Rob Vandenheuvel started his new role as president and chief executive officer at California Dairies after a transition period with Brad Anderson, the group's former CEO. Anderson retired from the role after leading the organization for the past six years. Vandenheuvel has been with California Dairies for the past eight years, recently as chief operating officer. Earlier in his career, Vandenheuvel served as general manager for the Milk Producers Council. Anderson will continue to serve in an advisory role to CDI’s executive team through the end of the year.
David Bernstein, former chair of the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, died Oct. 22. He was 85. Bernstein held many positions over his career in law, sales and marketing, executive leadership and board service. He was vice president of marketing at Sunkist, where he supported the company’s expansion into Asian markets, executive vice president of Pacific Fruit in New York, and owner of an import-export consultancy where he helped introduce Moroccan citrus to the U.S. A memorial with a reception to follow will be held Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. at Everly Wheatley Funeral Home in Alexandria, Virginia.
Rob Vandenheuvel (LinkedIn photo)Corynn Wolf of San Luis Obispo was appointed to the 16th District Agricultural Association Mid State Fair Board. Wolf is the owner of Oak Park Ranch, which she’s run since 2000. She is also a member of the United States Equestrian Federation.
Steven Orihuela of Bishop was appointed to the 18th District Agricultural Association Eastern Sierra Tri County Fair Board. He is tribal chairman at Bishop Paiute Tribal Council. He’s been with the organization since 2020 in other roles, including secretary and treasurer. Orihuela has been Chairman of Owens Valley Board of Trustees.
Jordan Bonfitto, former senior adviser to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, has joined Invariant’s food and agriculture practice as a director. He served in numerous roles during the first Trump administration, including policy adviser at the White House National Economic Council and director of external and intergovernmental affairs at the Agriculture Department. Recently, he was chief of staff in USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs, overseeing the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Agricultural Marketing Service. Between his tenures in the Trump administrations, Bonfitto worked as a director of government affairs at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Global Cold Chain Alliance.
Calkin Public Affairs hired Megan Gamble as a vice president. She previously worked for the Restaurant Association as vice president of public affairs. Earlier, she was vice president of Wilson Public Affairs.
The Clean Energy Buyers Association hired Thomas Green as manager of government affairs. He worked for the Department of Energy during the Biden administration and recently was chief of staff for sustainable transport in the department’s office of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers selected Ryan “Cal” Callaghan as the group’s next president and CEO effective Jan. 1. Callaghan will continue his role as vice president of conservation at MeatEater, where he will remain an active contributor and continue hosting his weekly podcast, Cal’s Week in Review. He was previously chair of BHA’s North American board. BHA is the voice for wild public lands, waters, and wildlife with chapters across North America that bring together hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Yenie Tran was selected as chair of the Unified Wood Economy. She currently works for the timberland and agriculture division of Manulife Investment Management as a director portfolio manager. Earlier, Tran was an adjunct economics instructor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and worked for Resource Management Service LLC as a client service manager and senior economic analyst.
Lindl Government Affairs hired Brad Copenhaver as a full-time director of client development. He has been a strategic partner and senior consultant with Lindl for the past three years on a contract basis working with clients in the agriculture/forestry, food, and natural resources sectors, including the Virginia Agribusiness Council and Pet Food Institute. Native to his family’s beef cattle and tobacco farm in southwest Virginia, Copenhaver was previously Virginia’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services under then-Gov. Ralph Northam.
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2025-26 National FFA Officer Team at the closing session of the 98th National FFA Convention (National FFA photo)ew National FFA officers were selected to lead the student organization with over one million members in 9,407 chapters across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Trey Myers of Oklahoma was selected as president and Lilly Nyland of Michigan was selected as secretary. Regional vice presidents include Joey Nowotny of Delaware as Eastern region vice president, Jael Cruikshank of Oregon as Western region vice president, T. Wayne Williams of Tennessee as Southern region vice president and Claire Woeppel of Nebraska as Central region vice president. The students will begin a one-year term of service.
Bonnie Liebman, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, is retiring after 48 years with the organization. She has spent the majority of her tenure as editor of the organization’s flagship publication, Nutrition Action.
The National Pork Producers Council hired Kyle Garner as manager of congressional affairs. He worked on Capitol Hill for the past three years, recently as a legislative assistant for Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla. A University of Florida alumnus, Garner served as president of the Florida FFA Association.
Dustin Winston was promoted to director of U.S. dairy business development at StoneX Group. He has been with the organization over six years, recently as a commodity market analyst. Earlier, Winston was a portfolio manager at Barker Capital Management and Trading Program and Ag Commodity Risk Management Program.
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Norfolk Southern promoted Drew Marrs to assistant vice president of government relations. He has been with the organization for 15 years, recently as an assistant vice president. Union Pacific has announced an $85 billion merger with Norfolk Southern which, if approved, would create the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S.
Carrie Owens joined Kelley Drye & Warren LLP as a partner and co-chair of the Customs Group. She will focus on advising companies on customs, trade remedies, and economic security issues, with a focus on duty mitigation, AD/CVD enforcement, forced labor and supply chain resilience. She was previously a director at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The National Association of Counties hired Tammy Tincher, former commissioner of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, as the organization’s director of member engagement. She will lead NACo’s efforts to strengthen relationships with county members nationwide, expand opportunities for member participation, and enhance the value counties receive through NACo’s programs, resources and advocacy. Tincher previously served the organization as vice chair of the agriculture and rural affairs steering committee, among other positions on NACo’s board of directors.
Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean Dan Robison and Lynn Henderson (Agri-Marketing photo)Lynn Henderson, owner of Henderson Communications LLC and publisher of the Agri Marketing magazine, was awarded the Iowa State University Alumni Association Floyd Andre Award for his support of the new agricultural communication major. More than a decade ago, Henderson worked closely with Iowa State University’s Department of Agricultural Education and Studies by coordinating meetings, rallying support and keeping stakeholders informed throughout the process. The major was first offered in fall 2023. Henderson is a journalism alumnus from the university and was active in the Farm House fraternity as a student.
Kubota North America Corp. made staff appointments. Todd Stucke was named general manager of Agri Solutions Headquarters for Kubota Japan and will return to the United States as president of Kubota North America. He will focus on leading the company’s North America technology function and advancing global and regional business growth. Stucke succeeds Nobuyuki Ishii, who will retire from the company. He will remain on the Association of Equipment Manufacturers board of directors, where he served as chairman in 2024. Brian Arnold was appointed general manager of the North America manufacturing unit. He will continue in his role as president of Kubota Manufacturing of America Corp. headquartered in Georgia. Arnold has worked at Kubota since 1995, advancing to various leadership roles.
Miguel Vieira is now vice president for resource development at the German Marshall Fund. He was previously senior director of strategic philanthropy at the World Wildlife Fund. Vieira has also held roles at the Aspen Institute and Brookings Institution.
