputy general counsel for EPA during the Bush administration and at Winston & Strawn in litigation and regulatory work. Starmann is a Notre Dame graduate.
Bay State Milling announced key staff changes. Jennifer Robinson has been tapped for the newly created role of senior vice president of safety, quality and sustainability. Keith Adams, who has been with the company 16 years, was named chief operating officer and general manager of the Milling Ingredient Solutions unit. Four new vice presidents have been added to Adams’ team: Joe Doyle as VP of sales, Loren Jacobs as VP of supply chain, Steve Matson as VP of operations, and Thomas Bell as VP of finance.
The United States Council for International Business added Natalie Bidner as director of international agriculture policy. Binder was recently a program manager at the World Food Prize Foundation focused on coordinating the annual Borlaug Dialogue symposium.
Alex Davidson joined the National Turkey Federation as senior director of public affairs. He was recently director of public affairs at the Beer Institute.
The American Coalition for Ethanol elected a new board at the annual conference in Omaha. The following were named to a three-year term: Ron Alverson of Dakota Ethanol, Bill Dartt of Cardinal Ethanol, Doug Punke of RPM, John Christianson of Christianson PLLP, Brian Vasa of Nebraska Public Power District and Kenton Johnson of Granite Falls Energy.
Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., named Emily Carwell chief of staff in her personal office. Carwell worked in the senator’s office for nearly a decade before recently serving as policy director for House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass.
Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif., named Alexander Ross chief of staff. Ross had been Duarte's chief of staff from January to June of 2023 and coordinated his campaign.
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Laurent Freixe will become CEO of Nestlé – the world’s largest food maker – effective Sept. 1. Freixe has been with the company since 1986, recently as executive vice president and CEO of its Zone Latin America. He replaces Mark Schneider, who is leaving after nearly eight years in the top role.
Laurent Freixe, CEO of NestléMaola Local Dairies named Chad Dubbe chief financial officer. The Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association’s company hired Dubbe after he worked for 15 years with Leprino Foods Co., most recently as vice president of finance for the Cheese Global Business Unit.
Kirin Kennedy left the professional staff for the Senate Ag Committee to become senior adviser at the Southern Environmental Law Center.
Marlene Creighton has been promoted to chief sales officer for U.S. retail at Kraft Heinz. She joined the company in June from Hershey where she was chief sales officer.
Stephanie Pizzoferrato joined CropLife America as director of state government relations. She has held government relations positions at LANXESS, Covestro, Scotts Miracle-Gro and the Ohio governor’s office.
The House Committee on Agriculture has hired Ben Nichols as deputy communications director. He was communications director for Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., and brings experience in digital media and fundraising.
Cindy Axne, senior adviser for rural engagement, delivery and prosperity at USDA, joined Dream for America as senior adviser on its advisory board. An Iowa congresswoman from 2019 to 2023, she served on the House Agriculture Committee.
Cindy AxneAlltech added Jamil Faccin to the U.S. pork team as a swine technical and nutrition specialist. A Brazil native, Faccin recently completed his Ph.D. and postdoctoral programs at Kansas State in nutrition and diet research.
Aaron Anticic is the new chief financial officer for the Michigan Milk Producers Association. He joins the company from Mastronardi Produce, one of the largest produce companies in the world, where he led the finance team at the Mastronardi BerryWorld Americas joint venture.
The American Floral Endowment announced new officers. David Garcia of the Pete Garcia Co. is the new chairman. Executive committee members include Bill Foster as treasurer/secretary and Laura Shinall as floral marketing fund chair, with Art Van Wingerden named to the AFE executive committee.
John Ghingo has been tapped to lead Hormel Foods' retail division. Ghingo recently led the company’s Applegate Farms brand from 2018 to 2022.
The International Fresh Produce Association announced the 2025 board slate to be confirmed at the 2024 Global Fresh Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta. Yan Branco of Sobey's has been tapped as Retail Council chair and Hans Leibbrandt of Monfrut as Chile Council chair. At-large representatives are Mohammed Abbas of Del Monte Fresh Produce, Steve Barnard of Mission Produce, Dave Chen of Equilibrium Capital/Perfection Fresh, Sonya Constable of Sprouts Farmers Market, Jan Doldersum of Rijk Zwaan, Jim Hancock of Sam's Club, West Mathison of Stemilt Growers, Chang Hwa Oh of Jinwon Trading, Shubha Rawal of IG International, Jose Rossignoli of Robinson Fresh, Shaily Sangvhi of Driscoll's and Maria Wieloch of ICA Gruppen.
USApple elected new board officers. Brett Baker, president of United Apple Sales, will serve as board chair. He was raised on a fruit and vegetable farm in Ransomville, New York, and is the son of Paul Baker, the 1989 USApple chair. Baker succeeds 2023-24 Chair Steve Clement, CEO of PNW Tree Fruit in Washington. Other elected board me
Greg Hendersonmbers include Steve Smith, vice chair, of Washington Fruit; Philip Glaize III, secretary, of Glaize Apples in Virginia; and Kaari Stannard, treasurer, of New York Apple Sales.
Greg Henderson, editorial director of Drovers at Farm Journal Media, died unexpectedly two weeks ago. He was 57. Before transitioning to editorial content, he started his career in farm radio and was a longtime advocate of the beef industry. His memorial service will be held later, according to his obituary.
Ed Duda, former CEO of the family's farm operation, died Aug. 11. He was 91. Duda began his career with the company in 1957 and held a variety of roles before being elected president in 1977. He retired in 1998 but continued to serve on the board until 2005. He served an array of industry groups, including the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, chairman of the former United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association and trustee of Florida Institute of Technology. A memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo, Florida.
ICYMI during our August newsletter publishing break:
Rod Snyder left as to
Hannah Fonsecap agriculture adviser at EPA. He was with the agency since October 2021 and was the first director of the EPA’s Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs established in March. In an interview with Agri-Pulse, Snyder said he did not have specific plans for his next career, except that he wanted to stay in the agriculture, conservation and climate space.
Hannah Fonseca – a familiar byline you may recognize as Hannah Pagel – is transitioning to Agri-Pulse’s sales team after more than five years on the editorial team. During her time with the company, Fonseca wrote the weekly Farm Hands 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.
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