Officers & Staff

Charles Delacruz
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

cdelacruz@ngfa.org

Charlie was promoted to vice president in March 2012, and is the NGFA’s in-house legal counsel and corporate secretary. In this capacity, he administers the association’s arbitration system and works with the Trade Rules Committee. He also is principal staff liaison to the Arbitration Appeals Panel, Legal Council, Rail Arbitration Rules Committee and Trade Rules Committee. He has an extensive background in business law and private legal practice serving clients in the food industry. Prior to joining the NGFA’s staff in 2002, he was an attorney with a consulting firm – EHA Consulting Group Inc., Baltimore, Md. – providing services for Fortune 500 food industry clients on regulatory, import-export, safety and quality, and business and litigation issues.

A Virginia native, Delacruz is a magna cum laude graduate of James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va., with degrees in history and political science. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, Va., where among other things he was an editor of the Virginia Journal of International Law.

Charlie is the staff person to contact if you need information on:

• Arbitration/Rules and procedures
• Contracts issues
• Legal issues
• Trade Rules

Rebecca Grubbs
Director, Meetings and Marketing

rgrubbs@ngfa.org

Rebecca supervises and manages the logistical and contractual arrangements, planning, and execution for the Association’s meetings, conferences, and special events. Rebecca also manages all marketing campaigns including meeting branding, and print, web, and email communications and creates and executes all aspects of the Association’s sponsorship plan. Additionally, Rebecca oversees the Committee Apprentice Program and Next Generation Agribusiness Leaders program, the Association’s two initiatives aimed at engaging early-career members in professional development and networking.

Prior to joining NGFA in 2010, Rebecca was catering sales and conference services manager for the Melrose Hotel in Washington, where she sold catering service and hotel meeting space to corporate, association and other clients. Prior to that, she was sales manager for two other Washington-based catering firms during the period of 2003-08.

Rebecca is a native of the Washington, DC area and received an undergraduate degree in English and political science from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.

Contact Rebecca for:

• NGFA Annual Convention
• NGFA Country Elevator Conference
• NGFA Board of Directors and committee meetings
• Other NGFA conferences and seminars
• Meeting and event sponsorship
• Committee Apprentice Program
• Next Generation Agribusiness Leaders (NextGen) program
• Directory advertising

David Fairfield
Senior Vice President of Feed Services

dfairfield@ngfa.org

David was promoted to vice president of feed services in March 2012, after having served as director since joining the staff in 2001. He manages the NGFA’s activities pertaining to feed and feed ingredient manufacturing, and livestock/poultry integrator operations. Among other things, he directs the NGFA’s highly acclaimed Model Feed Quality Assurance Program and distance-learning courses, and other feed-related educational and training programs. He also assists in membership recruitment and retention programs for the feed sector, and provides assistance to Affiliated Associations in addressing feed-related issues at the state level. He is the principal staff liaison to the Feed Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee and Feed Manufacturing and Technology Committee, and is a staff liaison to the Biofuels and Co-Products Committee. Dave joined the staff after 20 years as a manager of feed mills for Cargill Inc.’s Nutrena Feed Division; Continental Grain Co.’s Wayne Feed Division and Animal Nutrition Division; and Hubbard Feeds Inc. He was recipient of Feed Management Magazine’s Feed Mill of the Year Award in 2000 and a four-time recipient of the former Continental Grain Co.’s Quality Top Achiever Award. A Kansas native, he is a magna cum laude graduate in feed science and management from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., and was recognized as a Kansas scholar.

David is the staff person to contact if you need information on:

• Association of American Feed Control Officials
• Biofuels co-products
• Environmental issues (feed mills)
• Feed ingredients
• Feed manufacturing
• Feed mill operations
• Feed safety and quality systems
• Food and Drug Administration
• Safety Issues (feedmills)
• State Feed Regulatory Agencies

Sarah Gonzalez
Director of Communications and Digital Media

sgonzalez@ngfa.org

Sarah is responsible for media relations, digital and social media, and member communications for NGFA.

Prior to joining NGFA in 2015, she was an associate editor for the agricultural publication Agri-Pulse in Washington from 2011-2015. At Agri-Pulse, she gained extensive reporting, writing and video news interview experience focusing on a wide range of agricultural issues.

A native of Elburn, Ill., Gonzalez earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Iowa State University. She wrote extensively for the Iowa State Daily, worked in the Public Relations/Marketing Department of the Iowa State Daily, and served as communications intern for the Iowa State Agricultural Extension Service before joining Agri-Pulse.

Contact Sarah for:

• NGFA Newsletter and other publications
• Media inquiries
• Information requests
• Social media

Tamela Elliott
Sr. Manager of Business Operations

Tammy maintains the Association’s accounting functions and records. She analyzes financial and statistical information, prepares financial reports, monitors investments, and processes invoices and requisitions. She also formats the NGFA Newsletter, Directory/Yearbook and other publications.

Tammy joined the NGFA’s staff in 1998 after serving seven years as an administrative specialist and technical support representative for a private contractor for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Her responsibilities included preparing documents and graphics for reports, conferences and seminars; managing the firm’s web site; and serving as office manager. Prior to that, she worked as a summer intern for the General Services Administration’s Inspector General’s Office. She attended Frostburg (Md.) State University, where her course work focused on accounting.

Contact Tammy for:

• Invoices and payments Publications, audio/visual orders General NGFA office questions

Chairman: Eric Wilkey
President, Arizona Grain Inc.,
Casa Grande, Ariz.

Wilkey is the 67th industry leader to serve at the helm of the NGFA. He joined Arizona Grain in 1991 after beginning his career six years earlier with the Continental Grain Co. From 1996-2006, he served as the company’s vice president and director of merchandising and risk management prior to becoming the firm’s top officer in 2006. In addition, he has been a member of the Arizona Grain Research and Promotion Council since 2004, and is a past chair of that organization. An Illinois native, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois.

Randy Gordon
President and CEO

Randy was elected as the NGFA’s top executive staff officer in September 2012, after having served as acting president since October 2011 upon the retirement of former President Kendell Keith. As chief executive officer, he is responsible for executing the policies of the Board of Directors and for planning, coordinating and implementing the NGFA’s programs, services and budget. Prior to assuming his current responsibilities, he had served as vice president of communications and government relations since 1987. In that capacity, Randy had overall communications responsibility, and his government relations duties involved working with the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies. He authored and edited the NGFA Newsletter, NGFA E-Alerts and other publications, and worked with the print and broadcast media to convey the NGFA’s policy views.

He joined the NGFA’s staff in 1978. A Nebraska native, he received an undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in journalism, history and political science. He received the distinguished service award from the Association of American Feed Control Officials in 1999 and the Food and Drug Administration’s Collaboration Award in 2005.

Randy is the staff person to contact if you need information on:

• Agroterrorism and facility security
• Department of Homeland Security
• Rail transportation
• NGFA positions on public policy issues 
• NGFA structure/committees

Mary Hitchcock
Manager of Arbitration/Mediation Services

Mary was promoted to Manager of Arbitration/Mediation Services in 2014. In this role she is responsible for managing the case load within NGFA’s arbitration system as well as assisting with the administration of NGFA’s Trade Rules Committee, Arbitration Appeals Committee, Rail Arbitration Rules Committee and Legal Council.

Before joining NGFA, she was a business development manager at Cirrus Pharmaceuticals in Durham, N.C., office manager for Country Squire Realty in Unadilla, N.Y. and administrative assistant to the chief executive officer at Silicon Solar in Bainbridge, N.Y.

A native of New York, Mary graduated from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. with a bachelor of science degree in psychology.

Contact Mary for:

• Arbitration rules and procedures
• Status of arbitration cases
• Trade Rules/Arbitration Seminar information

Max Fisher
Director of Economics and Government Relations

mfisher@ngfa.org

Max Fisher is NGFA’s director of economics and government relations – a newly created position.

Fisher joined NGFA after serving for the past two years as chief economist for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, where he worked for Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., while he was the committee’s Ranking Minority Member. While serving on the Senate staff, he provided comprehensive analyses of commodity, conservation, crop insurance and nutrition programs. He also conducted cost-benefit analysis forecasting and comparative analysis of federal policy proposals. In addition, he interacted extensively with the Congressional Budget Office, Senate Budget Committee and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist.

At the NGFA, Fisher will provide economic analyses and policy input on a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues affecting the grain, feed, grain and oilseed processing, and export sectors, including agricultural policy; international trade agreements; futures market regulation and measures designed to enhance customer protection; safety and environmental rulemakings; and rail and waterway transportation.

Fisher grew up on a grain and livestock farm in south-central Kansas that his family still owns and operates. He received his undergraduate degree in agricultural business from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M, in College Station, Texas.

Contact Max for information on:

• Economic analyses and policy input
• Regulation
• Country elevators
• Warehousing issues
• Association of Grain Regulatory Officials 

Bobby Frederick
Director of Legislative Affairs and Public Policy

Bobby Frederick is NGFA’s director of legislative affairs and public policy.

Frederick previously held a position as legislative director for Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., serving as his lead staff member for agricultural biotechnology and research issues, as well as rail, waterway and surface transportation policy.

Frederick has more than 11 years of experience on Capitol Hill, having previously worked as senior legislative assistant for then-Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Ill., and as acting chief of staff and legislative director for then-Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Ill.

As NGFA director of legislative affairs and public policy, Frederick serves as the Association’s principal policy advocate on Capitol Hill, and is intimately involved in developing and executing the association’s overall legislative strategy. He is the lead staff member on agricultural biotechnology issues, and serves as principal staff liaison to NGFA’s Biotechnology Committee.  He also leads NGFA’s staff efforts on inland waterway and port issues, and serves as principal staff liaison to the Waterborne Commerce Committee. In addition, he is responsible for operating Grain and Feed PAC.

A native of Champaign, Ill., Frederick received his undergraduate degree with a major in political science from DePauw University in Indiana, and received a certificate in political management and political action committees from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Faith Silvers
Manager, Database/Member Services

Faith manages the NGFA’s membership database and assists the director of marketing/treasurer in membership-recruitment and retention programs. She also serves as registrar for NGFA conventions, conferences and seminars, and assists in coordinating the NGFA Trade Show conducted in conjunction with the annual December Country Elevator Conference.

She joined the NGFA’s staff in June 2008 with more than 15 years’ experience in office administration and management, including event planning, membership coordination and customer service. Most recently, she spent 10 years as membership coordinator and database manager for the National Consumers League, where she also was involved in membership recruitment, database management, sponsorships and fund-raising initiatives. Prior to that, Faith served nine years with the Computer and Communications Industry Association, the last four of which were spent as its manager of event planning and information services. She attended the College of Charleston (S.C.), and the Northern Virginia Community College.

Contact Faith for:

• Changing membership records in NGFA database
• Membership materials
• Membership rosters
• Convention and conference registration
• NGFA Trade Show

Todd Kemp
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Treasurer

Todd was promoted to vice president of marketing in March 2012 after having served as director since 1997. He was elected corporate treasurer in 2000. He is responsible for the overall management and direction of the NGFA’s membership recruitment, development and retention programs. He is principal staff liaison to the Membership and Marketing Committee, Risk Management Committee and Finance and Administration Committee. He also spearheads the marketing of NGFA products and services. Todd joined the NGFA’s staff in 1991 as director of legislative affairs. Before that, he worked for the Agency for International Development, as a budget analyst at USDA and as legislative assistant for then-Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum-Baker, R-Kan. A Kansas native, he is a graduate of Kansas State University, with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and a masters in business administration.

Todd is the staff person to contact if you need information on:

• Commodity Futures/Exchanges
• Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• Dues investment
• Membership recruitment/retention
• Meeting sponsorships
• NGFA Trade Show
• Membership benefits and services
• Membership categories
• Risk management

Jess McCluer
Vice President, Safety and Regulatory Affairs

jmccluer@ngfa.org

Jess manages NGFA’s wide-ranging operational programs concerning employee safety and industrial health, environmental issues, grain-handling facility design and equipment, and grain inspection and weighing issues. He is principal staff liaison to the Safety, Health and Environmental Quality Committee and Grain Grades and Weights Committee.

He joined NGFA’s staff in 2007 after serving since April 2003 as a program analyst at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Office of Outreach Services and Alliances. In that capacity, he worked with trade associations, professional societies, academia, unions and government agencies to coordinate the implementation of national alliances and the development of compliance assistance resources. He was honored twice – in 2003 and 2005 – as recipient of the Secretary of Labor’s Exceptional Achievement Award. Before joining OSHA, McCluer served from 1999-2003 as manager of government affairs for the Shipbuilders Council of America, overseeing the association’s Safety, Environmental and Human Resources Committees.

McCluer was staff assistant for both the Dole/Kemp ’96 presidential campaign and the 1996 Republican National Committee convention. A native of Dallas, Texas, he was graduated from Texas A&M University with degrees in political science and international studies. He also received a master’s degree in political management from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Jess is the staff person to contact if you need information on:

• Environmental issues
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Facility design, operations and security
• Fires and explosions
• Fumigants and pesticides
• Grain inspection, weighing
• Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards
• Administration
• Grain quality
• National Conference on Weights and Measures
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Operations/technical issues
• Safety and health issues
• Sanitary/phytosanitary regulation
• Toxins, contaminants

Second Vice Chairman
JoAnn Brouillette
Demeter LP
Fowler, Ind.

Brouillette is managing partner and president of Demeter LP, a privately owned and operated agricultural business for over seven decades in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Since joining the company in 1986, Brouillette held various merchandising and management positions before assuming her current role in 1996.

Brouillette was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Purdue University in July 2006 and serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. She was awarded the AgriVision Award from the State of Indiana in 2010 and appointed to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiation by President George W. Bush in 2003 and again in 2005. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hanover College. Her late father, Donald G. Brouillette, also served from 1984-86 as NGFA’s top elected industry officer.

Jim Seibert
Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Education and Training

jseibert@ngfa.org

As NGFA’s manager of regulatory affairs, education and training, Jim is responsible for developing new education and training materials to assist NGFA members in complying with safety, health and other regulatory requirements. He also is involved in reviewing and updating the NGFA’s extensive inventory of employee safety education, training and information materials, as well as addressing grain, feed and processing facility operations issues.

Previously a grain and crop inputs Production Supervisor for Cargill Inc. in Ravenna, Neb., Seibert has more than six years of experience managing facility production and regulatory compliance inspections, and conducting ongoing safety education and process improvement projects at grain elevator facilities and feed mill locations.

Seibert also serves as an Airborne Forward Support Company Commander in the Nebraska Army National Guard, having served in several capacities in his 16 years of military service.

Beginning his career working on his family’s farm in south central Nebraska, Seibert graduated from Oklahoma State University’s College of Agriculture with a bachelor’s degree in plant and soil sciences.