U.S. Wheat Associates Announces Several Staff Promotions
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), the industry’s export market development organization, promotes three associates to Vice President. Ian Flagg is named Regional Vice President for the organization’s European and Middle Eastern, North and Eastern Africa regions. Jennifer Sydney becomes Vice President of Programs and Planning, and Dalton Henry becomes Vice President of Policy. In addition, Shawn Campbell is promoted to Deputy Director, West Coast Office, and Jim Frahm becomes Senior Advisor.
Flagg is based in USW’s regional office in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Sydney and Henry serve in the organization’s Headquarters Office in Arlington, VA. Campbell works in Portland, OR, and Frahm works half-time from his home in Charleston, SC.
“I have said many times how proud I am of the people who work at U.S. Wheat Associates,” said USW President Alan Tracy. “These associates and the people who report to them are making a real and positive difference for USW and for the U.S. wheat farmers we represent. Their commitment to their jobs and promoting U.S. wheat is very strong and is clearly evident in the results of their work.”
Minnesota native Ian Flagg first served USW as Assistant Director, West Coast Office, then as Market Analyst in the Headquarters Office, before accepting a position in 2009 as Assistant Director for the Middle East, East and North Africa (MEENA) region in Cairo. He was promoted to Regional Director in 2014 and moved to Casablanca, Morocco, then transferred again to Rotterdam in January 2016 to direct activities in MEENA and Europe. Flagg has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, and a master’s degree in Agribusiness and Applied Economics from North Dakota State University.
Jennifer Sydney directs the preparation and submission of USW’s annual Unified Export Strategy proposal to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), manages FAS activity amendments, coordinates state funding and supervises USW Programs staff. Sydney had similar responsibilities at the U.S. Grains Council in Washington, DC, before joining USW in 2010. She is a native of Greeley, CO, and received a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies from the University of Colorado.
Dalton Henry has lead responsibility for coordinating the USW policy team’s efforts and managing relations with wheat value chain organizations. He joined USW in March 2015 after five years with Kansas Wheat as Director of Governmental Affairs. Henry grew up on and is still involved with a diversified crop and livestock operation near Randolph, KS. He has a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communications and Journalism from Kansas State University.
As Deputy Director, West Coast Office, Shawn Campbell is responsible for liaison with the grain export trade and constituent state-level wheat commissions, hosting visiting trade delegations and additional support for headquarters and overseas office staff. Before joining USW in 2009, Campbell was an agricultural economist for an Alberta, Canada, feedlot. An Oregon native, Campbell earned a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness and Agricultural Systems Management and a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Idaho.
Jim Frahm has been with USW since 1978, serving most recently as Vice President of Planning. He coordinated long term strategy and program evaluations with and between USW’s overseas offices and USDA FAS. As Senior Advisor, Frahm will continue to represent the organization on wheat quality and sanitary/phytosanitary issues and in other assignments. His first position with USW was in Rotterdam directing market development activities in Eastern Europe. He worked as a grain merchandiser for Continental Grain before joining USW. Frahm received a bachelor’s degree in History and International Relations from Iowa State University. He also earned a master’s degree in International Affairs specializing in Russian area studies at Columbia University.
USW works in more than 100 countries to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.” USW activities are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 18 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by FAS. USW maintains 17 offices strategically located around the world to help wheat buyers, millers, bakers, wheat food processors and government officials understand the quality, value and reliability of all six classes of U.S. wheat.
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U.S. Wheat Associates prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital or family status, age, disability, political beliefs or sexual orientation. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact U.S. Wheat Associates at 202-463-0999 (TDD/TTY – 800-877-8339, or from outside the U.S.- 605-331-4923). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Vice President of Finance, U.S. Wheat Associates, 3103 10th Street, North, Arlington, VA 22201, or call 202-463-0999. U.S. Wheat Associates is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
