People in the News

Chaney Joins Diamond V’s Food Safety Team
The Diamond V team recently welcomed Evan Chaney, Ph.D., who joined the company in the new position of Director, Food Safety Microbiology.

“I am delighted to announce that Dr. Evan Chaney has joined the Diamond V team,” says Don McIntyre, Director, Global Research and Technical Service for Diamond V. “In his new role, Dr. Chaney will help identify, qualify, and validate lab capabilities to ensure the highest quality of microbiological results from Diamond V research and customers.”

Chaney earned his M.Sc. in Food Science from Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, Texas. He later completed his doctorate at Texas Tech in Animal Science, with an emphasis in Food Safety and Microbiology, and continued post-doctoral research at the university. He is HACCP certified in Implementation and Management.

Prior to joining Diamond V, Chaney worked at Roka Bioscience as Director, Customer Applications and Microbiology, and previously as Senior Manager, Scientific Affairs where he worked with industry, academic and government partners to evaluate, develop and implement food safety test method applications across the industry. He has led and co-authored a variety of pre-and post-harvest food safety related research projects and is a routine presenter at food safety conferences.

“Evan brings over 10 years of technical and business experience in areas of pre-harvest and post-harvest food safety," McIntyre adds. "He also brings rapid analytical microbiology throughout multiple food industry segments to his position. He will be a valuable addition to Diamond V’s food safety and technical expertise.”

Chaney is a member of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and AOAC International. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for AOAC – Research Institute and as an Ad-Hoc reviewer for various food safety journals. Dr. Chaney is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Contact Diamond V at tel. +1.319.366.0745 or visit www.DiamondV.com.

USGC Promotes Wyatt to Manager of Global Strategies
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) has promoted Katy Wyatt to manager of global strategies, effective on Oct. 30, to replace Anne Zaczek, who departed the organization at the end of the month.

In her new role, Wyatt will assist in managing global strategies programs, including the coordination of the Council's Unified Export Strategy and the organization's Food for Progress program in Tanzania. Wyatt will also provide support to the USGC global programs, trade policy and innovation/sustainability teams.

“We are excited to have Katy in this new role,” said Kurt Shultz, USGC senior director of global strategies. “Her educational background and prior professional experience in Africa add to her interest and passion for the Council’s work.”

Wyatt joined the Council in July 2017 as global strategies coordinator, a role that allowed her to support the global strategies and trade policy departments, organize staff and member travel, prepare arrangements for visiting teams and facilitate program planning, correspondence, reports, information management and contracting.

Prior to the Council, Wyatt gained experience working on the MasterCard Foundation’s 2017 Young Africa Works Summit and on publicizing success stories for the Canadian International Development Agency’s program in Ethiopia. Wyatt also previously worked as a teaching assistant and administrative support officer with Dalhousie University in Canada.

Wyatt attended Dalhousie University and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and international development and a master’s degree in economics.

Raamezah Ahmad Joins AFIA's Communications Team
The American Feed Industry Association is pleased to welcome Raamezah Ahmad as its new graphic and web design coordinator. Ahmad joined AFIA Nov. 6.
Ahmad will be responsible for maintaining the overall brand for AFIA and the Institute for Feed Education and Research. She will develop graphics and other visual materials for the web, social media, print and other uses, including supporting AFIA's meetings and events team by creating myriad marketing materials and AFIA's legislative and regulatory team with producing visuals that help them convey AFIA messages in member and public communications. She will also serve as the lead designer for AFIA's semi-annual printed magazine, AFIA Journal, and support AFIA's Marketing Committee.

"We are very excited for Raamezah Ahmad to join AFIA's communications team," said Victoria Broehm, AFIA's director of communications. "I think she can bring a unique and creative perspective that will breathe new life into our communications products, helping us modernize for the future while still holding true to some of our long-term values that represent who we are as an industry. This industry is passionate about serving local communities and protecting animal health and welfare and I know she will be invaluable in helping us convey our messages to policymakers and the public."

Ahmad is a recent graduate of the George Mason University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in art and visual technology with a concentration in graphic design, as well as served as a digital marketing coordinator in the student center. She is an Adobe Certified Associate, specializing in print and digital media publication, graphic design and illustration, and visual communication.

Ahmad can be reached at rahmad@afia.org or (703) 558-3570.