Hemann Named President and CEO of DPI Global
Distributors Processing, Inc. (DPI Global) announces the promotion of Mike Hemann to president and CEO effective June 16. Hemann will carry on the legacy of previous president and CEO Kendal Thompson, who unexpectedly passed away on June 5. Hemann will be responsible for the day-to-day company management, operations, and P&L.
Hemann previously served as a technical sales manager and most recently was the director of sales on a global basis. Before joining the company in 2021, he held various roles and brought over 25 years of industry experience within the livestock, poultry and feed markets.
“DPI GLOBAL is proud to announce Mike’s leadership role, and we are confident that with his leadership, he will continue to grow our business as we continue to lead the way in providing effective, sustainable technology for efficient food production to feed the world,” Randy Walker, current board member and former CEO of DPI Global said in a release.
Indiana Pork Hires Director of Youth Engagement
Indiana Pork has hired Chad Martin as the Director of Youth Engagement. Martin was raised on a designated “Hoosier Homestead” farm near Walton, Ind., now in its sixth generation as a hybrid seed corn production business and diversified livestock feeding operation. He graduated from Purdue University with a master’s degree in agricultural and Extension education and a minor in animal science, a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University and an associate’s in applied science from Joliet Junior College.
His career experiences have involved rural and agriculture economic development both in Indiana and Illinois. Most recently, he has been the project director for the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) at the Ivy Tech campus in Lafayette where he oversaw a $1M Lilly Endowment Initiative grant fund to accelerate the adoption of Digital Agriculture and Advanced Manufacturing technologies. He was previously a state Extension specialist with the Purdue Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, spent time at the Indiana State Department of Agriculture with the Indiana Cooperative Development Center, and was with the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs.
“I am excited to accept this role and begin serving along with the team assembled at Indiana Pork to support youth in our state,” Martin said in a release. “The timing is ideal. Indiana junior livestock programs are experiencing exceptional growth in participation and the momentum continues because families see value in raising their children within this life skill building ecosystem. My hope is to help facilitate and build upon the strength of the Certified Indiana Bred program, and find even more ways to capitalize engagement opportunities which allow youth to explore their place in a pork sector career.”
Martin recently served as vice president of the American Yorkshire Club with the National Swine Registry, and is currently the president of the Indiana Yorkshire Club.
“With Chad’s livestock exhibition experience and as one of the founders of Indiana’s Certified Indiana Bred program he will certainly have that part of the position covered,” Josh Trenary, executive director of Indiana Pork said in a release. “But more importantly he brings teaching and extension experience that can help us with your development efforts generally. Indiana Pork can also utilize Chad’s experience with sustainable energy on our producer education side as well—making him a versatile addition to our team.”
Platte Joins Animal Agriculture Alliance Team
The Animal Agriculture Alliance recently welcomed Grace Platte as coordinator, membership and communications. In this role, Platte will assist in managing the organization’s membership and sponsorship processing, recruitment and engagement. She assumed her new role on June 27. She will also oversee operational needs for the organization and provide support to communications and issues management efforts. Additionally, she will serve as the first line of contact for Alliance members and other stakeholders and is responsible for facilitating the Alliance’s participation in a variety of events within the animal agriculture community, a release said.
Prior to joining the Alliance team, Platte served as the event and outreach intern for GreenStone Farm Credit Services among several other internship positions within the agriculture community – including communications intern for the Alliance in 2021.
Platte will graduate from Michigan State University later this year with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education and minors in applied international development in agriculture and natural resources and environmental and sustainability studies. She is a member of the university’s Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority, the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education Club and the dairy judging team.
“Grace was an incredible asset to the Alliance team during her summer internship last year, providing support on various projects and initiatives including the College Aggies Online program and developing new member resources,” Hannah Thompson-Weeman, Alliance president and CEO, said in a release. “Her experience in managing events, supporting campaigns, and member communications will lend itself well to her new position and bring considerable value to our members and the animal agriculture community as a whole.”
Platte currently lives in Michigan and will be relocating to the Arlington, Va., area upon graduation.
Metzger to Help Lead Agriculture, Extension Activities at K-State
Kansas State University has named a seasoned scientist and water policy professional as its new associate director for agriculture and extension. Susan Metzger said she looks forward to strengthening and creating partnerships for the College of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension in support of agriculture and natural resources, a release said.
Metzger previously served as the senior executive administrator to Ernie Minton, dean of K-State’s College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension. In her new position, Metzger will support the college and extension with government relations, stakeholder outreach and strategic planning. She will continue to assist in the implementation of the College of Agriculture’s comprehensive master infrastructure campaign, as well as the K-State Plan for Economic Prosperity.
She will also serve as the director for the Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment (KCARE) and the Kansas Water Resources Institute (KWRI) where she secures and administers funding for KWRI, the Fertilizer Research Fund and the Ogallala Aquifer Program; and works closely with a team of watershed specialists to improve water quality throughout the state.
As director, Metzger said her goal is to expand awareness of the resources available through KCARE to coordinate and enhance research, extension and teaching activities pertaining to environmental issues related to agriculture.
Before joining K-State in 2018, Metzger served as deputy secretary for the Kansas Department of Agriculture where she served farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses of Kansas and worked to build the state’s agricultural economy.
While there, she led the agency’s policy evaluation and development related to water and natural resources, coordinated with the Kansas Legislature and Congress, and served as team leader on the Long-Term Vision for the Future of Water Supply in Kansas. Metzger has served as a scientist and leader in water resource planning for more than 25 years. Among her previous positions, she was chief of planning and policy for the Kansas Water Office and an environmental scientist for the Kansas Water Office, Burgess and Niple, and Geo-Marine.
Metzger earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Mary Washington, a master’s degree in biological sciences from Old Dominion University and a doctorate in leadership communications from K-State.
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