The California Chamber of Commerce added Kristopher Anderson to its staff as a water issues policy advocate. Anderson was with the Association of California Water Agencies where he represents more than 460 public water agencies. Anderson is an alumnus of the University of California, Davis School of Law, where he was senior articles editor for the Environmental Law and Policy Journal.

Russell Stokes joined Casper’s Ice Cream, a subsidiary of MidOcean Partners, as CEO. Stokes joins the company from Kind, where he was CEO. He also worked at Mars. 

Wish Farms promoted James Peterson to chief operating officer. Since joining the international grower and marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and pineberries in 2011, he has held an array of sales and marketing roles. Employees Marcus Caswell and Jason Deis (JD) will be promoted to director of sales execution and director of business development, respectively.  

The Napa County Farm Bureau hired Peter Rumble as CEO. He has been CEO of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber of Commerce. The group said his hiring “comes at a critical time for Napa County’s agricultural sector, which faces evolving challenges related to climate change, water resource management, and sustainable farming practices and the upcoming Napa County General Plan.”

McHutchison and Vaughan’s Horticulture recently added three members to the sales team. Michelle Roman joins the company with customer service and vendor programs from previous positions with The Henry F. Michell Co., Longwood Gardens and Jerry’s For All Seasons. With over 40 years of experience, Bob Steinlage will cover western Michigan and key accounts as a sales representative. Angie Munroe joins the team covering eastern Michigan with experience working in both greenhouse and nursery production and sales. 

The American Floral Endowment announced the new chairman of the board, officers and trustees. David Garcia of the Pete Garcia Co. is the new board chairman. Additional new executive committee members include: Bill Foster as treasurer/secretary and Laura Shinall as floral marketing fund chair. Art Van Wingerden was named to the AFE executive committee. 

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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. 

House Agriculture Committee member Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif., hired Alexander Ross as chief of staff. Ross served as chief of staff for the congressman from January to June of 2023 and has coordinated his campaign. 

Stephanie Pizzoferrato joined CropLife America as director of state government relations. Pizzoferrato has held government relations positions at LANXESS, Covestro, Scotts Miracle-Gro and the Ohio governor’s office.

The Delta Independent Science Board named Diane McKnight chair-elect. She has worked at the U.S. Geological Survey and is a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado. She will assume her chair-elect duties on Sept. 1. 

The U.S. Council for International Business added Natalie Bidner as director of international agriculture policy. Bidner was recently a program manager at the World Food Prize Foundation, where she coordinated the annual Borlaug Dialogue symposium. 

Laurent Freixe will become CEO of Nestlé – the world’s largest food maker – effective Sept. 1. Freixe has been with the company since 1986, most recently as executive vice president and CEO of Nestlé’s Zone Latin America. Freixe replaces Mark Schneider, who is leaving the company after nearly eight years as CEO.

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. 

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. 

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