Michael Papaleo has transitioned from executive vice president and chief procurement officer to strategic advisor for the coming year at C&S Wholesale Grocers. His retirement comes after 27 years with the company. Mark McGowan was promoted to lead C&S’s merchandising organization. He was previously executive vice president of retail and chief merchandising officer. Andrew Connell, previously senior vice president of procurement, was promoted to lead procurement, demand planning and inbound planning.
Valley Milk added Ron O’Brien to staff as a commodity risk management advisor. He will focus on the company’s energy, powder and fat risk management strategies. O’Brien previously worked at Interfood, where he managed the worldwide risk management portfolio.
House Ag Committee member Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., promoted Grace Rickman to legislative assistant. She will cover agriculture, food, foreign trade and immigration.
Steven Hawkings 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.
Steven Hawkings, SyngentaHilmar 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.
Family Farm Alliance Executive Director Dan Keppen will step down at the organization’s annual meeting in October 2025. He has been in the role since March 2005. The alliance’s board has initiated a nationwide search to fill the role.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
House Ag Committee member Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Co., hired Lauren Berry as a legislative assistant. She will cover agriculture, food, environment, natural resources, public lands and energy. Berry was an intern for Sen. John Fetterman, R-Pa., on the Senate Ag Committee’s Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics and Research Subcommittee.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fresh Taste Produce CEO Sal Sarraino died on Sept. 24. His company is now managed by his two sons, Julian Sarraino and Christian Sarraino, with outreach from coast to coast in Canada, and to more than 50 countries around the world.
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