Names in the News
New hires, promotions, retirements
Rose Acre Farms announces leadership transitions
Rose Acre Farms has announced recent leadership transitions within the company. Tony Wesner, former chief operating officer, has been elected as chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors, effective October 10, 2024. Wesner succeeds Marcus Rust as chief executive officer and chairman of the board. Rust has chosen to transition into an advisory role with the family-owned company, and will also be the new chief visionary officer.Read more
Papillon North Central regional sales manager
Papillon Agricultural Company has hired Marlen Schmitz as North Central Regional Sales Manager. Schmitz resides in Minnesota and his region will include dairy nutritionists and producers in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa.
Schmitz has extensive dairy industry experience. His unique abilities include establishing relationships and asking the right questions to determine a farm’s specific needs and goals.Read more
NOVUS remembers pioneering poultry scientist Julia J. Dibner
NOVUS is remembering a founding member of its research team – and a pillar in the animal agriculture industry. Julia J. Dibner, Ph.D., passed away the week of September 30, 2024. She dedicated nearly 30 years to poultry research, many of those spent at NOVUS where she served as director of biology research and then senior research consultant and Distinguished Science Fellow before retiring from the industry in 2014.
She earned her doctorate in cellular and development biology from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1980. She was first employed by the Monsanto Company and moved to work for NOVUS when the company was created in 1991.
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AFIA welcomes Meghan Dicks to the membership team
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has announced the addition of Meghan Dicks as its director of membership and engagement.
In this role, Dicks will play a pivotal role in setting the standard for exemplary member service and member experience. Before joining the AFIA, Dicks served as the regulatory and scientific affairs manager at ADM Animal and Pet Nutrition, North America, where she provided regulatory compliance and animal food safety guidance for ADM’s animal food and pet product portfolio in North America. Read more
Svanda Joins Nebraska Soybean Board
The Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) is pleased to announce the hiring of Sophia Svanda as communications and education coordinator.
In her role, Svanda will oversee NSB’s education initiatives, working on various programs that connect with educators and agricultural groups across Nebraska. She will also support NSB's communications efforts, helping to carry out strategies that promote Nebraska soybeans and benefit the state's soybean farmers. Svanda grew up in Nehawka, Nebraska, and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Agricultural and Environmental Science Communication. Read more
Kemin names first-ever head of global corporate affairs
Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80% of the world with its products and services, has appointed Lauren Burt to the newly created role of head of global corporate affairs.
Burt joined Kemin in 2016 as worldwide communications manager. She successfully implemented strategic communications to elevate the Kemin brand across multiple disciplines, including corporate communications, public relations, and community engagement. In 2019, Burt led the company through a global rebrand and corporate vision project.