Kyle Kunkler is now the Environmental Protection Agency’s top pesticide officer as the deputy assistant administrator for pesticides in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. He had been senior director of government affairs at the American Soybean Association focused on pesticides, regulatory policy and the Endangered Species Act. Kunkler earlier led federal government relations for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s food and agriculture team.
The Agricultural Retailers Association hired Alex Enlow as director of communications and member experience. She was communications director for Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization has refocused efforts on human health and biopharma priorities, dissolving its Ag & Environment Center of Excellence. John Torres, who recently was senior director of ag and environment federal government relations, has completed his time at the organization, along with most of the staff in his area.
Catherine Oakar (FRESHFARM photo)FRESHFARM, a Washington-based nonprofit focused on building resilient food systems through partnerships with communities, named Catherine Oakar as executive director. A Biden and Obama administration alumna, she was special assistant to the president for public health and disparities on the White House Domestic Policy Council and associate director of first lady Michelle Obama’s initiative on childhood obesity.
The America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think tank launched by now-Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, hired Oliver McPherson-Smith as vice chair for energy and environment. He worked in the Trump White House this spring as executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council and deputy assistant to the president.
Steve Mercer retired Tuesday after working for U.S. Wheat Associates the past 19 years as vice president of communications. He earlier held roles at AdFarm and other agencies.
Industry and organizations
Trey Elizondo was promoted to senior manager of global policy and strategy on Cargill’s global government relations leadership team. He has been with the organization nearly two years, recently in a policy associate role. Earlier in his career, Elizondo worked as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill, for Monument Advocacy and for the Farm Credit Council.
Dow Chemical promoted Colleen Litkenhaus to global director of public policy. She will also maintain her current role as global director of plastics/circularity advocacy. Litkenhaus has been with Dow for 10 years. She had roles at Georgetown University, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the George W. Bush White House.
Crop input supplier Meristem Crop Performance hired Kate Jones as chief human resources officer. She had held human resources positions at Corpay, Dollar General and Target.
Mehlman Consulting hired Joe Brown as a principal. He was a senior professional staff member at the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and earlier legislative assistant in the personal office of Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., for five years.
Shannon Estenoz joined the Everglades Foundation as the group’s first chief policy officer. Previously, she was assistant secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
Pivot Bio promoted Greg Peton to regional sales leader for the coastal region stretching from Texas through the Carolinas and into the Northeast. He has been with the company for five years, recently as a national account manager. He was earlier at DuPont Pioneer, Rizobacter and United Farmers Cooperative.
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Christine Hart-Nieland was promoted to market intelligence and analytics manager at Phibro Animal Health. She has been with the organization six years, recently in strategic marketing.
Brian Arata (Legistorm photo)Brian Arata, legislative director for House Ag Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., has been named special assistant to the National Transportation Safety Board. He has been with Thompson since 2021.
Sharon Thomas launched Thomas AgriExec Search and is now president and CEO. She has worked as an agriculture executive recruiter for the past 28 years for Management Recruiters of Iowa City.
Carter Purcell joined Chubb full time as an executive climate risk engineer. She was an EDF climate corps fellow at the organization last summer. Earlier in her career, Purcell served as communications and membership manager at Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and a senior analyst at The Cadmus Group.
Mike Bittner was promoted to western regional director at Atticus, covering a territory from Montana to New Mexico. He’s been with the company nearly seven years, recently as senior director of special projects. Earlier, he worked for BASF and Winfield United.
Lee Ford joined the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition as a program associate supporting administrative and program functions. Ford has more than a decade of experience working on small-scale vegetable farms in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.
Executive branch
Michael Helmer was named chief of staff in the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. He was a legislative assistant for Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.
Hunter Lovell was named press secretary at the Department of Labor. He was previously communications director for Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio.
Amanda Shoopman, a former legislative assistant to Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, is now a confidential assistant at the Department of Health and Human Services. She has worked in Crenshaw’s office since 2022.
Braden Murphy was named deputy assistant secretary for legislation at the Department of Health and Human Services. He was senior policy adviser to Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, on the House Budget Committee.
Anna Kriebel joined the Department of the Interior as a special assistant. She previously worked for Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla.
Capitol Hill
Casey Contres was named chief of staff for Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. He was campaign manager for Mehmet Oz for Senate and earlier on staff for Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas.
Erin Swauger left the personal office of Senate Ag Committee ranking member Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., where she served as digital director. She now works for Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., as creative director.
Marie Gualtieri (Legistorm photo)House Ag Committee member Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., hired Marie Gualtieri as legislative director. She will cover agriculture, food, environmental protection and public lands issues. Gualtieri comes from the National Women, Infants and Children Association, where she was advocacy manager. She was senior policy adviser for Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.
John Swords was promoted to legislative director for Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. He has been with McGovern since 2019, recently as senior legislative assistant.
Julianne Heberlein joined Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., as a speechwriter and press adviser. She was communications director for Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va.
Rep. John Rose, R-Tenn., hired Ben Deeter as press secretary. He worked at Starnes Media Group, where he hosted the “Wake Up Memphis” radio talk show.
Julie Braymer joined the office of Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., as press secretary. She was communications director for Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas.
Cabelle St. John was promoted to chief of staff for Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. She has been with the office since 2023, recently as deputy chief of staff.
Are you changing jobs, getting promoted or receiving an award? Know someone who is? Email Lydia@Agri-Pulse.com to be featured in next week’s edition of Farm Hands on the Potomac.
