The U.S. Grains Council hired Alicia Koch as director of global ethanol export development. Based in the council's D.C. headquarters, Koch will oversee development and execution of the global ethanol program's public affairs, strategic partnerships and program implementation. She was previously executive director at Pivot: Global Bioethanol Coalition.
Faith Mabry, communications director for Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., left her position after Valadao’s re-election. Mabry is now a speechwriter on the executive communications team at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
David Hovermale, NOPAThe Association of Equipment Manufacturers promoted Austin Gellings to senior director of agricultural services. He has been with the organization nearly five years, recently as a director.
National Oilseed Processors Association Executive Vice President of Government Affairs David Hovermale will retire at the end of the calendar year. During more than 25 years with the trade organization, he was instrumental in helping address tariff and non-tariff trade barriers and furthering international trade agreements for the oilseed industry. More recently, he devoted time to addressing the 45Z tax credit. Previously, Hovermale worked for the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, International Affairs and Commodity Programs, Office of Congressional Relations and Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.
Jennifer Warren departed from the National Sorghum Producers. She had been with the organization nearly 15 years, including four as vice president of communications.
Colorado farmer-owned cooperative ProEgg tapped Greg Bilobran as CEO. He was corporate controller at Rembrandt Foods, an Iowa-based egg processor. He also worked for Dean Foods.
WhiteMoon MgO hired Michael Zehr as a strategic adviser. He will advise the company on stakeholder engagement in Washington. Zehr is continuing board positions with EVelution Energy and Chilean Cobalt Corp, as well as serving as a partner at Capital City Ventures.
Publix promoted Doug Stalbaum to vice president of finance effective Jan. 1. He has been with the company since 2019, most recently as vice president and controller. In the new position, Stalbaum will oversee the support of manufacturing and distribution.
Syngenta Group hired Alison Tudor-Ackroyd as head of digital and social media. She was director of international communications and managing newsroom editor at Alibaba Group.
David Hollinrake is the new CEO at Exacto. He previously worked for Syngenta for seven years, most recently as global head of strategy and portfolio management for Syngenta Seeds.
John Rauber departed as communications director for Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill, after five years in the position. Rauber is now a manager of government relations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Conduit – Landus Cooperative’s farmer-owned tech company – made a series of new hires. Eric Snodgrass, former Nutrien principal atmospheric scientist, is executive vice president of farmer experience and senior atmospheric scientist, focused on developing analytical software solutions for global and field-level agriculture weather impacts. His weather updates are posted at conduitweather.ag. Jack Brodshaug is executive vice president sales and marketing; Wade Kent, vice president for business to consumer and Matt Reardon, senior atmospheric scientist.
Eric Snodgrass, ConduitBerkshire Agricultural Ventures hired Kallie Robertson as finance manager and Audrey Hackett as communications and development associate. They will serve producers in Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut.
Carthage Veterinary Service hired Amelia Schatz as marketing communications and administrative coordinator. A Minnesota native, Schatz is a Kansas State University graduate and previously worked for Kansas Wheat.
BioWorks hired Curt Granger as business development manager for specialty agriculture. He will focus on expansion in specialty crops. Previously Granger was a contract consultant for trials to support expansion into California.
Jason Johnson left his position as communications adviser on the House Natural Resources Committee Democratic staff. He is now a director and program lead at Purple Strategies.
Chelsea Carpenter is the new Tennessee FFA Foundation executive director. She recently worked at Farm Credit Mid-America. She was 2015-2016 Tennessee FFA State President.
Exacto hired Lillian Magidow as director of product management and regulatory. She has worked as a consultant and has 13 years of experience working for Winfield United, recently as director of marketing and innovation.
Recovery Centers of America hired Michelle Kalz as chief growth officer. She previously worked in business development and marketing positions in behavioral health.
Clifton R. Wharton Jr., former deputy secretary of state who began his illustrious career in agricultural development, died from cancer in New York Nov. 16. He was 98. His career began at the Agricultural Development Council and took him with Rockefeller family-led foundations to Latin America and Southeast Asia. He became chairman of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) under former President Gerald Ford and later was No. 2 at the State Department under former President Bill Clinton. He was the first African-American president of a major U.S. university, Michigan State, and chancellor of the 64-campus State University of New York system. In 1982 he became chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation. He also chaired the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). Wharton received the President's Award on World Hunger in 1983.
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