NOPA Congratulates 2024 Class of Future Leaders, Boosts Collaboration with Key Soy Partners
The National Oilseed Processors Association held its Future Leaders Workshop this week as well as a panel discussion with national soy leaders.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2024 – The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), the trade association representing the U.S. soybean, canola, flaxseed, safflower seed, and sunflower seed crushing industries this week celebrated a key industry leadership moment during the association’s Annual Meeting held Sept. 23-24 in St Louis, MO.
NOPA’s Future Leaders Workshop convened the 2024 Future Leaders class – 15 individuals from 10 NOPA member companies – for leadership training, networking and connections to peers in the U.S. oilseed industry, and a behind-the-scenes look at all facets of the association, covering everything from governance to advocacy.
The Future Leaders program was established at the direction of NOPA’s Board of Directors to ensure a strong, consistent, and diverse talent pipeline within the oilseed crushing industries and the association.
This year’s workshop allowed members of the 2024 Future Leaders class to participate in collaborative discussions with NOPA’s Executive Committee, staff, consultants, and partners, and provided a glimpse into how the trade association works on behalf of the U.S. crushing industry.
The two-day session also featured a soy industry panel discussion with NOPA CEO Kailee Tkacz Buller, American Soybean Association (ASA) CEO Steve Censky, and U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) CEO Jim Sutter where the future outlook for U.S. soybean farmers, export markets, and oilseed processing was discussed. The panel was moderated by Agri-Pulse Founder and CEO Sara Wyant.
The Future Leaders ended the event by observing the annual NOPA Board of Directors Meeting, held in conjunction with the workshop. NOPA’s Executive Committee Past Chair Tom Malecha, CGB Enterprises; Chair-Elect Gary Cordier, Perdue Agribusiness; Chair Diego Rasteletti, Bunge; and Treasurer John Grossmann, ADM, pictured from left to right above.
NOPA congratulates the 2024 Future Leaders, pictured and listed below:
- Matt Fray, ADM
- Jim Tobin, ADM
- Scott Martin, Ag Processing Inc
- John Rever, Ag Processing Inc
- Kevin Glauber, Bunge
- Greisy Horberg, Bunge
- Laura Hatcher, Cargill
- Andy Smith, CHS Inc.
- Brendan Kukowski, Incobrasa Industries, Ltd.
- Jerod Wolff, Minnesota Soybean Processors
- Nikola Jovanovic, Perdue AgriBusiness
- Dylan Presby, Perdue AgriBusiness
- Chris Cline, Riceland Foods Inc.
- Blake Frizzell, Riceland Foods Inc.
- Phillip Collins, Shell Rock Soy Processing LLC
Future Leaders are selected by NOPA Board of Director members. Interested Future Leaders candidates should talk to their NOPA Board of Director representatives about getting more involved with NOPA. NOPA will continue to host its Future Leaders Workshop on a biennial cadence in conjunction with its Annual Meeting.
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Organized in 1930, the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) represents the U.S. soybean, canola, flaxseed, safflower seed, and sunflower seed-crushing industries. NOPA’s membership is engaged in the processing of oilseeds for meal and oil that are utilized in the manufacturing of food, feed, renewable fuels, and industrial products. NOPA’s 17 member companies operate over 70 softseed and soybean solvent extraction plants across 21 states, crushing over 95% of all soybeans processed in the United States, the equivalent to more than 2 billion bushels annually. More information at www.NOPA.org