The Western States Petroleum Association hired Jim Stanley as director of media relations. He will lead WSPA’s media engagement and messaging strategy across all five states the association serves—Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington – focusing on communicating the importance of an affordable and reliable fuel supply. Stanley was most recently communications director for the California State Assembly Republican Caucus. He has also previously held roles at the National Republican Congressional Committee including strategizing energy, public safety and regulation issues.
L
Leia Bailey (LinkedIn photo)eia Bailey was appointed chief deputy director at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. She was previously deputy director of communications and outreach at the department since 2021. Earlier in her career, Bailey was associate executive director at the California Craft Brewers Association and a public relations account manager at Perry Communications Group. She is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento.
Patricia Lock Dawson of Riverside was appointed to the California Air Resources Board. She has been Mayor of the City of Riverside since 2020 and was previously president and owner at PLD Consulting Governmental Affairs. Earlier in her career, Lock Dawson was a wildlife biologist at the Bureau of Land Management. Her position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation.
Sobeys President and CEO Michael Medline announced his plans to retire in May 2026. The board of directors will conduct a thorough internal and external search for his replacement. Medline has been with the company for eight years. “Not only did he lead the difficult transformation and turnaround of what at the time was a struggling business, he has since steered Empire on its current growth trajectory, delivering immense value for shareholders in a dynamic and ever-changing marketplace, including skillfully navigating the unprecedented headwinds of a global pandemic and the worst inflation in four decades,” said Empire Board Chair Jim Dickson. Before joining Sobeys, he was president and CEO of Canadian Tire.
Rural Investment to Protect our Environment named Minnesota farmer Alana Petersen president. She is principal at Petersen Group/Canary Consulting and served as RIPE’s interim executive director in 2023. Petersen was earlier deputy chief of staff and state adviser to Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., and deputy chief of staff for Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. She succeeds William (Bill) Beam. who was appointed administrator of the USDA Farm Service Agency.
Alana Petersen (RIPE photo)Hormel Foods hired Kerri Boling McGee as senior attorney of regulatory, food law and external affairs. She was lead regulatory and food law senior counsel at Kraft Heinz. Boling McGee is a board member of both the Women's Meat Industry Network and Dean's Partnership Council at the University of Arkansas Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food and Life Sciences.
The American Veterinary Medical Association hired a former congressional chief of staff, Paul Gage, as director of its federal government relations division. He was deputy vice president of federal advocacy at PhRMA and served Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., for 12 years. Gage will lead AVMA’s federal legislative advocacy.
Bryce McWilliams joined the office of Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., covering agriculture. He was legislative aide and special assistant on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Republican staff for the past three years.
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The Brewers Association hired Sam Beaver as a federal government affairs manager. He was director of government relations at the National Association of Manufacturers for five years. Beaver worked for the Senate Finance Committee and as a policy adviser for then-Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas.
Rachel Dumke is now communications director for Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. She worked in the Office of Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., for four and a half years, most recently as deputy communications director.
Audra Kruse was named director of engagement strategy and partnerships at Social Driver. She was a manager of digital communications at the Consumer Brands Association and communications manager at the International Dairy Foods Association.
Guru Ramamurthy was na
Guru Ramamurthy (Bayer photo)med chief financial officer for Bayer’s Crop Science division. He has worked at the company for 20 years, most recently as chief financial officer of Bayer US. Ramamurthy will be based in St. Louis. He succeeds Oliver Rittgen, who is leaving the company after 25 years. The change will be effective July 1.
Mike Santostefano joined Leaf Agriculture as vice president of business development. He was vice president of produce at Brilliant Harvest and previously worked for TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods.
Black Earth hired Justin Miller as director of sales, North American agriculture. He was vice president of strategic accounts and sustainability relations at Ostara and director of North America sales at Trace Genomics.
Jonathan Knutson, longtime Agweek reporter and former National Association of Agricultural Journalists president, died Friday in hospice care. He was 65. “Jon spent his childhood in the Sheyenne River valley,” his obituary reads, “where he developed an appreciation for the land, the people and the stories of this area.” He worked at the Bismarck Tribune for five years, joined AgWeek for two years, then worked for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead for nearly 20 years. Knutson returned to Agweek in 2010 where he finished writing and reporting and helped launch AgweekTV. He was known for his ability to mentor others. A private graveside service is planned later this year. In lieu of memorials, Jon's family believes the best way to honor his memory is to schedule a cancer screening, especially for colon cancer.
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