Former North Carolina Pork Council CEO Andy Curliss will join the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) as vice president of strategic engagement, effective April 22, 2024. In this new role, Curliss will lead a range of efforts focused on expanding the reach and influence of the U.S. pork industry, NPPC says in a release.
“As our industry evolves due to changing policies and economic challenges, we are excited to welcome Andy back to Team Pork,” Bryan Humphreys, NPPC CEO, saysin a release. “With his in-depth approach and strategic insight, we are confident in his ability to help advance the industry.”
Curliss, a pork industry veteran, brings a wealth of agriculture business experience to this new role, NPPC says. He previously held senior-level positions at the North Carolina Pork Council and Smithfield Foods. Most recently, he was director of external affairs at the SAS Institute, where he provided executive-level counsel across a range of subjects, including agriculture and life sciences. Curliss also served as a longtime investigative reporter and state government editor at the Raleigh News & Observer, focusing on government affairs.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Toledo and a master’s in business administration from East Carolina University. He will be based in Washington, D.C.
In addition to this new hire, NPPC recently promoted two staff members. Maria C. Zieba has been officially appointed vice president of government affairs, after demonstrating exceptional leadership skills as interim vice president of domestic policy. In her new role, Zieba will oversee NPPC’s international affairs and domestic policy teams, leveraging her extensive expertise to advance the organization’s goals here and abroad.
“Maria’s promotion is well deserved and reflects her leadership and expertise over many years at NPPC and in the pork industry,” Humphreys adds.
Prior to joining NPPC in 2015, Zieba was a trade policy manager for the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, where she worked on various non-technical trade issues affecting the dairy industry. Prior to those roles, she worked at the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service managing capacity-building projects to increase U.S. agricultural exports to emerging markets.
Chase Adams has been promoted from senior director to assistant vice president of domestic policy, NPPC says. In this role, Adams will lead NPPC’s congressional advocacy and engagement, ensuring that the pork industry’s interests are effectively represented and championed on Capitol Hill.
“With Chase’s proven ability to navigate the complex political landscape in Washington, I am confident that in this elevated role he will continue to be an invaluable asset to drive our advocacy initiatives and build strong relationships on Capitol Hill,” Humphreys says.
Adams previously held the role of senior policy and information director for the American Sheep Industry Association before coming to NPPC in 2022. From October 2012 to November 2016, he was director of communications for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He began his career in agriculture as a farm director for the radio station KBHB in Sturgis, S.D. He also practiced law for several years.
Today, 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 — and formerly served on the USDA Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Animals and Animal Products. He also is an alumnus of the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership program, the release notes.
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