Circular Action Alliance hired Rachel Wagoner as California executive director. She was director of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery program.
Nancy Skinner of Berkeley has been appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the California Energy Commission. She was a California state senator from 2016 to 2024 and a member of the California Assembly from 2008 to 2014. She has led an extensive career in the climate and energy sectors, including serving as United States Director at The Climate Group and executive director at ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability Climate Protection Campaign.
Trinity Fruit Co. promoted Angela Hernandez to vice president of marketing. She has been with the company since 2018 and previously was marketing coordinator at Fowler Packing Co.
The Union of Concerned Scientists hired Kate Anderson as director of the food and environment program. She previously led the Sightline Institute’s farm and forests research program.
Dianne Nellor, a 24-year veteran of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Cornerstone Government Affairs as a principal. She most recently was staff director of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. 
Maryam S. Brown, SoCalGas
Maryam S. Brown, incoming CEO and president of the Southern California Gas Co., was elected as the 2025 chair of the California Chamber of Commerce board of directors. John Stowell, senior vice president at The Walt Disney Co. was elected first vice chair and Frank Washington, CEO of Crossings TV, was elected second vice chair.
Kimberly Arbuckle of Galt was appointed special assistant to the secretary at the California Natural Resources Agency. She has worked at the California Natural Resources Agency since 2012. She was previously a park aide at California State Parks from 2010 to 2012.
Leonardo Martinez-Diaz is now senior fellow and director of the sustainability, climate and geopolitics program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He previously led the climate finance team in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate at the State Department and was deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury Department for energy and environment.
Billy Ng was named vice president of industry and government affairs for the California Walnut Board and Commission. In the newly created role, Ng will lead activities related to issues management, research and regulatory issues to ensure the industry’s ability to compete globally in the marketing of walnuts. Previously, Ng worked at Blue Diamond Growers in Sacramento for 16 years, most recently in the position of senior manager of global regulatory affairs.
Jeremy Wood is now a program specialist in the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Office of Civil Rights. He was previously DEIA strategy and policy adviser at the agency.
Winta Tewolde was promoted to partner at Guidehouse, leading work on federal civilian agencies, USDA and business transformation. She was previously a director working as USDA account lead. Tewolde worked at USDA for six years, including as special assistant to the under secretary for rural development for five years, helping implement the 2014 farm bill's rural development title.
The Meat Institute hired Nicole Johnson-Hoffman as chief operating officer. She worked at Cargill for 12 years, most recently as senior vice president leading the McDonald’s business unit and as chief sustainability officer. Bryan Burns will be promoted to general counsel. The two will succeed outgoing COO and general counsel Mark Dopp, who will retire in March.
Elad Aharonson was appointed president and CEO of the ICL Group. He has been president of the ICL Growing Solutions business, which focuses on plant nutrition, for nearly four years.
Daniel Swain joined University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources as a climate scientist in the California Institute for Water Resources. He will study the changing character, causes and impacts of extreme weather and climate events on a warming planet with a focus on the physical processes leading to droughts, floods and wildfires.
UPL appointed John Fred to chief legal offic
John Fred, UPL er. As part of the crop protection executive team, he will be responsible for legal matters in the global crop protection business. Fred has been with UPL since April 2024, most recently as North America legal head.
USDA appointed 25 industry representatives to the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee. A full list of members including brokers, distributors, wholesalers, farm organizations, growers, trade associations, and shipper members, among other categories, is available here. Members will serve two-year terms ending in January 2027.
ClearPath hired Lisa Epifani as head of policy. She previously led sustainability and ESG engagement at Chevron and has experience at the Energy Department, Senate Energy Committee and the White House.
The Bureau of Land Management announced 15 members and 11 alternate members appointed to the National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the BLM Public Lands Rule. A full list of committee members representing state and local governments, the public at large, science community, non-governmental organizations, energy or mineral development, federal grazing permit holders and commercial recreation activities is available here. The group will deliberate and vote on matters concerning the implementation of BLM’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule.
USDA announced the appointment of 14 members to the Plant Variety Protection Board. The members include farmers as well as industry, private, public and government representatives. New members will serve two-year terms.
Amanda Sollman was promoted to senior manager of digital and MarTech at PTx Trimble. She was previously a marketing operations manager.
Kishan Dumpeta was appointed CEO at Tierra Agrotech Ltd. He was previously chief operating officer at Biostadt India Ltd. and worked at Syngenta for 15 years, most recently as head of seeds strategy and programs for the Asia Pacific region.
Pattern Energy Group hired Jonathan Glueck as senior director of strategic finance. He held various roles at Morgan Stanley and was manager of government affairs at the National Milk Producers Federation.
Kim Rominger, CEO of the North American Equipment Dealers Association, announced plans to retire. Robert Half Executive Search will help the organization find its next CEO.
Luis Abreu was named chief information officer at Case New Holland. Abreu has been with CNH and its predecessor companies for more than two decades.
Neogen Corp. named David Naemura chief operating officer in addition to his role as chief financial officer. He has been with the company since 2022. He previously was chief financial officer for Vontier Corp. and Gates International Corp. He succeeds Doug Jones, who retires next month.
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