Sam Berry is now chief information officer at the Agriculture Department. Berry has been on staff for the Department of Government Efficiency at USDA since April. He replaced Gary Washington, who was recently appointed chief innovation officer. Washington is leaving USDA to begin work as a chief strategy officer for the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation elected new officers. Jay Theiler, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Agri Beef Company based in Boise, Idaho, was named chair for the 2025-26 term. Theiler succeeds Steve Hanson, a rancher and cattle feeder from southwestern Nebraska, as the organization’s chair. USMEF chair-elect is Dave Bruntz, a corn and soybean grower and cattle feeder in southeastern Nebraska. Bruntz is a past president of the Nebraska Corn Board and Nebraska Cattlemen. Darin Parker, director of Salt Lake City-based exporter/distributor PMI Foods, is USMEF vice chair. The newest USMEF officer is secretary-treasurer Ross Havens, a cattle producer who serves as marketing coordinator for Nichols Farms in Bridgewater, Iowa.
Jay Theiler (USMEF photo)Abby Melnikoff joined the National Cattleman’s Beef Association as manager of membership and affiliate services. Melnikoff was raised on a small cow-calf operation in Nebraska. She graduated with an associate degree in agricultural business from Northeastern Junior College before earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural media and communication from West Texas A&M University.
Holland & Knight, a global law firm, welcomed Matt Rosenbaum as a partner in the firm’s international trade group. Rosenbaum previously worked in the Commerce Department’s Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security as senior counsel.
Deborah Swerdlow joined the Parkinson’s Foundation as associate vice president of advocacy and state policy. Previously, she served as chief of staff for the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission area at USDA for three years.
Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger appointed Michael Carter Jr., owner of Carter Farms, Unionville, Virginia, to her transition team. She named three co-chairs for the transition team's agriculture and forestry committee: Katie Frazier, chief brand officer for Farm Credit of the Virginias; Basil Gooden, former Biden administration USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development; and Kyle Shreve, vice president of external affairs for the Virginia, Maryland, Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. Carter has used his seventh-generation farm to introduce “Africulture,” growing ethnic, African tropical vegetables organically in the southern United States. Frazier is a registered lobbyist for Farm Credit and has served on the State Fair of Virginia Youth Development Board and Virginia Tech agriculture dean’s advisory council, the Council for Rural Virginia and Virginia Cooperative Council. Gooden served as Virginia State Director of Rural Development during the Obama administration and was earlier Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. Shreve was previously executive director of the Virginia Agribusiness Council and was senior director of government relations at Advantus Strategies.
Henry Kane was promoted to legislative director in the personal office of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves, R-Mo. Kane has been with the office since 2023, recently as a legislative assistant covering energy, environmental protection, and tax issues.
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Ed Patru joined American Beverage as senior vice president of public affairs. He was previously a senior vice president at Rational 360 and principal at the Direct Communications Co.
Senate Ag Committee member Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., named Nathan Mark legislative director. He has been with the office since 2023, recently as a legislative aide.
Sarah Franklin was named press secretary for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Republican staff. She was previously a public affairs account manager at Curley Co. Inc.
The Animal Ag Alliance announced new board leadership. Beginning Jan. 1, Nick Wolfenden, global sustainable animal welfare director at Cargill, will serve as board chairperson. He succeeds Lisa McComb, strategic communication consultant at Vision Media, who completes her term as chairperson on Dec. 31 and will continue to serve as immediate past chairperson. Brett Kaysen, senior vice president of producer and state engagement for the National Pork Board, was appointed chairperson-elect. Tom Super, senior vice president of public affairs at the National Chicken Council, will continue to serve as treasurer of AAA’s board of directors. In addition to new board leadership, Perdue Farms will join the board as a new member starting Jan. 1. Perdue will be represented on the board by Herb Frerichs, general counsel and director of government affairs.
Pictured left to right: Tom Super, Hannah Thompson-Weeman, Nick Wolfenden, Lisa McComb. Not pictured: Brett Kaysen, PhD (Animal Ag Alliance photo)The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee named Joe Bush national press secretary. He was previously deputy communications director for Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.
Sasha Galbreath, senior adviser and communications director to freshman House Ag Committee member Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-Md., has departed Capitol Hill to join the private sector. Galbreath is now senior adviser of external affairs at Third Way, a centrist think tank focused on private-sector economic growth and a clean energy revolution, among other priorities.
B. John Lindeman was promoted to president and chief executive officer of Calavo Growers Inc., a global company that sources, packages, and distributes fresh avocados, tomatoes, papayas, guacamole, and other avocado products. Lindeman previously served as chief financial officer for five years before working at Hydrofarm Holdings Group Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of hydroponics equipment and supplies. At Hydrofarm, he held multiple roles, most recently as CEO. In his return to Calavo, Lindeman succeeds Lee E. Cole, effective Dec. 8. Cole served as Calavo’s president and CEO for 21 years, as director for 39 years, and as chairman of the board for 28 years.
Ben Castagnetti is now director of federal affairs at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. He was previously a legislative correspondent for Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
Sam Beaver was named vice president of congressional relations at the Independent Community Bankers of America. He was previously a federal government affairs manager at the Brewers Association. Earlier, he worked for the National Association of Manufacturers.
Ellie Gilchrist was promoted to communications director in the office of Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif. She has been with the office since June, recently as press secretary. Earlier, she worked for the Pinkston Group as an account executive.
Max Serota is now deputy scheduler in the personal office of Senate Ag Committee ranking member Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. He has been with the office since September, recently as a staff assistant.
Emma Diehl joined the office of Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., as a legislative aide covering agriculture, energy, and labor issues. She was previously a staff assistant for Senate Ag Committee member Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. Morgan Berkness also joined Emmer’s office as press secretary. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota.
