Working Lands for Wildlife has tapped Tanner Swank as Great Plains grasslands biome manager. He will work the central U.S. on the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Working Lands for Wildlife Framework. Swank has been with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever for six years.
Sarah Gonzalez has left the National Grain and Feed Association to lead communications and public affairs at the International Fresh Produce Association. She worked at NGFA for nine years after her time as an associate editor for Agri-Pulse.
The National Pork Producers Council has added Jake Sterle as director of industry resource development. An Iowa State alumnus, Sterle recently worked at BarnTools as a customer support specialist. He will be based in NPPC’s Urbandale, Iowa, headquarters.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise promoted Leah McPhearson to legislative assistant. She will cover the agriculture, food and animals portfolio areas.
Family Farm Alliance Executive Director Dan Keppen will step down at the organization’s annual meeting in October 2025. He has be
Dan Keppen, Family Farm Allianceen in the role since March 2005. The alliance’s board has initiated a nationwide search to fill the role.
Bobby Martens will lead the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives beginning Jan. 1. He will leave Iowa State University after 19 years on the faculty, currently as endowed economics professor.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers has added Chacko Jacob as a global agriculture account executive. He was previously entrepreneurial lead at the National Science Foundation and led global agribusiness at IBM.
Steve Hawkins is the new president of crop protection at Syngenta. He brings more than three decades of experience, recently as president and CEO of ADAMA Ltd.
Hilmar Cheese Co. CEO David Ahlem will step down early next year. He has been with the company for 21 years and in the top leadership role for almost 10 years. Hilmar’s board began a search two months ago and plans to name a successor by early 2025.
Philip Lobo launched his firm, Lobo Consulting Solutions, to serve food and agriculture clients business development, animal nutrition and strategic planning. He worked 15 years at the United Soybean Board in feed utilization and led communications for the Animal Agriculture Alliance.
Rachel Orf was promoted to director of environmental stewardship at the National Corn Growers Association. She has been with the association for 12 years, recently as director of stewardship and sustainability.
Alyssa Rudelis joined Senate Ag Committee member and Minnesota Democratic Sen. Tina Smith’s personal office as an energy, climate and environment fellow. She recently graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Ph.D. in Physics.
Dawson Schmitt was promoted to head of marketing content at Trader PhD Ag Marketing. He has worked with the company since 2022 when he graduated from Iowa State. Macy Locke joined Trader PhD as a marketing coordinator. She recently graduated from Iowa State.
Hunter Harris joined House Ag Committee member Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, as a legislative assistant covering agriculture, food, energy, taxation and trade. A Texas Tech grad, Harris was recently in the office of Texas Rep. Jodey Arrington coordinating special projects.
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Dan Foor is now a vice president at Remington Seeds based in Remington, Indiana. He has previously worked at DFL, La Crosse Seed and Monsanto.
Lee Schultz is the new chief economist at Ever.Ag. He was an economics professor and extension specialist focused on livestock economics and markets at Iowa State.
Lee Schultz, Ever.Ag
Sophia Svanda joined the Nebraska Soybean Board as a communications and education coordinator. She will oversee education initiatives, working on programs that connect with educators and agricultural groups across Nebraska. A University of Nebraska-Lincoln alumna, Svanda previously oversaw marketing and communications for Frontier Cooperative.
The American Petroleum Institute added Melissa Boedigheimer as a natural gas markets senior policy advisor. She was a senior professional staff member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.
Christine Hart-Nieland was promoted to strategic marketing manager at Phibro Animal Health. She was marketing product manager. She has worked at Farm Journal and Brighton Agency.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee member Ron Wyden, R-Ore., promoted Jacob Buckner to agriculture, food and environment legislative assistant. He is an Oregon State alumnus.
Brett Reeder joined Valley Milk Team as ingredient sales manager. He will drive strategy and focus on industry partnerships. Reeder has worked at Balchem Corporation and Leprino Foods.
Daniella Taveau started a new position as ambassador for partnerships and outreach at See the Good. She will work with celebrities to amplify global anti-hate campaigns.
Ellen Cook joined Merck Animal Health on the integrated livestock and aqua team as a marketing coordinator. An Iowa State graduate, Cook most recently worked at ReproScan.
House Ag Committee member Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., promoted Grace Rickman to legislative assistant. She will cover agriculture, food, foreign trade and immigration.
Thermon added Michelle Saab as a global marketing leader. She previously led A Squared Communications and Events based in Austin, Texas, and previously worked for SparkCognition.
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