James Glueck, Corn Refiners AssociationJames Glueck is headed to the Corn Refiners Association as the new executive director of the Plant Based Products Council and will also serve as the senior vice president of advanced bioproducts at CRA. He previously worked at Torrey Advisory Group as a vice president. Before that, he was the GOP staff director for the Senate Ag Committee under then-Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan. Glueck replaces Jessica Bowman who has left the company.
The Corn Refiners Association has also brought on Kristy Goodfellow as the new vice president of trade and industry affairs. Goodfellow previously served as the director of World Trade Organization Affairs at USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
Caleb Crosswhite is joining the Republican staff of the Senate Ag Committee as the new chief counsel. His first day is Thursday. Crosswhite previously worked on the House Ag Committee as senior counsel for Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-Pa. Before that, he was the senior adviser and counsel for USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs. He replaces Andy Rezendes, who has taken a new job with the Farm Credit Administration as associate director in the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative has tapped Rufino Hurtado as the new senior trade representative at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium. He joined USTR in January 2017 in the Office of Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy and most recently served as a deputy assistant U.S. trade representative.
Kristy Goodfellow, CRA
Pivot Bio has named Debra Frimerman the new chief business development officer and Wendy Watkins as the new chief communications officer, effective immediately. Frimerman most recently was the general counsel, corporate secretary, and chief compliance officer at Calyxt. Watkins previously worked at Hormel Foods, where she was senior vice president and chief communications officer.
The Solar Energy Industries Association has hired Stacy Ettinger as the organization’s new senior vice president of supply chain and trade. Ettinger most recently served as a partner at K&L Gates, leading the firm’s international trade policy practice. Before that, she served as a trade negotiator, adviser, and litigator at the Department of Commerce. She also was a senior legal and policy adviser to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
The National Peanut Board has selected Ryan Lepicier as the new president and CEO, effective Jan. 1. He most recently served as NPB’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
John Schneider has been named senior vice president of digital and engagement at Curious Plot. Bringing 20 years of experience to the role, Schneider previously owned his own digital marketing and growth consultancy called SdismDigital.
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Meghan Cline has joined the National Pork Producers Council as director of policy communications, based in Washington. Cline most recently served as the director of communications for JBS USA and Pilgrim's. Before that, she served as the press secretary and communications director at Senate Ag under Roberts.
Aimpoint Research has added Jon Doggett to its executive advisory group. Doggett most recently retired as the CEO of the National Corn Growers Association. In his career, Doggett served as the lead lobbyist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, working on issues related to ethanol, climate change, land use, conservation, and endangered species. He also worked with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association's Public Lands Council and served as senior legislative assistant for former Rep. Ron Marlenee, R-Mont.
Michael Pape, Capitol SouthMichael Pape has joined Capitol South, a lobbying and public affairs firm, as an associate. Bringing over 30 years of experience to the role, Pape previously worked in the private sector as the director of business development for VillageMD. He served as the political director for the Republican Party of Kentucky and was the district director for former Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., for 22 years. According to Capitol South’s press release, the firm “represents numerous clients in the agriculture, energy and environment, and appropriations spaces, including the Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association, Competitive Markets Action, Organization for Competitive Markets, and Environmental Working Group.”
Alejandro Gomez has been hired to be a staff assistant for Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif. He previously was an intern in the office of Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas.
Justin Somers has joined the staff of Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., as the regional director. Somers previously worked for Perdue Farms as the senior flock adviser.
Erik Huschitt, CEO of Badger State Ethanol, was re-elected as chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association. RFA’s board also re-elected Jeff Oestmann, CEO of Aztalan Bio, as vice chairman, Rick Schwarck, president of Absolute Energy, as board secretary, and Mike Jerke, CEO of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, as treasurer.
Former U.S. Senator Dick Clark, an Iowa Democrat who served one term in 1973-1979, died Sept. 20 at his home in Washington. He was 95. Clark, who won an unlikely upset over a two-term Republican in 1972, was a former history professor and aide to then-Rep. John C. Culver. Clark served on the Senate Agriculture Committee, where he was one of the drivers of legislation that moved the former Commodity Exchange Authority out of USDA into a strengthened independent agency, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
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