Alexandria, Virginia
August 14, 2008
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) announced a new
slate of leaders for its 2008 - 09 officers, Board of Directors,
as well as several association divisions and committees. "We
continue to be excited by the strong participation of so many of
our members and those that are willing to take on the added
responsibility of leading the organization through the great
opportunities that face the American seed industry," said Andy
LaVigne, president and CEO of ASTA.
Elected at ASTA's 125th Annual Convention in June, the 2008-2009
officers are:
- Chairman: Kelly
Keithly - founder and president of Keithly-Williams
Seeds of Holtville, Calif. - brings to ASTA leadership
extensive knowledge of the vegetable seed business. Keithly
previously served as president of the California Seed
Association, as well as other positions within ASTA
including chairman of the Vegetable and Flower Seed
Division; vice president of the Western Region and director
at large. Keithly resides in Yuma, Arizona, with his wife
Cheryl.
- Vice Chairman:
Jerry Monk - president of Texas based Kelly Green Seeds
and Warner Seeds - is a 35-year veteran of the seed
industry. Monk has guided seed operations domestically and
internationally with wide ranging experience from production
to management. He has served as president of both the Texas
Seed Trade Association and the Southern Seed Association and
on various ASTA divisions and committees. Monk resides in
Farwell, Texas, with his wife Pam.
- Second Vice Chairman:
John Nelsen - president and CEO of RiceTec, Inc., in
Alvin, Tex. - possesses broad experience in the seed
industry including strategic planner and business analyst
for Monsanto Global Seed Group, general manager for U.S. and
Canada seed businesses for Asgrow, and vice president of
global oil seed business for Asgrow. He has been an active
member of ASTA serving previously on the Board and on
several committees. Nelsen resides in Houston, Texas, with
his wife Georgiana and their family.
The Board of Directors is also
comprised of regional vice presidents, directors at large and
past presidents and chairmen of the association. Regional vice
presidents include:
- Craig Newman,
AgReliant Genetics (Central);
- Wayne Vassar,
Sharp Brothers Seed Co. (North Central);
- Risa DeMasi,
Grassland Oregon (Northwest);
- Blake Curtis,
Curtis Seed (Southern);
- John Schoenecker,
Harris Moran (Western);
- Terry Dulaney,
AgVenture Inc. (Southeastern);
- Fred Mohr,
Seedway (Northwest);
- Bryan Gerard,
JGL, Inc. (to Canada);
- Wayne Unger,
Brett Young Seeds (from Canada); and
- Arcadio Lozano,
Sakata Mexico (from Mexico).
Directors at large
include:
- Dean Oestriech,
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.;
- Marc Cool,
Seeds of Change;
- Don Wertman,
Seedway;
- Tom Wiltrout,
Dow AgroSciences; and
- Dan Burdett,
Syngenta.
Past presidents and
chairmen include:
- Jim Tobin,
Monsanto Company;
- Harry
Collins, Delta Pine Land/Monsanto;
- Mike
Peterson, Peterson Genetics;
- Sonny Beck,
Beck's Superior Hybrids;
- Nathan
Boardman, Crosbyton Seed Company;
- Wayne Beck,
Pioneer Hi-Bred International;
- Bill
Whitacre, Simplot;
- Bill Latham,
Latham Seed Company;
- J. Stephen
Byrum, retired;
- Fred Clark,
retired;
- Noble Koepp,
retired;
- Dietrich
Schmidt, retired;
- John
Studebaker, Cibus, LLC;
- George
Jones, retired;
- Jerry
Peterson, retired;
- Don
McGillivray, retired;
- John Zajac,
Mountain View Seeds, Ltd.;
- Owen Newlin,
Pioneer Hi-Bred International;
- Bill
Schapaugh, retired;
- Bob
Thedinger, retired;
- Harvey
Mauth, retired; and
- Owen
Gilbreath, retired.
In addition to the officers, the
Board of Directors includes the chairmen of ASTA divisions and
several committees:
- Delmer
Gross, BASF (Corn & Sorghum Seed
Division);
- Doug
Bastian, Windfield Solutions, LLC (Farm
Seed Division);
- Kathy
McCarthy, The CISCO Companies (Lawn Seed
Division);
- Glen
Bowers, Syngenta (Soybean Division);
- Ron
Amarel, Nunhems USA, Inc. (Vegetable &
Flower Division);
- Bob
Jondle, Jondle & Associates (Associate
Division);
- Tim
O'Leary, Corn States Hybrid Service
(Brokers & Agents Division);
- Keith
Redenbaugh, Seminis (Biotechnology
Committee);
- Don
Bermant, Granite Seeds (Environmental &
Conservation Committee);
- Mike
Chapman, Pioneer Hi-Bred International
(Intellectual Property Rights Committee);
- Bryan
Gerard, JGL, Inc. (International
Executive Committee);
- Risa
DeMasi, Grassland Oregon, LLC
(Legislative & Legal Concerns Committee).
Founded in 1883, the American
Seed Trade Association (ASTA), located in Alexandria, Va., is
one of the oldest trade organizations in the United States. Its
membership consists of approximately 750 companies involved in
seed production and distribution, plant breeding, and related
industries in North America. As an authority on plant germplasm,
ASTA advocates science and policy issues of industry importance.
Its mission is to enhance the development and free movement of
quality seed worldwide. |
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