Katie Hagen resigned as director of the California Department of Industrial Relations effective in July. She will join the Sacramento-based firm CPS HR Consulting as chief executive officer. Her departure marks the end of a five-year term that began in 2020. Earlier in her career, Hagen was chief deputy director of the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and deputy director of operations at the California Department of Human Resources.
Katie Hagen (California DIR photo)
David H. Murdock, former owner, chair and CEO of Dole Food Co., died June 9. He was 102. His role began in 1985 when he took over the Hawaii-based Castle & Cooke, which owned Dole Food Co. Following his wife’s death that year, he devoted his life to nutrition to support life extension and cancer prevention, which led to product development and partnerships with universities, corporations and health care organizations. Under Murdock’s leadership, the Dole brand was created as one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Baloian Farms hired Diana Ybarra as an account manager. She has worked in produce industry sales, account management and customer service for two decades, recently as an executive search consultant at Joe Produce. Ybarra has also worked for River Fresh Farms as a sales executive and Mann's Fresh Vegetables for nearly 20 years as a senior sales representative.
Teresa O'Connor left the American Farmland Trust as California communications and outreach manager when her position was eliminated “due to the recent historic federal government funding cuts,” she wrote on LinkedIn. She had been with the group for five years.
Evergreen Action hired Liya Rechtman as senior transportation policy lead. She worked as an environmental protection specialist at the Department of Transportation during the Biden administration. She also was a policy adviser at the California State Transportation Agency.
Emily Druckman joined the office of Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash., as communications director and senior adviser. She was communications director for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and worked for the Renewable Fuels Association and Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas.
Robin Bowen joined Elanco as director of U.S. government affairs. She worked at the Plant Based Products Council and Corn Refiners Association for six years, recently as senior vice president of external affairs. Earlier she was director of federal outreach at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia.
Faith Parum has joined the American Farm Bureau Federation as an economist. She was previously an economist in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. She earned a doctorate from Texas A&M University and completed two internships with USDA.
Lot Sixteen hired Allison Smith as a vice president. She was previously deputy assistant U.S. trade representative for environment and natural resources. She also was deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore.
CropLife America hired Tonya Parish as senior manager of government relations communications. She was communications manager for the Alliance For Automotive Innovation and press secretary for Senate Energy and Natural Resources Republicans for then-Chair Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.
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Sarah Dean joined PepsiCo as director of global public policy, sustainability reporting and human rights. She was at John Deere 16 years, recently as global public policy manager.
Indigo hired David Nothman as head of the global biologics business. He was chief operating officer at Unfold Bio and earlier vice president of marketing at Valent U.S.A.
Mark Purdy joined Merist
Mark Purdy (Meristem photo)em Crop Performance as director of product and portfolio management. His 30-plus years of experience, including as a U.S. Army colonel, includes leading operations and consulting for agriculture and food strategic intelligence firm, Aimpoint Research.
ClearPath hired Anthony DiGrado as a senior manager focused on digital advocacy and public affairs strategies that support the external affairs program and continued stakeholder outreach. DiGrado was director of public affairs at the Plastics Industry Association.
Evergreen Action hired Liya Rechtman as a senior transportation policy lead. She was an environmental protection specialist at the Department of Transportation during the Biden administration and a policy adviser at the California State Transportation Agency.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Democrats hired Eden Alem as deputy communications director. She worked at Climate Power as national press secretary.
Casey Velazquez joined the Hershey Co. as manager of sustainability reporting and planning. She worked for Smithfield Foods for five years, recently as sustainability manager.
Alyssa Bretan joined the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation as a confidential assistant. She was member services coordinator and executive assistant for the House Budget Committee Republican staff.
Chemical company Atticus hired Scott Kuschmider as vice president of government and industry affairs. He held government affairs positions with Bayer Crop Science and Monsanto. Earlier, he was a House Ag Committee subcommittee staff director.
Sophie Brauns joined Rural Investment to Protect our Environment as a development manager to lead fundraising and partnership efforts. Brauns coordinated the statewide incentive program Maryland Market Money and tracked ag investment outcomes in Latin America with Shared-X.
The Carbon Removal Alliance named Chris Bowman director of government affairs. He was senior professional staff member for Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Democrats.
Tara Rothschild is the new Republican staff director for the House Science, Space and Technology Committee Environment Subcommittee. She has been a professional staff member on the House Energy and Commerce committee since 2014.
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges selected 15 students for the seventh cohort of FFAR veterinary student research fellows. During the year-long program, participants will engage in hands-on research that prepares them for careers in animal science and public service. They are:
Donnie Alverson, Oregon State University
Victoria Houser, Tufts-Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Cailin Karotkin, University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Regina Kurandina, University of Minnesota
Jeselle-Ann Laxa, Western University of Health Sciences
Kara Linder, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Yimeng Lu, Western University of Health Sciences
Nathan Maizels, Long Island University
Francisco Benitez Merle, Universidad Ana G. Méndez School of Veterinary Medicine in Puerto Rico
Hanna Meyer, Washington State University
Luis Ochoa, Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine
Ainslie Reynolds, Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Lauren Robinson, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Yasmeen Patnaik, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
Jade Wilkinson, Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine
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