The American Sugarbeet Growers Association named Zack Clark as incoming CEO and executive vice president, effective Sept. 8. Clark, who currently serves as vice president of government affairs, joined ASGA in 2019. Earlier, he worked for the National Farmers Union and in various roles in the U.S. House and Senate. “It’s clear Zack greatly respects the American sugarbeet grower and all they provide our nation and their communities,” said Luther Markwart, who will retire as ASGA CEO at the end of the year. “Since coming to ASGA he’s combined his background in public policy with his passion for the American farmer to deliver outcomes for the association’s growers. I am thrilled with the board’s decision.”

Kate Thompson joined the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as director of government affairs. She worked at The Russell Group for the past three years, most recently as legislative manager, and earlier was a public policy assistant at the American Farm Bureau Federation. 

Zach Clark ASGA photo.jpgZack Clark (ASGA photo)

Danielle Cummins joined Farm Credit East as legislative affairs officer. She was previously director of member engagement at the American Seed Trade Association. Earlier, she held roles at Aimpoint Research, Farm Credit East and the New York Association of Conservation Districts. 

The National Council of Agricultural Employers elected Jeanne Malitz to the executive committee as secretary to guide the strategic direction of the NCAE as it continues to advocate on behalf of agricultural employers across the United States. Malitz is the principal of MalitzLaw Inc., a boutique law firm with a national presence specializing in employment-based immigration matters including permanent labor certification and temporary labor certification for agricultural employers.

Dennis Nalls, floor director for House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., departed the office to join S-3 Group. Punchbowl reported that Emily Ackerman is expected to become floor director, Justin Shockey will be named deputy floor director and Jack Garland will be promoted to floor assistant.

Chris Garcia joined the Association of Equipment Manufacturers as government affairs manager. He was previously a senior associate at Uber and earlier was an adviser at the Interior Department. 

AgZen named former AGCO leader Mark Theuerkauf as chief business officer. Earlier, he served as director/head of AGCO/PTx M&A for AGCO Ventures and Business Transformation. Theuerkauf also currently serves as an adviser for AUTOGENBOT and Tabbird AI. 

Lance Burditt has departed Farm Journal after three years with the media company. Recently, Burditt was senior vice president of food and agriculture sustainability sales. Earlier, he was president and chief commercial officer at Dexer. 

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin named Teresa Booeshaghi as associate administrator of the office of applied science and environmental solutions where she will advance EPA's core mission of protecting human health and the environment. Booeshaghi joins OASES from the Office of Land and Emergency Management, where she served as deputy assistant administrator for policy since May 2025. Earlier, she spent over two decades at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in various environmental protection and regulatory compliance roles. 

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed Casey Mulligan as the agency’s chief economist and chief regulatory officer. He will advise Kennedy and agency leaders on policy to make health care more affordable for the American people through cost-benefit analysis of regulation, econometric modeling, and program evaluation of major expenditures. Mulligan was most recently chief counsel for advocacy at the Small Business Administration and served as chief economist on the Council of Economic Advisers during the first Trump administration. He was a professor of economics and co-founded the University of Chicago’s Initiative on Enabling Choice and Competition in Healthcare.

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Phil Knight will retire from the Food Bank Council of Michigan in September 2026 after 11 years with the organization. He also hosts the WJR radio show and podcast 'Food Secure Nation' on WJR News Talk 760 AM. The organization is now searching for its next leader. 

Rebekah-Mathews-final-2400x3000.jpgRebekah Matthews (ImmuCell Corporation photo)
ImmuCell Corporation hired three new staff members to help manage increasing sales of its First Defense® scours-prevention product line: Charlie Perotti as senior director of international development, and Rebekah Mathews and Ryan Daubert as sales and marketing managers. Perotti was previously director of global business development at Animal Health Vision International and held multiple global business leadership roles with IDEXX Laboratories. Mathews was previously a dairy calf and heifer nutrition specialist and dairy products manager for Ag Partners Cooperative. Daubert joins ImmuCell Corporation from Plainview Beef Company, where he served as operations manager responsible for cattle management, animal health and welfare, and production.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced members of the Science Advisory Board tasked to provide independent advice on scientific and technical matters underlying the agency's major policies and actions. Charles Bott, chief technology officer at Hampton Roads Sanitation District, was named chair. The 36 additional members include: 

  • Henry Anderson, University of Wisconsin

  • William (Bill) Becker, Hazen and Sawyer and Columbia University

  • David J. Brenner, Columbia University

  • Louis Anthony (Tony) Cox, Jr., Cox Associates, LLC

  • Earl Creech, Utah State University

  • Dr. Nicholas M. D'Ambrosio, NOMADICS, LLC

  • Nicole Dennis, Independent Consultant

  • Kyle Doudrick, University of Notre Dame

  • Shawn Gannon, The Chemours Company

  • Daniel Gerrity, Southern Nevada Water Authority

  • Andrew Gelman, Columbia University

  • Joseph Haney, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

  • Thomas Haren, AGPROfessional

  • Alex Hollingsworth, The Ohio State University

  • Brian J. Hughes, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

  • Michael T. Kleinman, University of California, Irvine

  • Catherine L. Kling, Cornell University

  • Matthew Kotchen, Yale University

  • Gabriel Lade, The Ohio State University

  • Jessica LaRocca, Corteva Agriscience

  • Matthew LeBaron, The Dow Chemical Company

  • Anthony R. Lupo, University of Missouri

  • Tami McMullin, Roux Inc. 

  • Kristina Mena, University of Texas, Houston

  • Gary Minsavage, ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences

  • Krishna Pagilla, University of Nevada, Reno

  • Brian A. Powell, Clemson University

  • Jill Ryer-Powder, Environmental Health Decisions

  • Dev Shrestha, University of Idaho

  • Timothy Townsend, University of Florida

  • Sean Uhl, The Chemours Company

  • Jessica (Jit) Weir, Indiana Department of Environmental Management

  • Krista Wigginton, University of Michigan

  • Gayle Woloschak, Northwestern University

  • Lydia Zablotska, University of California 

  • R. Thomas Zoeller, University of Massachusetts-Amherst