A roundup of new employees and appointments in the agribusiness industry.

April 30, 2019

8 Min Read
Names in the News: May 2019
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To submit an announcement for Names in the News, please email it to Kristin Bakker at [email protected].

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HARRISON POULTRY, Bethlehem, Ga. — James I. Vincent has joined the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Vincent will lead the financial operations. He was previously with Wayne Farms LLC.

 

RENEWABLE FUELS ASSN., St. Louis, Mo. — Ken Colombini has joined the organization as communications director. Colombini will be responsible for the development and implementation of a broad range of communications strategies and tactics to support the mission and objectives. He was previously with the National Corn Growers Assn.

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AG PROCESSING INC., Omaha, Neb. — Cal Meyer announced his decision to retire as chief operating officer at the end of 2019. Meyer has been with the company for 34 years.

 

ALLTECH, Lexington, Ky. — Brian McCawley has been named senior vice president of sales. McCawley will focus on the North America additive business. He was previously with Big Dutchman.

Mike Osborne has been named key account advisor for North America. Osborne will further the growth of additive sales in North America. He was previously with Nutra Blend.

Christopher Speight has been named chief financial officer of the Americas. Speight will head the global corporate finance, treasury management and mergers and acquisitions functions. He was previously with Deutsche Bank.

Jonathan Forrest Wilson has been named president of Greater China. Wilson was previously with GODACO Seafood in Vietnam.

 

AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSN., St. Louis, Mo. — Wendy Brannen has been promoted to senior director of marketing and communications. Brannen will direct policy communications outreach in the Washington, D.C., office while working closely with department staff in the St. Louis headquarters. She was most recently director of policy communications.

Abby Podkul has been promoted to director of the meetings and conventions department. Podkul will direct the planning, coordination and implementation of more than 25 meetings and events the association hosts annually. She was most recently director of Commodity Classic and will continue to serve in that role as well.

 

BERG + SCHMIDT AMERICA LLC, Libertyville, Ill. — Dr. Johnny Lopez has joined the company as national sales and technical manager. Lopez will communicate technical and product benefits to core target customers. He was previously with EW Nutrition.

 

BIG DUTCHMAN, Holland, Mich. — Scott Postma has joined the company as vice president of supply chain and operations. Postma was previously with Yanfeng Automotive Interiors.

 

BUNGE LTD., White Plains N.Y. — Christos Dimopoulos has been named president, global supply chains. Dimopoulos will lead the physical commodity supply chains that support handling and processing assets and will also be responsible for trade flows, freight and distribution. He was most recently president, Agribusiness.

Pierre Mauger has been named chief transformation officer. Mauger will be responsible for portfolio optimization and strategy. He was most recently president, Europe and Asia.

Raul Padilla has been named president, global operations. Raul will manage all physical handling and processing assets, with a focus on the processing value chains, including milling. He will continue to lead Sugar & Bioenergy. He was most recently president, South America and Sugar & Bioenergy.

 

BV SCIENCE, St. Louis, Mo. — John Dickerson has joined the company as senior sales representative. Dickerson will introduce HERBANOPLEX CP and GAMAXINE to the U.S. poultry market. He was most recently with Hamlet Protein.

 

CONTERRA AGRICULTURAL CAPITAL, Des Moines, Iowa — Jackie Mosier has joined the company as vice president relationship manager. Mosier will serve customers in Illinois and the Great Lakes region. She was previously with Rabo Agrifinance.

 

COOPERATIVE NETWORK, Madison, Wis. — Jennifer Badeau Wickman has joined the company as government affairs coordinator. Badeau Wickman will work on primarily Wisconsin legislative issues for the government affairs team. She was previously with the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Assn. and the Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Assn.

Kristin Olson has been promoted to director of communications. Olson will be responsible for member communication, public relations, social and print media, marketing and promotion. Olson was most recently member support and education coordinator.

Mykel Wedig will join the company as cooperative liaison to the corporate staff, effective June 10. Wedig will be responsible for membership support, education and government affairs. She previously worked for Sen. Richard Burr (R., N.C.).

 

CROPLIFE AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dr. Manojit Basu will join the organization as managing director, science policy, effective May 28. Basu will support priority issues, leading research and advocacy to promote the innovative solutions created by members as well as develop, implement and manage effective science and regulatory policy strategies. He was previously with the Grocery Manufacturers Assn.

 

CSA ANIMAL NUTRITION, Dayton, Ohio — Dr. Dean Koehler has joined the company as swine nutritionist. Koehler will provide nutrition consulting services and technical support for swine customers and will assist in establishing relationships with new clients. Koehler was previously with Vita Plus Corp.

Dr. Robert Van Wyhe has joined the company as poultry nutritionist. Van Wyhe will provide nutrition consulting services and technical support for poultry customers and will assist in establishing relationships with new clients. He was previously with AB Vista.

 

DAIRY MANAGEMENT INC., Rosemont, Ill. — Krysta Harden has been named executive vice president of global environmental strategy. Harden will drive the dairy checkoff's environmental sustainability strategy. She will also provide executive leadership on the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy's Environmental Stewardship Committee. She was previously with Corteva Agriscience.

 

DIAMOND V, Cedar Rapids, Iowa — Kari Leonard has joined the Midwest Team as a regional sales manager. Leonard will work with technical experts to support producers, nutritionists, veterinarians and feed production professionals.

Dr. Xiaochen Yu has joined the company as senior research scientist. Yu will focus on fermentation and help drive a portfolio of fermentation-related projects. She was previously with AB Mauri.

 

FILTRATION SOLUTIONS INC., Pasig City, Philippines — Rosemarie R. Astorga has been appointed president.

 

GROWMARK, Bloomington, Ill. — Matt Lurkins has been named executive director for the Grain Division. Lurkins will provide Grain Division leadership to GROWMARK member cooperatives and retail grain units. He will also oversee the operations of MID-CO COMMODITIES INC., AgriVisor LLC, facility planning, grain member services, COFCO/GROWMARK and Central States Enterprises. He was most recently executive director of acquisitions and business development.

 

INTERNATIONAL MILK GENOMICS CONSORTIUM, Davis, Cal. — Dr. Jennifer Smilowitz has joined the consortium as director of scientific and strategic development. Smilowitz will improve the profile of the consortium and its networking environment. She was previously with the University of California-Davis.

 

KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN, Kansas City, Mo. — Ginger Adamiak has been appointed vice president energy and chemical products. Adamiak will have additional responsibilities for chemical and petroleum in the U.S. and Mexico. She was previously vice president energy, industrial development and innovation.

Yesica Gloria Marrufo has been promoted to vice president sales and marketing for industrial and consumer products in the U.S. and Mexico. Gloria Marrufo was previously assistant vice president sales for metals, industrial, forest products, chemicals and petroleum.

 

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY, Manhattan, Kan. — Michael L. Day has been selected to lead the department of animal sciences and industry, effective Aug. 11. Day was previously with the University of Wyoming.

 

MAREL, Gardabaer, Iceland — Roger Claessens has been appointed executive vice president of Marel Poultry, effective Sept. 1, 2019. Claessens was most recently director of innovation poultry.

 

MOTION INDUSTRIES INC., Birmingham, Ala. — John Watwood has been named group senior vice president of the Southeast Group. Watwood was most recently division vice president, general manager, of the Nashville, Tenn., division.

 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE, Arlington, Va. — Aline DeLucia has been promoted to senior director, public policy. DeLucia will serve as head of the Public Policy team.

 

NATURAL BIOLOGICS, Newfield, N.Y. — Le Luchterhand has joined the company as global business development manager.

 

NORTH AMERICAN MEAT INSTITUTE, Washington, D.C. — Sarah Little has joined the institute as vice president of communications. Little will be responsible for strategic issues management, advocacy communications, member communications and crisis communications.

Nathan Fretz has been promoted to vice president of legislative affairs. Fretz was most recently senior director of legislative affairs.

Eric Mittenthal has transitioned to vice president of sustainability in the Public & Legislative Affairs department. Mittenthal will implement activities initiated by the Trust in Animal Protein task force as well as lead the institute's promotion efforts. He was most recently vice president of public affairs.

Pete Thomson will lead the new Public & Legislative Affairs department. Thomson was most recently senior vice president of legislative affairs.

William Westman has assumed responsibility of the Administration department. Westman was most recently senior vice president of international affairs.

 

NUFARM, Morrisville, N.C. — Jacob Richburg has joined the U.S. team as technical services manager. Richburg will deliver technical support, research design and agronomic insight to customers.

 

SELECT SIRES INC., Plain City, Ohio — Shirley Kaltenbach has announced her retirement as director of communications. Kaltenbach has served in this role since 2012.

Leslie Maurice has been named director of communications. Maurice was most recently communications specialist.

 

U.S. WHEAT ASSOCIATES, Arlington, Va. — Amanda Spoo has been promoted to director of communications. Spoo will continue to direct online communications efforts while supporting public relations and marketing communications outreach to overseas wheat buyers and U.S. farmer stakeholders. She was most recently assistant director of communications.

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