The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has hired two new team members to work out of the Washington, DC, office to help carry out the organization’s mission.
Annemarie Pender has been hired by the National Pork Producers Council as assistant vice president for marketing and communications.
“Annemarie is a strategic thinker with 15-plus years of experience, developing and implementing integrated communications and marketing strategies,” NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys said in a release. “She’ll be a tremendous asset to NPPC as we look to create a more coordinated marketing and communications plan for the pork industry.”
Pender, a native of Florida, received a bachelor’s degree in history from Christopher Newport University and a master’s in public communications from American University, where she taught strategic communications for several years as an adjunct professor. She most recently served as vice president of communications for Autos Drive America, where she played a key role in launching the newly created association and led the transformation of its brand. She also spent 10 years at the Association for Global Automakers, designing and managing large-scale public affairs campaign initiatives, leveraging public relations, advertising, journalism and events.
“I’m excited to be working for an industry that supports more than half a million U.S. jobs and provides safe, high-quality pork for consumers here and around the world,” Pender said in a release. “I look forward to helping NPPC achieve its public policy objectives and telling the story about America’s 60,000 pork producers’ commitment to caring for their animals, employees, communities and the environment.”
Chase Adams will be serving as the manager of congressional relations. He joins Jack Frye on the organization’s lobbying team.
“Chase has a lot of experience in the livestock public policy field, so he’ll be a great asset to NPPC,” NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys said in a release. “He’s spent his career in agriculture, advocating on behalf of producers and telling their stories. We’re glad to have him on our team.”
Adams received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Black Hills State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Dakota School of Law. He was admitted to the South Dakota Bar in 2009. He grew up on his family’s ranch in South Dakota.
Prior to joining the NPPC team, Adams was senior policy and information director for the American Sheep Industry Association and from October 2012 to November 2016 was director of communications for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He began his career in agriculture as farm director for radio station KBHB in Sturgis, S.D. He also practiced law for several years.
He serves on the board of directors for the Western Resources Legal Center — a non-profit educational organization that provides law students with quality instruction to develop their legal skills in natural resources and environmental laws. He also served on the USDA Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Animals and Animal Products.
Adams is an alumnus of the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership program.
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