The Agricultural Council of California elected new executive committee members. Melissa Frank, assistant general counsel at The Wonderful Company was named chair. A California State University, Fresno graduate, Frank also serves as an adjunct professor of environmental law at California State University Bakersfield. Additional officers include Blake Smittcamp of Wawona Frozen Foods as vice chair, Manpreet Bains of Manseena Orchards as secretary, and Brendan Ronayne o
Rana Ghadban (CalChamber photo)f CoBank as treasurer. Darren Hoff of Sun-Maid Growers of California will move into the immediate past chair position.
The California Chamber of Commerce hired Rana Ghadban as vice president of small business advocacy. She has led local chambers for 15 years, most recently as CEO of the Roseville Area Chamber of Commerce. In that role, she worked to strengthen strategic partnerships with business leaders, launched new programs to connect local businesses with qualified talent and worked to expand community resources. She is a graduate of the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) Academy program and a member of the W.A.C.E. Board. Ghadban fills the CalChamber position previously held by Nick Ortiz.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative named Lauren Baldwin director of intergovernmental affairs and public engagement. She has worked for the Conservative Partnership Institute as a government relations coordinator.
CropLife America has filled multiple roles on its communications team. Annemarie Pender, former communications director at the National Pork Producers Council, will lead communications for the farm chemical trade association. She has worked in communications for Autos Drive America, Global Automakers and Honda. Shirley Fan joined CLA as manager of communications focused on science policy and regulatory issues. She worked at the Environmental Protection Agency for 15 years as an environmental scientist and recently public affairs specialist. Khya Nelson was hired as manager of communications focused on government relations. She worked on Capitol Hill for two years, recently as a legislative aide.
It’s easy to be “in the know” about agriculture news from coast to coast! Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse news. Simply click here.
CropLife also elected new board members. Rahoul Sawani, president of North America commercial at Corteva Agriscience, was named vice chair and an officer. Wade Firestone of HELM Crop Solutions was elected a board member, and Douglas A. Kaye III of American Vanguard was named a board and executive committee member.
John Hendrix was promoted to legislative assistant on the House Agriculture Committee majority staff focused on credit, conservation, and forestry. A Texas A&M University graduate, Hendrix has been an intern and staff assistant since 2023.
Sydney Lundberg (Combest, Sell photo)Combest, Sell & Associates hired Sydney Lundberg as a staff economist based in Washington. A Texas Tech University graduate, Lundberg worked for the National Sorghum Producers as manager of policy and analysis for more than three years on farm policy, trade policy and domestic markets. She is a licensed crop insurance agent.
National Pork Board CEO Bill Even will leave May 1 after nine years leading the organization. In a news release, NPB says Even will return to his South Dakota farming operation to be closer to family. Alex Wibholm, NPB’s senior vice president of operations, will be interim CEO while the board searches for a replacement. “Thanks to Bill’s dedication, good governance, principled stewardship and high-integrity strategic leadership, NPB is in an excellent position to transition smoothly to a new executive leader," NPB President Al Wulfekuhle said in a statement.
Rural Investment to Protect our Environment named Morgan Wrich as coalition and outreach program manager. A Nebraska corn and soybean farmer, Wrich will focus on the farmer advisory network, steering committee and inclusion, diversity, equity and access committees. She was previously a training specialist at RCIS: Rural Community Insurance Services.
USA Rice hired Airokhsh Faiz Qaisary as manager of compliance and grants administration overseeing USDA Foreign Agricultural Service grants and other programs. She has more than a decade managing multi-million dollar grant programs in Afghanistan and the United States.For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com.
