The International Dairy Foods Association has made two staff changes. Samuel Alcaine, Ph.D., was hired as vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs to provide guidance on food safety, food defense, standards of identity, labeling, nutrition policy and sustainability. Alcaine was previously associate professor and director of the Northeast Dairy Food Research Center at Cornell University and has worked as the principal microbiologist for Unilever’s North American ice cream business. He will begin his role Nov. 18 and report to Roberta Wagner. Jeffrey Cullen was hired by IDFA as director of video production and digital communications. He previously worked at Consumer Reports for a decade and as director of videography at The Wall Street Journal. Cullen began his role on Oct. 15.
Harley Janssen is the new director of outputs and measurements at the National Corn Growers Association. In the newly created role, he will focus on translating and interpreting production and sustainability data to help growers access new sustainability markets, including tax credits that allow growers to sell into the aviation sector. Janssen has over 20 years experience in agriculture, construction and off-road technology.
Harley Janssen, NCGABrent Boydston started Ag Center Solutions, his own consulting firm, focused on government policy, trade policy and foreign market development. He previously led corn, cereal grains, digital agriculture and carbon programs at Bayer Crop Science.
Pouyan Nejadhashemi is the new director of the Michigan State University Institute of Water Research. A university research foundation professor, Nejadhashemi will continue to spend half his time as a professor and half in the new role studying how water interacts with ecological systems.
The Renewable Fuels Association elected new officers. Jeff Oestmann, CEO of Aztalan Bio, was elected chair. He has previously held leadership roles at Granite Falls Energy, Syngenta and East Kansas Agri-Energy. Others elected include Derek Peine, CEO of Western Plains Energy in Oakley, Kan., as vice chair; Tim Winters, president and CEO of Western New York Energy, as board secretary; and David Zimmerman, CEO of Big River Resources, as board treasurer.
Mia Woodard was hired by Carbon180 as senior director of policy and government affairs. She previously worked for the American Sustainable Business Network as vice president of policy and advocacy.
Leah Grider joined the office of House Agriculture Committee member Rep. John Rose, R-Tenn., as deputy chief of staff. She served in the same position for nearly two years from August 2022 to March 2024.
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Mickayla Jordan was promoted to marketing coordinator at the Iowa Soybean Association to drive engagement and increase soy promotion. She recently graduated from Iowa State with a degree in agricultural communications.
Frank Yiannas, former FDA deputy commissioner of food policy and response, was appointed interim chief food safety advisor at Boar’s Head. He was hired to ensure the company meets standards of food safety and quality and to oversee a nationwide search for the company’s new chief food safety officer. Yiannas will also chair the Boar’s Head Food Safety Advisory Council, which formed in September as part of the company’s response to the ongoing listeria outbreak linked to its deli meat.
Rick Welder was promoted to lead CropLife Media Group and Cotton Grower. He previously was a business director for key accounts with Meister Media Worldwide, owner of both brands.
Stefanie Katzman was tapped as CEO of her family’s company, Katzman. The fourth generation to lead the organization in its 100-plus years of operation, she will launch a rebrand of Katzman to a family of produce companies and debut a new logo. The company will continue to operate out of the Hunts Point Produce Market in Bronx, New York.
Harambe Ag Consulting hired Raymond Do
Stefanie Katzman, Katzmanbert as a principal. He was most recently a senior science fellow for new technology regulatory policy at Bayer Crop Science and previously led global regulatory policy at Monsanto. Dobert will be based in O’Fallon, Missouri.
Emily King has left her role as member services director for the Republican staff on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She is now a vice president at Rich Feuer Anderson.
Joel Dunn, CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy, will leave his his role at the end of 2024. Conservancy COO E.J. Amyot will succeed him as interim president and CEO during the search for a new organization leader.
Brigid Paulson rejoined the office of Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth as administrative director. She left the office from April to September this year to serve as the associate director of party leaders for the Democratic National Convention.
Corryn La Rue joined the American Ag Network as a farm broadcaster and content specialist, taking over as the primary voice of the American Ag Network on-air broadcasts. La Rue was previously White House Correspondent and Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief for RFD-TV and has received the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Horizon Award. She is also a former Agri-Pulse intern.
Elizabeth Wilhelm was promoted to senior media relations coordinator at Practical Farmers of Iowa. A recent Iowa State graduate, she has been with the group for a year.
The American Petroleum Institute tapped Kevin Slagle as senior vice president of communications. He previously led strategy and communications for the Western States Petroleum Association.
Former South Dakota Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson died Oct. 8 from complications after a recent stroke. He was 77. Johnson helped create the Renewable Fuel Standard, reorganize the Farm Credit System and secure land-grant status for tribal colleges. Johnson served 28 years in Congress, going undefeated as a Democrat in South Dakota until his retirement in 2015. Those who worked with Johnson described him as a quiet, policy-oriented lawmaker willing to cross party lines based on his beliefs.
Julia J. Dibner, a pioneering scientist and founding member of the research team at animal nutrition company NOVUS International, died the week of Sept. 30. She worked on poultry research at NOVUS for nearly 30 years as director of biology research, senior research consultant and distinguished science fellow before retiring in 2014. Dibner authored more than 140 research papers during her career.
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