Duda expanded its sales team by hiring Roger Moncada as director of western sales and Steve Bindas as director of outside sales. Based in Salinas, California, Moncada was previously director of fresh pack sales at Dole Fresh Vegetables and director of product management for the Dole Berry Co. Bindas previously held account management positions at NatureSweet and Fresh Express. Both Moncada and Bindas will report to Duda’s vice president of sales, Alan Ediger.
The Northern California Water Association hired Clarissa “Kam” 
Clarissa "Kam" Bezdek (NCWA photo)Bezdek as a legislative affairs director. She was previously a policy associate for California Trout (Cal Trout). A University of Maryland graduate, Bezdek currently sits on the advisory committee for the upcoming 2027 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan.
Ryan French joined Scanit Technologies as senior lead for sales and market development. He spent over 15 years at Corteva, including as global seeds program leaders for complimentary crops. Most recently, French was the North America strategic caranita marketing manager for Nuseed.
Former Dairy West CEO Karianne Fallow joined AARP as Idaho state director. She led Dairy West for more than a decade before leaving to provide strategic advisory and consultant services for Valerian Partners last fall.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom reappointed Andrew Rakestraw as chair of the Board of Environmental Safety at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. He was appointed this spring to finish the term of former Chair Jeanne Rizzo, who retired. Rakestraw previously served as special adviser to former special presidential envoy for climate, John Kerry. Most recently, Rakestraw was senior climate negotiator and deputy U.S. delegation head at the State Department.
Amy Linhardt was promoted to legislative assistant in the office of Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., covering agriculture, food, natural resources and public lands. She has been with the office since 2024, recently as a legislative correspondent.
Former Biotechnology Innovation Organization staff member Beth Ellikidis joined Syngenta as director of federal affairs in its Washington office. She was vice president of agriculture and environment at BIO and earlier headed U.S. public affairs at global animal health firm Zoetis and worked at the National Corn Growers Association and the National Grain and Feed Association.
Darin Guries will join the Futures Industry Association as vice president of U.S. government relations Sept. 2. He worked for JPMorganChase as vice president of federal government relations shaping legislative strategies across artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital assets. His 15 years on the Hill included tenure with the Senate Agriculture Committee Republican staff focused on cryptocurrencies, derivatives markets and CFTC.
The Pet Food Institute promoted Atalie Ebersole to vice president of government relations and Dana Waters to director of international affairs. Ebersole has been with the organization for nearly six years. Earlier, she worked for Rescue:Freedom International and Grant Thornton. Waters has been with PFI for over three years, recently in a manager position.
Left to right: Clark Hamilton (Idaho), past chair; Mike Carstensen (Washington), secretary-treasurer; Jim Pellman (North Dakota), chair; Gary Millershaski (Kansas), vice chair; Mike Spier, president and CEO. (Photo: USW)North Dakota wheat, barley, canola, corn and soybean farmer Jim Pellman took the gavel as the chair of the U.S. Wheat Associates board at the organization’s summer meeting. He has worked as an ag lender and county supervisor with Farmers Home Administration as well as a community banker, volunteer firefighter department chief and chair of a local nonprofit housing organization. Gary Millershaski, of Lakin, Kansas, moved up to vice chair, and Clark Hamilton of Ririe, Idaho, moved to the past chair position. Mike Carstensen of Almira, Washington, the newest USW board officer, was installed as secretary-treasurer.
Former U.S. Agency for International Development staff member Grace Burton joined the Farm Journal Foundation as director of government affairs. She managed the congressional portfolio for USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security for the past four years. Earlier, she worked in government relations positions at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Reed Middleton joined Monument Advocacy as a government relations manager on the food and agriculture team. She was previously program coordinator at the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Climate Resilient Cereals at Kansas State University.
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Megan Striegel-Thomas was promoted to senior director of public policy at the National Pest Management Association. She has been with the organization more than a year, recently as director of legislative and regulatory affairs. She also worked for Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment as a government affairs and grassroots manager and was a special adviser at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Carlos Flores was promoted to director of governmental issues at Van Ness Feldman. He has been with the firm more than two years, recently as a legislative assistant. Flores completed internships with the Senate Agriculture Committee Republican staff, Torrey Advisory Group and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Robyn Shapiro is now a senior adviser for the Senate Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. She was acting chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division.
Obituaries
California energy policy leader Robert Weisenmiller died July 14 after a brief illness. He was 77. Weisenmiller was a member and eventually chair of the California Energy Commission, where he played a central role in shaping policies focused on the development of renewable and independent power generation. During his nine-year leadership tenure, Weisenmiller advanced efforts to address climate change, promote energy efficiency and ensure that the state had adequate supplies of reliable power, according to his obituary. A public memorial service will be held in September.
Lia Biondo (U.S. Cattlemen's Association photo)Longtime U.S. Cattlemen’s Association lobbyist Lia Biondo died July 24 while riding horses in Montana. She worked for Western Skies Strategies representing the USCA for nearly a decade in a variety of government affairs roles, including as executive vice president. Biondo was lately an analyst for the Congressional Research Service focused on agriculture. Western Skies Strategies will establish a scholarship in her name to support women pursuing education in agriculture and natural resources. A memorial service celebrating her life was July 29 in Billings, Montana.
David Nabarro, 2018 World Food Prize laureate, died July 25. A physician, his work centered on improving nutrition for mothers and children through the child’s second birthday. Nabarro was responsible for uniting 54 countries under the UN Scaling Up Nutrition Movement and led the organization in the 2007-2008 global food crisis. “He knew how to connect science with humanity and policy with purpose,” said Tom Vilsack, World Food Prize Foundation CEO. “His loss is profound, but his vision will continue to guide those working to build stronger food systems.”
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