Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Meghan Hertel director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, a move aimed at steering the agency through ongoing conservation challenges. Hertel currently serves as the deputy secretary of biodiversity and habitat at the California Natural Resources Agency and previously held senior roles at Audubon California and the Resources Legacy Fund. The appointment came after Chuck Bonham, the state’s longest-serving CDFW director, left for The Nature Conservancy.
Omar Bobadilla (Church Brothers Farms photo)Church Brothers Farms hired Omar Bobadilla as chief strategy and operations officer. Bobadilla will lead the integration of the recently acquired Mann Packing retail operations in Gonzales, California, as well as focus on driving enterprise-wide special projects and cross-facility initiatives. Most recently, Bobadilla was senior vice president of manufacturing and agricultural operations at Bonduelle Americas, where he held responsibility for a large, multi-site organization with locations across the U.S., Mexico, and South America.
Kahn, Soares and Conway, LLP hired Alex Dominguez, an attorney specializing in public agency and water law. With deep ties to the Central Valley, Dominguez will work with clients looking to obtain, develop, manage, and transfer water and water rights in California. He previously worked for Klein DeNatale Goldner for the past nearly seven years, recently as a water and public agency law attorney. Dominguez earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Bakersfield.
At the U.S. Sweet Potato Council’s annual meeting, Sarah Alvernaz, general manager of California Sweet Potato Growers, was elected as the group’s new president. Thomas Joyner, president of Nash Produce in North Carolina, was elected to serve as vice president. They will each serve one-year terms. Also at the annual meeting, DTB AgriTrade was appointed to manage the U.S. Sweet Potato Council’s operations, with Michael Skahill serving as executive director, and Anne Zaczek as managing director leading membership services, marketing programs, and council operations.
Rancher-owned beef cooperative Country Natural Beef hired Tanner Beymer as executive director of membership. Beymer was a federal lobbyist for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association for a decade. Originally from southern Idaho, Tanner grew up in the cattle industry and studied agricultural economics and political science at the University of Idaho. He now lives in Polson, Montana.
The International Fresh Produce Association hired Samantha Ayoub as director of workforce and business policy effective Feb. 23. As a member of the U.S. government relations team, Ayoub will lead IFPA’s policy and regulatory efforts on workforce, labor, immigration, transportation, logistics, and broader business issues shaping the fresh produce and floral supply chain. She will also serve as the government relations liaison for IFPA’s floral portfolio, ensuring members’ voices are represented before federal policymakers. Ayoub was most recently an environment, labor, and taxes economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation. She also previously held roles at USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and in plant pathology research.
Samantha Ayoub (LinkedIn photo)The National Association of Wheat Growers elected new officers, including Idaho farmer Jamie Kress as president. With her husband Cory, the Kresses own and operate an 8,500-acre dryland farm in the Rockland Valley of eastern Idaho focused on producing winter and spring wheat, along with a variety of rotational crops: canola, safflower, mustard, dry peas, and chickpeas. Kress most recently served as president of the Idaho Grain Producers Association and has held multiple leadership positions within NAWG. Additional elected officers include Nathan Keane of Montana as vice president, Chris Tanner of Kansas as treasurer, and Auston Andersen of Colorado as secretary. Pat Clements of Kentucky will transition into the past president position. All NAWG officers will start their terms on Feb. 27 following the conclusion of the 2026 Commodity Classic.
The Florida Citrus Commission unanimously reappointed Steve Johnson as chairman. He serves as the owner and general manager of Johnson Harvesting, Inc. in Wauchula. Melanie Ressler, co-chief executive officer of IMG Enterprises, Inc., was appointed vice chair.
OFW Law hired two USDA alums: Jeff Canavan as senior policy adviser and Jamie Woodside as associate attorney. A registered dietitian and food technologist, Canavan worked at the Food Safety Inspection Service for the past nearly 25 years, recently as deputy director of labeling and program delivery staff. His extensive work includes major initiatives on food allergens, nutrition labeling, date labeling, labeling claims, and standards of identity. He also represented the U.S. as the alternate delegate to the Codex Committee on Food Labeling.
Woodside joined OFW Law from the Food and Drug Administration, where she served as regulatory counsel. She also worked at FSIS for 14 years as a consumer safety officer and program analyst. Her work has included regulatory policy development, inspection and compliance oversight, recall management, import and export admissibility, HACCP and preventive controls implementation, and international food safety system equivalence reviews. She also served as FSIS lead on World Trade Organization matters.
Invariant promoted Ken Barbic to chair the firm's food and agriculture practice. He has more than 20 years of national leadership in food, agriculture and regulatory policy, and he has been with Invariant for two years. He served as assistant secretary for congressional relations at the Agriculture Department during the first Trump administration. He also held roles with the Farmers Business Network, Western Growers Association, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Ken Barbic (Invariant photo)Amy Swonger joined John Deere as director of government affairs. She was recently a principal at Invariant. During the first Trump administration, Swonger was the White House’s top Senate liaison and later was director of White House legislative affairs.
The American Frozen Food Institute promoted Adrienne Seiling to chief operating officer and head of strategic initiatives. She was most recently senior vice president of industry affairs and member services. Seiling brings nearly 20 years of experience in association leadership, strategy, and operations, with a record of leading multi-faceted initiatives and building high-performing teams. She has been instrumental in expanding AFFI-CON, strengthening member engagement, and leading communications since joining AFFI nearly 14 years ago.
Kari Kwiatkowski was promoted to senior vice president of operations at the U.S. Dairy Export Council. She has been with the group for 21 years, recently in a vice president role.
The American Coalition for Ethanol board of directors elected new 2026 officers and executive committee members. Troy Knecht, a South Dakota farmer representing Redfield Energy, was elected president. Chris Studer, chief member and public relations officer for East River Electric Power Cooperative, was named vice president. Ron Alverson, who represents Dakota Ethanol on the ACE Board, was named secretary. John Christianson, president of software company Beyond Agribusiness Solutions and recently retired from Christianson Benchmarking, will serve as treasurer. Dave Sovereign, chairman of Golden Grain Energy’s Board, and Bill Dartt, chief financial officer for Cardinal Ethanol, were also named to the group’s executive committee.
Chris Reynolds (Nutrien photo)Chris Reynolds was named executive vice president of global sales at Nutrien. The role will unify leadership across the wholesale and retail sales organizations and strengthen how Nutrien delivers value to customers worldwide. The appointment follows a planned leadership transition as Jeff Tarsi, who has led Nutrien’s global retail business, steps into an advisory role.
Ten Acre Marketing hired new staff. Joelle Orem, an Indiana farmer, was named an account manager. She previously worked at Farm Journal as a visual communications manager for the Trust in Food initiative. Matheus Spinelli was hired as creative director. James Drewicke, who previously worked for Curious Plot, joined the team as an account coordinator.
Natalie Turner is now communications director for Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan. She was previously a public affairs specialist at the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
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.
