Calavo Growers, a global avocado-industry company, has appointed Farha Aslam to its board of directors, effective Jan. 3. She will also serve on the Calavo’s audit committee. Aslam is a founder and managing partner at Crescent House Capital, an investment and strategic advisory firm that focuses on the agriculture, energy and food processing industries. Before that, she was a managing director at Stephens Inc.
Ron Hovsepian has been tapped as the new CEO of Indigo Ag, effective immediately. He succeeds David Perry, who has stepped down after serving in the CEO position for the last five years. Hovsepian has spent the last eight months as acting chief operating officer. His career includes working 16 years for IBM, serving as the CEO for Novell and Intralinks. He also is an executive partner at Flagship Pioneering.
Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio, has been assigned to serve on the House Subcommittee of Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit and the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has elected Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles as its new president. He succeeds North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring.
Eric Kalasz has joined FMC as U.S. marketing director. He most recently worked in BASF's crop division as a brand manager. Kalasz has also held marketing, account management and sales positions with Dow AgroSciences and Bayer.
Alfredo Rivera is now the president of Coca-Cola North America, succeeding James Dinkins, who has served in that position since 2018. Rivera has been with the company since 1997, and since 2016 has led the company’s Latin America group.
The Industry Task Force II on 2,4-D Research Data has brought on Lindsay Thompson as new executive director. Thompson brings extensive experience in government and public relations, and association management in agricultural and science-based organizations.
Ryan Quarles
The U.S. Hemp Growers Association has announced the organization’s founding board of directors. Michael Bowman of Colorado will serve as chair of the board, with Doug Edge from Indiana as vice chair. Other members selected include: Bethleen McCall, Colorado; Dion Oakes, Colorado; Harold Singletary, South Carolina; Inga Willis, Alabama; Jamie Campbell Petty, Indiana; John Strohfus, Minnesota; Josh Hendrix, Kentucky; Tim Gordon, Colorado; Egon Badart, California; Ron Conyea, Kentucky; Chris Adams, North Dakota; and Don Palmer, South Carolina.
Cindy Hackman has left the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance where she served as the senior director of communications. She has joined CLUTCH as the director of content and reputation.
Monica Spaller is leaving CHS Inc., where she worked on the government affairs team. Spaller has not yet announced her next move.
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