USSEC Announces New Regional Boundaries and Leadership Appointments

Strategic realignment will bolster international reach for U.S. Soy

St., Louis, Mo, USA – Oct. 9, 2025, The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) has announced a new regional model and leadership appointments designed to enhance alignment across markets and expand opportunities for U.S. Soy worldwide.

The updates are aimed at ensuring USSEC remains positioned to meet its strategic goals in a rapidly evolving global marketplace. With shifts in consumer demand, geopolitical dynamics, and market access challenges, the new structure reflects USSEC’s commitment to building resilience and maximizing value for U.S. soybean farmers, industry partners, and international customers.

“Guided by our core values and a commitment to continuous improvement on behalf of U.S. soybean farmers, USSEC regularly assesses its effectiveness and efficiency,” said Jim Sutter, USSEC CEO. “The new structure strengthens our focus on strategic priorities and vital relationships, ensuring U.S. Soy remains the trusted partner of choice for customers around the world. We are confident in the positive impact this realignment will deliver across global markets and all those along the U.S. Soy value chain.”

Effective October 1, USSEC’s updated model realigns regional boundaries for U.S. Soy export markets, streamlines international program administration, and strengthens its ability to support global priorities and deliver value to customers worldwide.

The realignment enables regional leadership to devote more time to advancing strategy, fostering innovation, and strengthening partnerships across the soy value chain. The changes also reinforce USSEC’s long-standing role as a reliable and forward-looking partner for international customers.

New Regions and Leadership Appointments:

Also effective October 1, USSEC will separate the animal and aquaculture utilizations under dedicated leadership for each of these important sectors.

New Aquaculture and Animal Nutrition Leadership Appointments:

 Morgan Cheatham, Ph.D. is appointed Director, Aquaculture and will be responsible for differentiating and elevating a preference for U.S. Soy in aquaculture globally. Cheatham joined USSEC in 2024 as the Animal and Aquaculture Manager. Prior to joining USSEC, Cheatham worked in aquaculture operations in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Cheatham earned her Ph.D. in aquaculture from Mississippi State University.

With the addition of this new director position, Tom D’Alfonso, Ph.D. is now Director, Animal Nutrition allowing him to be solely focused on the global animal feed sector – the largest end-user industry for U.S. soybeans and soybean meal. Previously, D’Alfonso had global director-level responsibility for both aquaculture and animal nutrition.

Building on international collaborations that began nearly 70 years ago, and combining global vision with regional expertise, USSEC continues to position U.S. Soy as a trusted, sustainable source of nutrition and energy in more than 90 countries worldwide.

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This press release is funded in part by the Soy Checkoff.

About USSEC

The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) focuses on differentiating, elevating preference, and attaining market access for the use of U.S. Soy for human consumption, aquaculture, and livestock feed in 92 countries internationally. USSEC members represent the soy supply chain including U.S. Soy farmers, processors, commodity shippers, merchandisers, allied agribusinesses, and agricultural organizations. USSEC is funded by the Soy Checkoff, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service matching funds, and industry. Visit  www.ussec.org for the latest information about USSEC and U.S. Soy internationally. 

Media Contact:
Kerrey Kerr-Enskat, Communications Director
kenskat@ussec.org