Michael Watson, administrator of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, is retiring at the end of January. Rosemary Sifford, deputy administrator for Veterinary Services and U.S. chief veterinary officer, recently retired. Starting Feb. 1, Kelly Moore will serve as acting APHIS administrator. Moore is currently acting chief operating officer for USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area and acting deputy administrator of Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services. Alan Huddleston will serve as the acting chief veterinary officer. Adis Dijaba, associate deputy administrator for Veterinary Services, will continue to oversee that section. Watson joined USDA n 1994 as a plant pathologist in the Agricultural Research Service. He later served in several leadership roles across APHIS. Sifford joined USDA in 1997 as a Saul T. Wilson scholar and served in various roles in APHIS.
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, agricultural trade consultant at AgTrade Strategies, has retired. She held numerous roles in the space, including assistant U.S. trade representative for agricultural affairs in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, executive vice president of food and agriculture at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and associate deputy administrator for fruit and vegetable programs at the Agriculture Department.
The United Egg Producers hired Donald Grady as vice president of government affairs to lead the group’s newly established office in Washington. The move will expand the organization’s lobbying footprint at the federal level, increasing visibility and engagement with lawmakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders, the group said in a press release. Grady worked at the International Dairy Foods Association for the past nearly eight years, recently as senior director of legislative affairs.
Donald Grady (UEP photo)The U.S. Wheat Associates made staff hires and promotions for the new year. Tyllor Ledford, market analyst in the USW West Coast Office in Portland, Oregon, will move to Manila, Philippines, in late spring to assume the role of assistant regional director for South and Southeast Asia. Ledford joined the organization in 2021 and recently has been responsible for the weekly USW Price Report. Joe Bippert, based in the Manila office, was promoted to regional director. He joined the office in 2021 as the assistant regional director. Prior to joining USW, Bippert served as the program director for the Washington Grain Commission in Spokane, Washington. Zakaria Jallali, a graduate of the Moroccan Milling School, will join USW’s Middle Eastern, East and North African region staff. Additionally, Heather Wagner will join the USW office in Cape Town, South Africa, as the administrative assistant Feb. 1.
Chris Galen retired from the National Milk Producers Federation after 28 years with the organization and 38 years working in Washington, D.C. Galen was senior vice president of communications and most recently, senior vice president of member services and strategic initiatives at NMPF.
Kylie Gregory joined the House Agriculture Committee Republican staff as a legislative assistant. She previously worked for the Responsible Industry for a Strong Environment (RISE) and CropLife America. Gregory is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
Clint Mefford was promoted to chief of staff for U.S. operations at Zoetis. He has been with the company nearly five years, recently as head of communications and marketing operations for U.S. livestock. Earlier, he was director of communications at the American Angus Association.
The American Feed Industry Association hired new staff members. Alison Foster was named manager of policy engagement, a new role designed to work across association functions to coordinate advocacy initiatives and support the development of the association’s federal and state policy priorities. Foster previously worked at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and the Education Finance Council. Mary Gray Holdren joins the AFIA as manager of education programs in a second newly created position focused on designing and delivering professional educational content. Holdren was recently an agri-business specialist at Mountaire Farms in North Carolina. Additionally, Margo Nagle joins AFIA as a communications specialist. She is a recent Ohio State University graduate with experience in communications internships with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the Franklin County Auditor’s Office in Ohio.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association hired Bridget Bartol as executive director of grid sector industry and regulatory affairs. She was previously deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to the secretary at the Department of Energy during the Biden administration.
Blake Rollins (LinkedIn photo)The Poultry Federation, a multi-state trade organization representing the poultry and egg industry in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, promoted Blake Rollins to president. He succeeds Marvin Childers, who retired after nearly 20 years with the organization. Rollins has been with the group for a year, recently as executive vice president. Earlier, he was chief administrative officer for the Missouri Farm Bureau and counsel on the Senate Agriculture Committee Republican staff. During the first Trump administration, Rollins was deputy chief of staff and director of the office of external and intergovernmental affairs at the Agriculture Department.
Shawn Whitman was promoted principal deputy undersecretary of science at the Department of Energy. He has worked there over a year, recently as a senior adviser to Secretary Chris Wright. Earlier, he was vice president of external and government affairs at FMC Corporation and chief of staff to Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wy.
J.T. Mann joined the National Pest Management Association as manager of public policy focused on federal affairs and PAC management. He was previously manager of government affairs at Miller/Wenhold, and earlier a government relations assistant at LobbyIt.
Joe Sanders
(Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute photo)
The Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska named Joe Sanders as executive director effective Feb. 1. He succeeds Peter McCornick who stepped down after 2025.
Cody Lyon is now chief operating officer at the Florida Farm Bureau Federation. He worked at the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington for the past nearly 21 years, recently as managing director of advocacy and political affairs.
John Dillard was promoted to co-managing principal attorney at Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC. He has been with the group for 15 years, recently as principal.
Kevin Herdler retired from the Eastern Missouri Alliance for Clean Transportation and St. Louis Regional Clean Cities where he served as executive director for the past 26 years. He has been involved in Clean Cities and Communities since its inception in 1993 and was influential in advancing the use of biodiesel within the greater St. Louis region.
The Southern AgCredit board of directors named Ken Hobart chief executive officer. He has more than 40 years of experience in the Farm Credit system, most recently serving as interim CEO.
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.
