Western Growers promoted Bryan Nickerson to director of membership. In the new role, he will oversee strategies to grow and maintain organization membership while continuing to provide commodity and supply chain support to members and overseeing the Western Growers Leadership Program. Nickerson has been with Western Growers for 11 years, recently as director of commodity and supply chain services. Earlier in his career, he worked for Prime Time International.
Bryan Nickerson (Western Growers photo)Rudy Placencia was named vice president of sales at Fowler Packing. He previously held roles at Star Fine Foods, Nichols Farms, Impact Group and Touchstone Pistachio. Placencia also served in the U.S. Army for 15 years.
Southern California organic produce suppliers Veg-Land Inc./JBJ Distributing and Fresh Cut Inc. hired Todd Linsky to join the leadership team. He will focus on optimizing operations, enhancing supply chain efficiency and expanding the company’s reach in the organic produce market in the new role. He brings over 35 years of experience in the organic produce sector, including launching his own firm, Todd Linsky Consulting.
Matt 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.
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 America First Policy Institute, a President Donald 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.
Progressive Produce named Andy 
Andy Webb (Progressive Produce photo)Webb vice president of business development. He has worked in various packaging, logistics and sales roles for the past 15 years. "With his sales experience throughout all sectors of the food industry and having worked with all commodity teams at Progressive, we're really excited to see how Andy enhances us in his new role,” said Cory Stahl, vice president of sales at Progressive Produce.
Industry and organizations
The Agricultural Retailers Association hired Alex Enlow as director of communications and member experience. She was communications director for Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
FRESHFARM, a Washington-based n
Catherine Oakar (FRESHFARM photo)onprofit 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.
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.
Executive branch
Hunter Lovell was named press secretary at the Department of Labor. He was previously communications director for Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio.
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.
Anna Kriebel joined the Department of the Interior as a special assistant. She previously worked for Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla.
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.
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.
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 West.
