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Hermosa Beach city council member Ray Jackson was appointed to the South Coast seat on the California Coastal Commission. Duane Simpson, vice president and head of North America public affairs, science and sustainability in Bayer's Crop Science Division, is succeeding Chuck Conner as president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

 Kapi Kapi Growers hired Marissa Geoffroy as director of supply chain. Jennifer Clever is now senior director of the Asia and Pacific Division in the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Office of Trade Policy and Geographical Affairs.

The National Pork Producers Council hired Wendy Brannen as vice president of communications and marketing. Jimmy Peacock departed Capitol Hill to join Cornerstone Government Affairs as a principal. Patrick Penn was appointed as deputy under secretary for the Food and Nutrition Service.

Will Sitton joined Invariant’s food and agriculture practice as a senior manager of government affairs. The National Pork Producers Council hired Wendy Brannen as vice president of communications and marketing. Duane Simpson will succeed Chuck Conner as president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

Bayer Vice President Duane Simpson was named to succeed Chuck Conner as the next president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. 

The Western Tree Nut Association named new officers for the board of directors. Kirk Squire, director of grower relations at Horizon Nut, was appointed as the chair of the board. Additional officers include: Jonathan Hoff as first vice chair, David Stanfield as second vice chair and Amy Sihto as secretary/treasurer. 

California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas named Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopezto the Coastal Commission. Alexa Bishopric joined the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Democratic staff as a professional staff member. Jimmy Emmons was named assistant chief of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.The Peterson Group hired former House Ag Committee Democratic staff director Anne Simmons as a policy consultant.

Jimmy Emmons was named assistant chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Caleb Crosswhite joined USDA as deputy general counsel. The Peterson Group hired former House Ag Committee Democratic staff director Anne Simmons as a policy consultant. 

The American Feed Industry Association hired Greg Conner as senior manager of multilateral affairs and market access. Mallory Gaines was promoted to director of global affairs. Three new senior advisers were named to the Surface Transportation Board: Sharon Clark, Rob Reilly, and Chris Bertram. The Midwest Council on Agriculture appointed former undersecretary Greg Ibach as a policy adviser. 

Texas Tech University graduate Allie Herring has joined the Agri-Pulse team of journalists as an intern this summer in Washington.

Gem-Pack Berries hired Tom Smith as its vice president of food service. In the newly created role, he will focus on delivering a quality year-round supply of fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries to customers in the U.S. and international markets. 

The Animal Health Institute hired Martha Scott Poindexter as chief executive officer. Chris Neubert left the Senate Agriculture Committee Democratic staff. Kelsey Freeman Saelens was promoted to senior vice president and head of global government relations at Cargill. 

Susan Skiles Luke is launching her own consulting firm, Farm Bridge Communications. Erin Morris has been appointed to lead the Agricultural Marketing Service after Bruce Summers retires. The North Dakota Grain Growers Association hired Nick Sinner as executive director. 

Driscoll’s named Gaëlle Le Meur as chief people officer leading the company’s talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, leadership development and inclusion efforts. Kristina Thayer was appointed director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Bryan Anguiano was named state director of USDA Rural Development in California, and Connie Conway returns as state Farm Service Agency director.

The Meat Institute hired Jesse Fulton as director of animal health and welfare. Former National Pork Board CEO Bill Even will be the next commissioner of the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development. Kenneth Selzer was sworn in as associate administrator of the Risk Management Agency. 

USDA's Farm Production and Conservation mission area added new staff: Kaytlin Bemis is now a policy adviser, Matthew Wininger was hired as special assistant, Kelli Evans was named senior adviser and Kyle Allen is a special assistant.