Paul Crout is the new AGRIntelligence, agronomy, and organics manager at Helena Agri-Enterprises. He has been with the company for the last five years and most recently was the senior product manager and agronomist in Templeton, Calif. Crout currently serves as the chairman of CAPCA.
Daren Williams has been selected to lead the PR and reputation management practice at Curious Plot, located in Modesto and focused on increasing the agency’s West Coast presence. He most recently served as director of corporate communications for Valley First Credit Union. He has also held roles with the Almond Board of California and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners has added Jahmese Myres and Stephanie Dominguez Walton to the board. They fill the seats vacated by Commissioners Cestra “Ces” Butner and Joan Story who completed their years of service. Myres is the leadership development director at PowerSwitch Action and Dominguez Walton comes to the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners with more than 25 years in broadcast journalism. Commissioner Dominguez Walton also serves as the president of the board at the Voter Protection Project.
Bruce Bodine has been tapped as the next president and CEO of the Mosaic Co., succeeding James "Joc" O’Rourke, who is retiring. Bodine has held several executive roles with the company, including senior vice president of potash, senior vice president of phosphates, and vice president of supply chain.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has brought on Becky Garrison Warfel as the new director of public policy, leading NASDA’s food safety and nutrition policy committee. Garrison Warfel is a registered dietitian and holds a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition. She is working toward completing her master’s in public administration from the University of Idaho. She previously served the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion as a MyPlate strategic partner.
Keith Gray is the new president of the Forest Resources Association. He previously served as USDA’s associate administrator of the Risk Management Agency. Before that, he was the chief of staff at RMA.
ADM has appointed Regina Bynote Jones as the company’s new senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, effective Sept. 5. In this role, she will oversee ADM's global legal and regulatory affairs, compliance initiatives, security operations and government relations efforts. She most recently served as the chief legal officer for Baker Hughes, a global leader in the energy technology sector.
Becky Garrison Warfel, NASDAJohn Niemann is the new CEO of Cooks Venture, a vertically integrated poultry business. Niemann comes to Cooks Venture from Cargill, where he had a 20 year career with the company. He served as the president of protein ingredient and international and was also the president of Cargill’s Turkey & Cooked Meats division and its food distribution business.
Nezahualcoyotl "Neza" Xiuhtecutli has been hired by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition as the new grassroots advocacy coordinator. He brings to the role 20 years of experience working in rural communities in Mexico, Central America and the southern U.S. He previously worked at the Farmworker Association of Florida as the general coordinator and principal investigator.
Jasmine Dickerson is now working in government affairs at General Mills. She previously worked in the Office of the Vice President as a senior adviser for legislative affairs and before that was at the Department of Agriculture as a legislative director in the Office of Congressional Relations.
Bethany Shively is leaving the American Seed Trade Association where she served as the vice president of strategic communications.
Shannon Ott has joined North American Ag as the chief operating officer. She brings over 20 years of experience to the role, previously working in marketing management for the animal health industry.
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The Congressional Western Caucus has brought on Eli Mansour as communications director and Chris Perez as outreach representative. Mansour previously worked in the office of Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., where he was the congressman’s communications director. Perez is a first generation American who was born and raised in South Florida. He previously was involved in real estate and the mortgage business both in the USA and abroad.
Chan Windham has been promoted to vice president of sales at House of Raeford. He will direct overall sales operations for the ready-to-cook, cooked products, and international divisions of the company. Windham has been with the company for nearly 30 years and most recently was the director of commodity sales.
Rod West has been promoted to executive vice president of global supply chain at Dollar General. He most recently was the senior vice president of distribution at DG.
Uwe Ranft will retire as managing director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and global strategic accounts for Novus International. Ranft has been with Novus for the last 20 years, 14 of those at the helm of the commercial business. Volker Seidl has been tapped to succeed him, effective in the new year. He joined NOVUS as the director of global strategic accounts in 2021.
Founder and CEO of Farmer Focus Corwin Heatwole is transitioning to chairman of the organization’s board of managers. Stephen Shepard has been tapped to replace Heatwole. He currently serves as president and COO.
Mike Siemens is the new executive director of Protect the Harvest, with a focus on strategic development, growth and meeting constituent needs. Theresa Lucas McMahan, moved from executive director to the newly created chief administrative officer position, focused on organizational effectiveness and operations. Siemens previously worked as a global animal welfare officer for Arrowsight. He also previously held roles with DeKalb Feeds, Smithfield Foods, and Cargill.
Norman Karlson has been brought on as a fiscal officer for the U.S. Wheat Associates. Kurt Coppens has also been promoted to director of finance from his current position as fiscal officer, and current senior staff accountant Adam Kiely has been elevated to comptroller. Karlson most recently was a project accountant with Reading is Fundamental.
Heath Brandt has returned to Torrey Advisory Group as policy coordinator. Brandt most recently interned on the Senate Ag Committee, and before that interned at TAG. Brandt attends the University of Missouri, where he majors in agricultural communications.
Montana Farm Bureau Federation has hired Jasmine Evans as the new Eastern Montana regional manager. Evans ranches near Circle, Montana, and previously worked at Rural Community Insurance Services as a crop claims field adjuster.
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