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The California Farm Water Coalition executive director Mike Wade will step down in February. Matthew Dumlao was appointed executive officer of the California State Lands Commission. The Foundation for Fresh Produce selected Jelena Gligorijević to fill the newly-created role of chief medical officer. 

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation hired Jessica Lara as marketing and communications manager. Paul Brierley was confirmed as Arizona Director of Agriculture by the state senate. He was previously executive director of the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture and earlier served as a director for the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation. 

The Animal Health Institute named Gene Harrington senior director of state affairs. Bob Ellison joined Agri-Pulse as managing editor. Scott Bennett joined Ceva Animal Health in the newly created role as director of public affairs and market access.

Jay Ivey joined CropLife America as a manager of federal government relations. President Donald Trump nominated Ted Cooke to lead the Bureau of Reclamation. Margaret Fogarty and Leigh Picchetti launched a consulting firm: Corkboard Communications. Western Skies Strategies hired Jenna Stanton as interim federal policy director.

Bob Ellison, a trained broadcast journalist with decades of experience, is joining Agri-Pulse as managing editor.

Katie Hagen resigned from her role as director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Baloian Farms hired Diana Ybarra as an account manager. Teresa O'Connor is no longer with the American Farmland Trust where she served as California communications and outreach manager.

Former owner, chairman and CEO of Dole Food Co. David H. Murdock died June 9. Emily Druckman joined the office of Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash., as communications director and senior adviser. Evergreen Action hired Liya Rechtman as a senior transportation policy lead. 

Faith Parum joined the American Farm Bureau Federation as an economist. Wayne Stoskopf was promoted to senior director of public policy for risk management and legislative strategy at the National Corn Growers Association. CropLife America hired Tonya Parish as senior manager of government relations communications. 

The National Corn Growers Association Corn Board elected Michigan farmer Matt Frostic as the organization's first vice president. Robin Bowen joined Elanco as director of U.S. government affairs. Sarah Dean joined PepsiCo as director of global public policy, sustainability reporting and human rights. 

Ocean Mist Farms hired Jeff Fulton as senior director of commodity vegetable sales. He will be responsible for driving profitability, executing sales and marketing strategies. Fulton joins Ocean Mist from Dole Vegetable Co., where he worked for three decades in sales and product management, most recently as vice president of fresh pack sales and product manager. 

Brian Glenn joined the American Farm Bureau Federation as director of government affairs. The National Grain and Feed Association hired Allison Rivera as vice president of government and industry affairs. The American Feed Industry Association promoted Victoria Broehm and Leah Wilkinson.

Roger Cryan is no longer with the American Farm Bureau Federation where he served as chief economist. Lowell Randel will lead the newly established agricultural policy advocacy program at Texas Tech University. The Senate confirmed David Fotouhi to serve as the deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. 

The Almond Board of California selected new members to the board of directors including Paul Ewing of Atwater, Brandon Rebiero of Modesto, Chad DeRose of McFarland and Darren Rigg of Le Grand, among others. The Water, Energy and Technology center at Fresno State University hired Kent Pelisari as associate director. 

Ken Melban was named president of the California Avocado Commission. Connor Ferguson returned to Wilbur-Ellis as a senior branded technologies adjuvant portfolio manager. Land Trust Alliance hired Kara Heckert as the California senior program manager. The Kern County Water Agency promoted Nick Pavletich and Craig Wallace to co-manage the agency.

Jamison Cruce left his position as vice president of government relations at USA Rice to launch his own firm, Cruce Capitol Consulting. Jake Westlin, former vice president at the National Association of Wheat Growers, will succeed Cruce at USA Rice. The Senate Ag Committee Republicans hired Carlye Winfrey as a legislative aide. Growth Energy hired Jared Henderson and Emma Keiser as directors of government affairs. 

Martha Smith was promoted to vice president of North America agricultural affairs and license to operate at Bayer Crop Science. The National Pork Producers Council hired Shannon McMurtrey-Belson as senior director of international affairs and Dillon Davidson as director of state policy. Jeremy Witte was sworn in as deputy under secretary of marketing and regulatory programs at USDA.