soybean field

USSEC Announces Organizational Changes

USSEC recently announced several leadership and accountability changes within the organization.

  • International Business Development Director Miguel Escobar retired from USSEC effective September 30, 2013.
  • Keeping in mind personal safety and travel issues coupled with ongoing concern with funding from the FAS and the checkoff, the USSEC Executive Committee and Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS) together have decided to manage the Middle Eastern / North African (MENA) Region in a different manner.  Accordingly, Mit Goblirsch will not be relocating to the MENA Region to fill the role of Regional Director as previously announced.
  • USSEC Industry Relations Director Mark Andersen will leave USSEC effective November 30, 2013 to form his own consulting group.

 
All three of these gentlemen have agreed to do some consulting work with USSEC over the next year.  USSEC is grateful to continue its interaction with them and for their expertise.  The entire USSEC organization sincerely thanks all three for their significant contributions to the U.S. soy family.
Thus, various responsibilities have shifted, and there will be more changes that will continue to drive USSEC’s efficiency and effectiveness.  Here is a rundown of how some of the key accountabilities within the USSEC organization will be handled.

  • Effective October 1, 2013, Brent Babb, International Director for Market Access Issues, took on additional responsibility as the Regional Director of both the Greater Europe and the MENA Regions from the St Louis office.
  • Effective October 1, 2013, Drew Klein, International Director for Strategy and Research, added Regional Director for India to his current role.  He will also continue to be based in the St. Louis office.  As a part of Mr. Klein’s role as Strategy Lead, he will take on management responsibility for any strategic contracts into which USSEC enters, ensuring that all key performance indicators and deliverables are consistent with the strategic goals of our funding sources and the approach / activities are consistent with USSEC’s trade and technical servicing strategies.
  • Ed Beaman’s key accountability within the organization will be the oversight of the Consistent Program / Project Management Process for the next 12 months.  All Program / Project Managers globally will report to him.  Mr. Beaman will also continue as the direct people manager for several team leads in St Louis.
  • Leadership for Industry Relations and Communications is transitioning to Jim Sutter with involvement / leadership from Will McNair and Lisa Pine respectively.
  • Effective immediately, Kim Nill will take on the role of Freedom to Operate (FTO) Action Team Staff Lead within USSEC.  Kim has been active in FTO projects for many years with particular emphasis on biotech and other market related issues.  This change will ensure that all areas of responsibility will receive an optimum level of attention.