Emily Skor
Growth Energy
CEO
Emily Skor is the chief executive of Growth Energy, America’s premier biofuel trade association representing the majority of the nation’s ethanol producers, an industry that contributes more than $50 billion to the U.S. GDP.
Since taking the helm of Growth Energy in May 2016, Skor has dramatically expanded the organization’s influence, footprint, and membership, positioning it as a powerful voice in national energy and agricultural policy. Under her leadership, Growth Energy has become a leading advocate for American biofuels, reshaping public discourse around critical priorities such as revitalizing the farm economy, reducing fuel costs, advancing U.S. innovation, and securing global market leadership for domestic producers.
During Skor’s tenure, Growth Energy’s membership has grown to nearly 100 biorefineries — including industry leaders such as POET, ADM, The Andersons, Marquis Energy, and Cargill — along with 130 companies across the biofuels value chain, including John Deere, BASF, and GROWMARK, Inc.
Skor has led the industry through pivotal policy victories, strengthening federal biofuel programs, ensuring long-term market stability, and unlocking new opportunities both domestically and abroad. She has spearheaded successful advocacy campaigns to preserve year-round access to E15, a fuel blend made with more ethanol than ordinary fuel, keeping it available each summer since 2019. Under her leadership, the number of retail locations offering higher blends has grown from 80 to over 4,700 across 34 states.
To grow demand and awareness, Skor launched Growth Energy’s first-ever consumer education initiative, Get Biofuel, which redefined ethanol blends as a cleaner, more affordable fuel choice for American drivers.
Her work has helped secure billions in new federal investments through tax credits and grants, while also delivering state-level legislative wins and mounting successful legal efforts to protect key regulations and challenge harmful rulings. As a result, bipartisan policymakers increasingly recognize biofuels as essential to rural prosperity, U.S. energy independence, and global climate goals.
Skor has been widely recognized for her leadership. She was named one of Washingtonian magazine’s “Most Influential People” in both 2024 and 2025, honored with the first-ever Women in Ethanol Award from BBI International, and appointed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to the U.S. Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee. She is also a current member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Association Committee of 100 (C100) and has been recognized as one of Washington’s top lobbyists by The Hill.
A frequent media contributor and respected policy voice, Skor has testified before Congress and spoken at leading forums such as CERAWeek, Politico’s Energy Week, and the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Summit during Climate Week NYC.
Before joining Growth Energy, Skor served as Vice President of Communications at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, representing the $30 billion over-the-counter medicine industry, and as Senior Vice President at Dezenhall Resources, where she advised Fortune 500 companies on high-stakes crisis management and public affairs strategies.
Skor graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wellesley College. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and two children.
Growth Energy
CEO
Emily Skor is the chief executive of Growth Energy, America’s premier biofuel trade association representing the majority of the nation’s ethanol producers, an industry that contributes more than $50 billion to the U.S. GDP.
Since taking the helm of Growth Energy in May 2016, Skor has dramatically expanded the organization’s influence, footprint, and membership, positioning it as a powerful voice in national energy and agricultural policy. Under her leadership, Growth Energy has become a leading advocate for American biofuels, reshaping public discourse around critical priorities such as revitalizing the farm economy, reducing fuel costs, advancing U.S. innovation, and securing global market leadership for domestic producers.
During Skor’s tenure, Growth Energy’s membership has grown to nearly 100 biorefineries — including industry leaders such as POET, ADM, The Andersons, Marquis Energy, and Cargill — along with 130 companies across the biofuels value chain, including John Deere, BASF, and GROWMARK, Inc.
Skor has led the industry through pivotal policy victories, strengthening federal biofuel programs, ensuring long-term market stability, and unlocking new opportunities both domestically and abroad. She has spearheaded successful advocacy campaigns to preserve year-round access to E15, a fuel blend made with more ethanol than ordinary fuel, keeping it available each summer since 2019. Under her leadership, the number of retail locations offering higher blends has grown from 80 to over 4,700 across 34 states.
To grow demand and awareness, Skor launched Growth Energy’s first-ever consumer education initiative, Get Biofuel, which redefined ethanol blends as a cleaner, more affordable fuel choice for American drivers.
Her work has helped secure billions in new federal investments through tax credits and grants, while also delivering state-level legislative wins and mounting successful legal efforts to protect key regulations and challenge harmful rulings. As a result, bipartisan policymakers increasingly recognize biofuels as essential to rural prosperity, U.S. energy independence, and global climate goals.
Skor has been widely recognized for her leadership. She was named one of Washingtonian magazine’s “Most Influential People” in both 2024 and 2025, honored with the first-ever Women in Ethanol Award from BBI International, and appointed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to the U.S. Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee. She is also a current member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Association Committee of 100 (C100) and has been recognized as one of Washington’s top lobbyists by The Hill.
A frequent media contributor and respected policy voice, Skor has testified before Congress and spoken at leading forums such as CERAWeek, Politico’s Energy Week, and the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Summit during Climate Week NYC.
Before joining Growth Energy, Skor served as Vice President of Communications at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, representing the $30 billion over-the-counter medicine industry, and as Senior Vice President at Dezenhall Resources, where she advised Fortune 500 companies on high-stakes crisis management and public affairs strategies.
Skor graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wellesley College. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and two children.
Jim Matheson
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
CEO
Jim Matheson is chief executive officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states. Jim joined NRECA in July 2016 following distinguished careers in both the public and private sectors.
Prior to joining NRECA, Jim served as principal, public policy practice for the international law firm Squire Patton Boggs based in Washington, D.C.
From 2001 to 2015, Jim was elected to serve as a U.S. Representative from Utah for seven terms. During his tenure on Capitol Hill, Jim was known as a legislator who was able to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
He was chief deputy whip for the House Democratic Caucus and served as co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition. Jim also was a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science Committees.
Prior to entering government service, Jim worked in the energy industry for several years.
Jim was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Government from Harvard University and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from UCLA. Jim’s wife, Amy, is a pediatrician, and they have two sons, William and Harris.
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)
CEO
Jim Matheson is chief executive officer of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states. Jim joined NRECA in July 2016 following distinguished careers in both the public and private sectors.
Prior to joining NRECA, Jim served as principal, public policy practice for the international law firm Squire Patton Boggs based in Washington, D.C.
From 2001 to 2015, Jim was elected to serve as a U.S. Representative from Utah for seven terms. During his tenure on Capitol Hill, Jim was known as a legislator who was able to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
He was chief deputy whip for the House Democratic Caucus and served as co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition. Jim also was a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science Committees.
Prior to entering government service, Jim worked in the energy industry for several years.
Jim was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Government from Harvard University and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from UCLA. Jim’s wife, Amy, is a pediatrician, and they have two sons, William and Harris.
Julie Callahan
Office of the United States Trade Representative
Ambassador
Ambassador Julie Callahan is the Chief Agricultural Negotiator of the United States. In this position, Ambassador Callahan works to promote the interests of U.S. farmers, ranchers and food manufacturers, including through conducting negotiations on tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting U.S. agricultural exports, addressing agricultural issues at the World Trade Organization, advocating on behalf of U.S. agriculture, enforcing agriculture-related commitments of trading partners, and opening markets for U.S. agriculture.
Dr. Callahan served as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy from 2020-2025, where she led the USTR Agriculture Office in agricultural trade negotiations and the development and coordination of U.S. agricultural trade policy. Dr. Callahan previously served as a Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative and Senior Director in the USTR Agriculture Office, focusing on strategic engagement in UN organizations, bilateral and regional sanitary and phytosanitary issues, and agriculture-related technical barriers to trade.
Prior to joining USTR, Dr. Callahan held senior leadership positions in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, executing strategic and operational planning, and aligning FDA analytical and policy approaches to preempt or resolve regulatory issues that arise in international trade. She has also served in the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and the American Chemical Society
Ambassador Callahan earned her Bachelor of Science from MIT, and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts.
Office of the United States Trade Representative
Ambassador
Ambassador Julie Callahan is the Chief Agricultural Negotiator of the United States. In this position, Ambassador Callahan works to promote the interests of U.S. farmers, ranchers and food manufacturers, including through conducting negotiations on tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting U.S. agricultural exports, addressing agricultural issues at the World Trade Organization, advocating on behalf of U.S. agriculture, enforcing agriculture-related commitments of trading partners, and opening markets for U.S. agriculture.
Dr. Callahan served as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy from 2020-2025, where she led the USTR Agriculture Office in agricultural trade negotiations and the development and coordination of U.S. agricultural trade policy. Dr. Callahan previously served as a Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative and Senior Director in the USTR Agriculture Office, focusing on strategic engagement in UN organizations, bilateral and regional sanitary and phytosanitary issues, and agriculture-related technical barriers to trade.
Prior to joining USTR, Dr. Callahan held senior leadership positions in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, executing strategic and operational planning, and aligning FDA analytical and policy approaches to preempt or resolve regulatory issues that arise in international trade. She has also served in the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and the American Chemical Society
Ambassador Callahan earned her Bachelor of Science from MIT, and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts.
Sandro Steinbach
Agricultural Risk Policy Center, North Dakota State University
Endowed Professor and Director
Sandro Steinbach is the Director of the Agricultural Risk Policy Center at North Dakota State University. His research focuses on agricultural policy, risk management, and international trade, with a particular emphasis on how market and policy shocks influence global supply chains, investment behavior, and welfare. He has published over 60 articles in leading economic journals, including the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Food Policy, and Nature Communications, and several 100 technical reports and outreach publications. He is ranked among the top 2% of economists based on publications over the past decade. Dr. Steinbach has also received several national research and policy awards, including the Outstanding Published Research Award from the Western Agricultural Economics Association (2024 and 2025) and the Bruce Gardner Memorial Prize for Applied Policy Analysis (honorable mention, 2025), and the Farm Foundation Trade and Sustainability Fellowship (2024). He has served as a Guest Editor for major journals and held leadership roles with the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium. He holds advanced degrees from Humboldt University of Berlin, UC Davis, and ETH Zurich.
Agricultural Risk Policy Center, North Dakota State University
Endowed Professor and Director
Sandro Steinbach is the Director of the Agricultural Risk Policy Center at North Dakota State University. His research focuses on agricultural policy, risk management, and international trade, with a particular emphasis on how market and policy shocks influence global supply chains, investment behavior, and welfare. He has published over 60 articles in leading economic journals, including the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Food Policy, and Nature Communications, and several 100 technical reports and outreach publications. He is ranked among the top 2% of economists based on publications over the past decade. Dr. Steinbach has also received several national research and policy awards, including the Outstanding Published Research Award from the Western Agricultural Economics Association (2024 and 2025) and the Bruce Gardner Memorial Prize for Applied Policy Analysis (honorable mention, 2025), and the Farm Foundation Trade and Sustainability Fellowship (2024). He has served as a Guest Editor for major journals and held leadership roles with the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium. He holds advanced degrees from Humboldt University of Berlin, UC Davis, and ETH Zurich.
Darci Vetter
Sower Strategies, LLC
Principal
Ambassador Darci Vetter is a global public policy leader and trusted advisor working at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability, and international trade. With more than two decades of experience across government, business, and the nonprofit sector, she helps organizations navigate complex global policy environments and advance more resilient food systems.
Darci served as Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, a Senate-Confirmed appointment where she led agricultural negotiations for a 12-nation Asia-Pacific trade agreement and concluded key agreements with Brazil, China, and other major partners. She also served as Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade where she oversaw the Foreign Agricultural Service, including global market access, food assistance, and capacity-building programs.
Following public service, Darci held executive leadership roles as Head of Global Public Policy at both The Nature Conservancy and PepsiCo, advancing policies on regenerative agriculture, climate action, renewable energy, health and nutrition, and sustainable packaging. Darci currently advises companies, nonprofits, and international organizations on aligning policy and market incentives to support sustainable agriculture and global trade.
Sower Strategies, LLC
Principal
Ambassador Darci Vetter is a global public policy leader and trusted advisor working at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability, and international trade. With more than two decades of experience across government, business, and the nonprofit sector, she helps organizations navigate complex global policy environments and advance more resilient food systems.
Darci served as Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, a Senate-Confirmed appointment where she led agricultural negotiations for a 12-nation Asia-Pacific trade agreement and concluded key agreements with Brazil, China, and other major partners. She also served as Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade where she oversaw the Foreign Agricultural Service, including global market access, food assistance, and capacity-building programs.
Following public service, Darci held executive leadership roles as Head of Global Public Policy at both The Nature Conservancy and PepsiCo, advancing policies on regenerative agriculture, climate action, renewable energy, health and nutrition, and sustainable packaging. Darci currently advises companies, nonprofits, and international organizations on aligning policy and market incentives to support sustainable agriculture and global trade.
Joe Schuele
U.S. Meat Export Federation
Senior Vice President, Communications
Joe Schuele (pronounced Shee-lee) is senior vice president of communications for the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), the international marketing organization for the U.S. pork, beef and lamb industries. Joe oversees daily communications with red meat exporters, providing details on changes in export requirements, shifts in trade policy and other developments affecting market access. He also manages media relations and producer communications for USMEF and closely monitors logistics and transportation issues. Joe joined USMEF in 2008 after holding similar responsibilities with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Prior to his time at NCBA, Joe worked for the Nebraska Legislature for 10 years and was a telecommunications industry lobbyist and regulatory director for eight years.
Joe is based in Denver but is a native of central Nebraska, where he grew up on a diversified farming operation. He has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
U.S. Meat Export Federation
Senior Vice President, Communications
Joe Schuele (pronounced Shee-lee) is senior vice president of communications for the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), the international marketing organization for the U.S. pork, beef and lamb industries. Joe oversees daily communications with red meat exporters, providing details on changes in export requirements, shifts in trade policy and other developments affecting market access. He also manages media relations and producer communications for USMEF and closely monitors logistics and transportation issues. Joe joined USMEF in 2008 after holding similar responsibilities with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Prior to his time at NCBA, Joe worked for the Nebraska Legislature for 10 years and was a telecommunications industry lobbyist and regulatory director for eight years.
Joe is based in Denver but is a native of central Nebraska, where he grew up on a diversified farming operation. He has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Gregg Doud
National Milk Producers Federation
CEO
Gregg Doud is NMPF’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Before arriving at NMPF he served as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative from 2018 until 2021; before that, he served as the president of the Commodity Markets Council, representing commodities exchanges before Congress and federal agencies. He also has served as a staff member for the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, where he helped draft the 2012 Farm Bill, and as chief economist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Most recently, he worked at Aimpoint Research as its Vice President of Global Situational Awareness and Chief Economist.
A native of Mankato, Kansas, where he grew up raising cattle, Doud earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and a Master of Science in agricultural economics from Kansas State University. He currently lives with his family on their horse farm in Lothian, MD.
National Milk Producers Federation
CEO
Gregg Doud is NMPF’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Before arriving at NMPF he served as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative from 2018 until 2021; before that, he served as the president of the Commodity Markets Council, representing commodities exchanges before Congress and federal agencies. He also has served as a staff member for the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, where he helped draft the 2012 Farm Bill, and as chief economist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Most recently, he worked at Aimpoint Research as its Vice President of Global Situational Awareness and Chief Economist.
A native of Mankato, Kansas, where he grew up raising cattle, Doud earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and a Master of Science in agricultural economics from Kansas State University. He currently lives with his family on their horse farm in Lothian, MD.
Duane Simpson
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
President & CEO
Duane Simpson was named the 11th President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) in May 2025. As the organization’s chief executive, Duane leads NCFC’s efforts to advance the interests of America’s farmer cooperatives. His leadership is focused on positioning NCFC to drive innovation, sustainability, and long-term success across the cooperative landscape.
Prior to joining the Council, he served as Vice President, Head of Agricultural Affairs & License to Operate for North America, Australia, and New Zealand at Bayer Crop Science. Prior to joining Bayer, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Kansas Grain & Feed Association and led their lobbying efforts and those of their sister organization, the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association. He also has almost a decade of legislative and political campaign experience.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, graduating magna cum laude from Fort Hays State University. Duane lives in Falls Church, Virginia, with his wife Lisa and their daughter Hailey.
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
President & CEO
Duane Simpson was named the 11th President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) in May 2025. As the organization’s chief executive, Duane leads NCFC’s efforts to advance the interests of America’s farmer cooperatives. His leadership is focused on positioning NCFC to drive innovation, sustainability, and long-term success across the cooperative landscape.
Prior to joining the Council, he served as Vice President, Head of Agricultural Affairs & License to Operate for North America, Australia, and New Zealand at Bayer Crop Science. Prior to joining Bayer, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Kansas Grain & Feed Association and led their lobbying efforts and those of their sister organization, the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association. He also has almost a decade of legislative and political campaign experience.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, graduating magna cum laude from Fort Hays State University. Duane lives in Falls Church, Virginia, with his wife Lisa and their daughter Hailey.
Drew Zabrocki (Moderator)
Totem Ltd.
Managing Partner
Bridging the gap between tradition and technology, Drew Zabrocki empowers producers and supply chains to thrive in a secure, sustainable, and sovereign future. He champions transparency, data-driven decision-making, and ethical practices to ensure a healthy planet and equitable value exchange. His passion lies in forging a future where the lessons of the past pave the way for innovation that benefits all.
Currently, Mr. Zabrocki serves as Founder and Managing Partner at Totem Ltd., where he facilitates global collaboration on cutting-edge digital utilities. He is a co-founder and board member of the Collaboratory for Open Software & Systems in Ag & Food (COSSAF) where he advises a portfolio of open frameworks and utilities for collective impact at global scale. As the Executive Council Membership Secretary for ASTM F.49 Committee in Digital Supply Chains, he assists in removing barriers to interoperability and data sovereignty in global supply chains. Furthermore, as the principal Technology Advisor for the International Fresh Produce Association’s Climate Smart Program and Co-Executive Leader of the Supply Chain of the Future global initiative, Drew promotes open-source solutions and steers efforts related to technology and data sovereignty. In his long-standing role as a Strategic Advisor at Purdue University's Open Ag Technology & Systems Center, he connects industry leaders with practical open-source applications.
Totem Ltd.
Managing Partner
Bridging the gap between tradition and technology, Drew Zabrocki empowers producers and supply chains to thrive in a secure, sustainable, and sovereign future. He champions transparency, data-driven decision-making, and ethical practices to ensure a healthy planet and equitable value exchange. His passion lies in forging a future where the lessons of the past pave the way for innovation that benefits all.
Currently, Mr. Zabrocki serves as Founder and Managing Partner at Totem Ltd., where he facilitates global collaboration on cutting-edge digital utilities. He is a co-founder and board member of the Collaboratory for Open Software & Systems in Ag & Food (COSSAF) where he advises a portfolio of open frameworks and utilities for collective impact at global scale. As the Executive Council Membership Secretary for ASTM F.49 Committee in Digital Supply Chains, he assists in removing barriers to interoperability and data sovereignty in global supply chains. Furthermore, as the principal Technology Advisor for the International Fresh Produce Association’s Climate Smart Program and Co-Executive Leader of the Supply Chain of the Future global initiative, Drew promotes open-source solutions and steers efforts related to technology and data sovereignty. In his long-standing role as a Strategic Advisor at Purdue University's Open Ag Technology & Systems Center, he connects industry leaders with practical open-source applications.
Francisco Martin-Rayo
Helios AI
CEO
Francisco Martin-Rayo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Helios AI, where he is focused on building a more resilient and transparent global food system. A former avocado trader turned entrepreneur, Francisco has spent his career at the intersection of technology, trade, and climate adaptation, working to protect the world’s food supply from the increasing volatility of climate change.
Before founding Helios AI, Francisco served as Chief Commercial Officer at Deep Labs AI and as a Principal at the Boston Consulting Group, where he led digital transformation initiatives for Fortune 100 companies. His hands-on experience in global agricultural markets shaped his passion for sustainable sourcing and data-driven climate resilience.
Francisco holds an MPP from Harvard University, a B.Sc. in Economics from the Wharton School, and a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been quoted in the Financial Times, Nikkei Asia, Bloomberg, Fast Company, and Inc.com. Beyond his work at Helios, Francisco is on the Board of Directors for She Should Run, a 501(c)3 dedicated to electing 250,000 women to office. He resides in Middleburg, VA with his wife and two children.
Helios AI
CEO
Francisco Martin-Rayo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Helios AI, where he is focused on building a more resilient and transparent global food system. A former avocado trader turned entrepreneur, Francisco has spent his career at the intersection of technology, trade, and climate adaptation, working to protect the world’s food supply from the increasing volatility of climate change.
Before founding Helios AI, Francisco served as Chief Commercial Officer at Deep Labs AI and as a Principal at the Boston Consulting Group, where he led digital transformation initiatives for Fortune 100 companies. His hands-on experience in global agricultural markets shaped his passion for sustainable sourcing and data-driven climate resilience.
Francisco holds an MPP from Harvard University, a B.Sc. in Economics from the Wharton School, and a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been quoted in the Financial Times, Nikkei Asia, Bloomberg, Fast Company, and Inc.com. Beyond his work at Helios, Francisco is on the Board of Directors for She Should Run, a 501(c)3 dedicated to electing 250,000 women to office. He resides in Middleburg, VA with his wife and two children.
Dr. Max Teplitski
International Fresh Produce Association
Chief Science Officer
Dr. Max Teplitski is a Chief Science Officer at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), where he is responsible for programs and global advocacy on science, ag. technology, supply chain and sustainability. Prior to joining IFPA, Dr. Teplitski was Division Director and National Program Leader at the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, where he oversaw federal research investment portfolios in produce safety, microbiology and nutrition. An author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Teplitski was a Professor at the University of Florida. Dr. Teplitski served as a Fulbright Specialist in Agriculture (Escuela Politecnica del Litoral), U.S. Embassy Science Fellow, Biotech Outreach Speaker (U.S. Department of State), and G.E. Burch Fellow in Theoretical Medicine (Smithsonian Institution). He is a recipient of J.E. Feeley Award in Recognition of Significant Contributions in Environmental Microbiology, UF-HHMI Science For Life Distinguished Mentor Award, Animal Conservation Award (Lindberg Foundation), and W.E. Krauss Director’s Award for Excellence in Research (Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center). Dr. Teplitski served on (and chaired) UN, federal advisory and industry panels
International Fresh Produce Association
Chief Science Officer
Dr. Max Teplitski is a Chief Science Officer at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), where he is responsible for programs and global advocacy on science, ag. technology, supply chain and sustainability. Prior to joining IFPA, Dr. Teplitski was Division Director and National Program Leader at the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, where he oversaw federal research investment portfolios in produce safety, microbiology and nutrition. An author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Teplitski was a Professor at the University of Florida. Dr. Teplitski served as a Fulbright Specialist in Agriculture (Escuela Politecnica del Litoral), U.S. Embassy Science Fellow, Biotech Outreach Speaker (U.S. Department of State), and G.E. Burch Fellow in Theoretical Medicine (Smithsonian Institution). He is a recipient of J.E. Feeley Award in Recognition of Significant Contributions in Environmental Microbiology, UF-HHMI Science For Life Distinguished Mentor Award, Animal Conservation Award (Lindberg Foundation), and W.E. Krauss Director’s Award for Excellence in Research (Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center). Dr. Teplitski served on (and chaired) UN, federal advisory and industry panels
Jake Joraanstad
Bushel
CEO
Jake Joraanstad is the CEO of Bushel, an independently owned and operated software company headquartered in Fargo, N.D. Bushel is focused on bringing innovative software products and solutions to the agriculture value chain. Since launching in 2017, Bushel’s software powers 3,500+ ag retail and grain facilities and reaches over 100,000 farmers across the U.S. and Canada with real-time business information for their producers. He serves on the Ninth District Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, advising on regional economic conditions. He also is an Advisory Council Member for the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University. Jake is actively involved in the entrepreneurial community, co-founding Emerging Prairie and serving on the Grand Farm Advisory Board. He has been named to Farm Journal’s The Scoop's 40 Under 40 in Ag Retail list.
Bushel
CEO
Jake Joraanstad is the CEO of Bushel, an independently owned and operated software company headquartered in Fargo, N.D. Bushel is focused on bringing innovative software products and solutions to the agriculture value chain. Since launching in 2017, Bushel’s software powers 3,500+ ag retail and grain facilities and reaches over 100,000 farmers across the U.S. and Canada with real-time business information for their producers. He serves on the Ninth District Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, advising on regional economic conditions. He also is an Advisory Council Member for the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University. Jake is actively involved in the entrepreneurial community, co-founding Emerging Prairie and serving on the Grand Farm Advisory Board. He has been named to Farm Journal’s The Scoop's 40 Under 40 in Ag Retail list.
Daniela Jones
North Carolina State University
Assistant Professor | Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department
Dr. Dani Jones received her B.S. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in operations research from Mississippi State University. She earned her PhD in Biological and Agricultural Engineering with a concentration in energy systems from Texas A&M University. Before becoming a faculty member, she was a Postdoctoral Associate at Duke University. At North Carolina State University, she is a Research Assistant Professor in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, a faculty fellow in the Center for Geospatial Analytics, and a graduate faculty member in the Operations Research Program. She also holds a joint faculty appointment with the Economic and Operational Analysis Group at Idaho National Laboratory.
North Carolina State University
Assistant Professor | Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department
Dr. Dani Jones received her B.S. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in operations research from Mississippi State University. She earned her PhD in Biological and Agricultural Engineering with a concentration in energy systems from Texas A&M University. Before becoming a faculty member, she was a Postdoctoral Associate at Duke University. At North Carolina State University, she is a Research Assistant Professor in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, a faculty fellow in the Center for Geospatial Analytics, and a graduate faculty member in the Operations Research Program. She also holds a joint faculty appointment with the Economic and Operational Analysis Group at Idaho National Laboratory.
John Boozman
Senator
John Boozman is Arkansas’s senior U.S. Senator and the dean of the state’s Congressional delegation.
A fifth-generation Arkansan, John was raised in Fort Smith and graduated from Northside High School. He went on to play football for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks while completing his pre-optometry requirements. He graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in 1977 and entered private practice that same year co-founding a family business with his brother that would ultimately become a major provider of eye care to Northwest Arkansas.
Decades of experience as a successful healthcare provider and a small business owner guide John’s approach to governing. He is committed to advocating for economic policies that help Arkansas’s small businesses continue to grow and add jobs to our state’s economy. And since agriculture accounts for nearly one-quarter of Arkansas’s economic activity, John has been a consistent champion for our state’s farmers, ranchers and loggers as well as an instrumental voice in the fight for an equitable farm bill.
As the son of an Air Force Master Sergeant, John learned at an early age about the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, as well as the unique challenges military families face. He brings these values with him to Washington where he is committed to enhancing the quality of life for both our veterans and their families. As a member of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, John has authored provisions to bolster care and services for women veterans, modernize educational benefits under the GI Bill and better reach and provide mental health care and resources to former service members.
John serves as Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, enabling him to play a key role in influencing policy that relates to the agriculture economy, nutrition programs and quality of life in rural America.
John will also continue to serve on the Committee on Appropriations, which is responsible for allocating federal funds, and the Committee on the Environment and Public Works, where much of the nation’s infrastructure policy is developed. He also rejoined the Committee on Rules and Administration in the 119th Congress.
Along with these committees, John serves on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly referred to as the Helsinki Commission. He serves on the Congressional Study Group on Europe (CSGE), a bipartisan organization dedicated to frank and candid dialogue between American lawmakers and their peers in European capitals and Brussels, and currently chairs the Senate Delegation to the British-American Interparliamentary Group.
In addition, John also serves as one of six Congressional Regents on the Smithsonian Institute's Board of Regents, which governs and administers the organization, as well as one of four congressional members of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission that facilitates wetland conservation efforts and projects to sustain migratory bird populations.
First elected to the Senate in 2010, John was sworn in for a third term on January 3, 2023. Prior to serving in the Senate, he represented the people of the Third District of Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Active in his community, John has served on the Rogers School Board and Benton County Fair Board, established the low vision program at the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock, and worked as a volunteer optometrist at an area clinic that provides medical services to low-income families. He successfully raised Polled Hereford cattle that were competitive in the show ring, as well as in bull testing at Oklahoma State University.
John is married to the former Cathy Marley and they currently reside in Rogers. The couple has three daughters and four grandchildren.
Senator
John Boozman is Arkansas’s senior U.S. Senator and the dean of the state’s Congressional delegation.
A fifth-generation Arkansan, John was raised in Fort Smith and graduated from Northside High School. He went on to play football for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks while completing his pre-optometry requirements. He graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in 1977 and entered private practice that same year co-founding a family business with his brother that would ultimately become a major provider of eye care to Northwest Arkansas.
Decades of experience as a successful healthcare provider and a small business owner guide John’s approach to governing. He is committed to advocating for economic policies that help Arkansas’s small businesses continue to grow and add jobs to our state’s economy. And since agriculture accounts for nearly one-quarter of Arkansas’s economic activity, John has been a consistent champion for our state’s farmers, ranchers and loggers as well as an instrumental voice in the fight for an equitable farm bill.
As the son of an Air Force Master Sergeant, John learned at an early age about the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, as well as the unique challenges military families face. He brings these values with him to Washington where he is committed to enhancing the quality of life for both our veterans and their families. As a member of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, John has authored provisions to bolster care and services for women veterans, modernize educational benefits under the GI Bill and better reach and provide mental health care and resources to former service members.
John serves as Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, enabling him to play a key role in influencing policy that relates to the agriculture economy, nutrition programs and quality of life in rural America.
John will also continue to serve on the Committee on Appropriations, which is responsible for allocating federal funds, and the Committee on the Environment and Public Works, where much of the nation’s infrastructure policy is developed. He also rejoined the Committee on Rules and Administration in the 119th Congress.
Along with these committees, John serves on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly referred to as the Helsinki Commission. He serves on the Congressional Study Group on Europe (CSGE), a bipartisan organization dedicated to frank and candid dialogue between American lawmakers and their peers in European capitals and Brussels, and currently chairs the Senate Delegation to the British-American Interparliamentary Group.
In addition, John also serves as one of six Congressional Regents on the Smithsonian Institute's Board of Regents, which governs and administers the organization, as well as one of four congressional members of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission that facilitates wetland conservation efforts and projects to sustain migratory bird populations.
First elected to the Senate in 2010, John was sworn in for a third term on January 3, 2023. Prior to serving in the Senate, he represented the people of the Third District of Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Active in his community, John has served on the Rogers School Board and Benton County Fair Board, established the low vision program at the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock, and worked as a volunteer optometrist at an area clinic that provides medical services to low-income families. He successfully raised Polled Hereford cattle that were competitive in the show ring, as well as in bull testing at Oklahoma State University.
John is married to the former Cathy Marley and they currently reside in Rogers. The couple has three daughters and four grandchildren.
Amy Klobuchar
Senator
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the United States Senate. Throughout her public service, Senator Klobuchar has always embraced the values she learned growing up in Minnesota. Her grandfather worked 1500 feet underground in the iron ore mines of Northern Minnesota. Her father, Jim, was a newspaperman, and her mother, Rose, was an elementary school teacher who continued teaching until she was 70.
Senator Klobuchar has built a reputation of putting partisanship aside to help strengthen the economy and support families, workers, and businesses. In the 117th Congress, she was number one in the Senate for introducing bipartisan bills and number three for passing bills into law.
Senator Klobuchar is guided by the belief that her first duty is to represent the people of Minnesota. She acted quickly to obtain full funding to rebuild the I-35W bridge just thirteen months after it tragically collapsed into the Mississippi River. She worked across party lines to expand education and job opportunities for returning service members, fought to ensure that Minnesota National Guard members received the full benefits they earned, and helped turn Minnesota's ground-breaking “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” program into a national model. As a member, and now lead ranking member, of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Klobuchar worked to pass several bipartisan Farm Bills to strengthen Minnesota’s rural economy and give farmers the certainty and support they need.
Working with both Democrats and Republicans, Senator Klobuchar has made key progress on legislation to keep people safe. She led the effort to pass landmark pieces of legislation to end human trafficking and combat the opioid and fentanyl epidemic. She fought to pass the most significant consumer product safety legislation in a generation, keeping foreign toxic products off our shores and out of our stores. She also pushed the cell phone companies to enact more consumer-friendly policies. Additionally, her efforts to protect consumers have resulted in the largest furniture and airbag recalls in American history.
As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Senator Klobuchar is working on behalf of farmers, agriculture workers, and rural communities by fighting to expand the farm safety net, support food assistance programs, and expand voluntary conservation programs. She has also passed legislation to encourage the use of renewable fuels and to invest in programs to stop the spread of animal disease. Additionally, Senator Klobuchar is devoted to passing on Minnesota’s tradition of outdoor recreation, fishing, and hunting to the next generation and has secured significant funding for research, restoration, and conservation activities, including the 2022 Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act.
As a member of the Joint Economic Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Klobuchar has been a leader in working to implement a competitive agenda to ensure businesses have the tools they need to grow and create good jobs in their communities. She has established herself as a leader on addressing supply chain issues, successfully leading the bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act to address sky-high shipping prices, which was ultimately signed into law. She has also authored legislation to lift the trade embargo with Cuba as well as legislation to help small businesses tap into new markets abroad and foster the creation and growth of new businesses across the country. She has successfully advocated to take action to combat illegal steel dumping. As co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, Senator Klobuchar has been a leading advocate working to connect every American to high speed internet once and for all. Her provisions to expand high-speed broadband across the country were included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in 2021. She has also passed significant legislation aimed at increasing funds for STEM education and led national initiatives to boost American tourism, including a long-term reauthorization of Brand USA, which helps attract international travelers to destinations throughout the United States. Finally, she has established herself as a key voice on workforce training and leads bills to boost apprenticeships, skills training, and community and technical college so that America can continue to compete on the world stage.
Senator Klobuchar also serves as a senior member on the Senate Judiciary Committee where she has been active in advocating for legislation focused on increasing funding for police and first responders, protecting civil rights, expanding drug courts, improving our criminal justice system, and reforming our immigration laws. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and Law, she is committed to establishing guardrails online to protect Americans - from children exposed to harmful content and illegal drugs to consumers who have no privacy protections. She has also worked to reinvigorate America’s antitrust laws and restore competition to American markets. She introduced legislation to strengthen prohibitions on anticompetitive conduct and mergers, and make additional reforms to improve enforcement. In 2022, her bipartisan bill to create rules of the roads for digital markets became the first piece of antitrust tech legislation to pass the Senate Judiciary Committee since the advent of the Internet. She also passed bipartisan legislation to modernize merger fees and increase resources for antitrust enforcers. The Washington Post credited her approach, noting, “The moderate but meaningful proposals provide a launchpad for cross-aisle cooperation, a goal of much of the senator’s legislative handiwork.” She has also introduced bipartisan legislation to lower prescription drug prices by cracking down on “pay-for-delay” agreements, the practice of brand-name drug manufacturers using pay-off agreements to keep more affordable generic equivalents off the market. Long focused on bringing down costs for families, provisions from Senator Klobuchar’s legislation to finally unleash Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices with the big pharmaceutical companies were signed into law in 2022.
Senator Klobuchar previously served as the Chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee, where she has worked to ensure fairness, transparency, and efficiency in government. In response to the January 6th insurrection, she led a bipartisan investigation into the security, planning, and response failures related to the violent and unprecedented attack. The report made numerous recommendations, including passing a law to change Capitol Police Board procedures and improving intelligence sharing. Senator Klobuchar has worked across the aisle to implement these recommendations, including passing bipartisan legislation to give the U.S. Capitol Police Chief with the authority to request assistance from the DC National Guard or federal law enforcement agencies in emergencies without prior approval of the Capitol Police Board.
Senator Klobuchar spearheaded the Freedom to Vote Act in the U.S. Senate and was instrumental in passing the bipartisan Electoral Count Reform Act. Additionally, she helped pass the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate and has authored legislation to automatically register eligible voters when they turn 18. She has also led efforts to improve election security and prevent foreign interference in our democracy and successfully secured $1.2 billion to strengthen states’ election infrastructure and help protect them from future attacks by foreign adversaries. She was the lead Democrat chairing the inaugural ceremonies for the 59th and 60th Presidential inaugurations.
Before serving in the Senate, Senator Klobuchar headed the largest prosecutor’s office in Minnesota for eight years, making the prosecution of violent criminals her top priority while increasing the office’s focus on white collar crime. In the Senate, she has championed reauthorizations of the local COPS Hiring Program and has prioritized both the funding of local police officers across the country as well as federal law enforcement such as the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Attorneys Offices, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service. She led the effort for successful passage of Minnesota’s first felony DWI law and received the leadership award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Her safe schools initiative, community prosecution efforts, and criminal justice reforms earned national awards from both the Bush and Clinton Justice Departments. She worked with the Innocence Project to advocate for videotaped interrogations across the country as well as innovative eyewitness processes to protect against false identifications. As a private citizen and before being elected to public office, Senator Klobuchar was the leading advocate for successful passage of one of the first laws in the country guaranteeing 48-hour hospital stays for new moms and their babies.
Senator Klobuchar’s work has gained national recognition. Vogue magazine described her as “personable, popular, and pragmatic,” The New York Times described her as a “former prosecutor with made-for-state-fair charms,” and Working Mother named her as "Best in Congress” for her efforts on behalf of working families. “Want to reform antitrust? Amy Klobuchar knows where to start,” The Washington Post headlined its opinion piece on her sweeping antitrust legislation, the Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act. She has received numerous awards from the National Farm Bureau and National Farmers Union for championing farmers and rural communities. She has been recognized for her work on behalf of children and consumers, and Refugee International gave her the Congressional Leadership Award for her work to support refugee communities. She received an award from the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) for her work to fight sexual assault in the military, and the Disabled American Veterans honored her work to improve the lives of America’s veterans. She also received the “Outstanding Member of the Senate Award” from the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition and the Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Legion. In 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented her with the Order of Merit, First Class.
Senator Klobuchar was the valedictorian of her Wayzata High School class. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School. Her senior essay in college, published as the book "Uncovering the Dome," chronicles the 10-year-history behind the building of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and is still used at colleges and universities across the country. Her book, “Antitrust,” was on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
Senator Klobuchar is married to John Bessler, a native of Mankato, who attended Loyola High School and the University of Minnesota. Senator Klobuchar and John have a daughter, Abigail, who they are very proud of!
Senator
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota in the United States Senate. Throughout her public service, Senator Klobuchar has always embraced the values she learned growing up in Minnesota. Her grandfather worked 1500 feet underground in the iron ore mines of Northern Minnesota. Her father, Jim, was a newspaperman, and her mother, Rose, was an elementary school teacher who continued teaching until she was 70.
Senator Klobuchar has built a reputation of putting partisanship aside to help strengthen the economy and support families, workers, and businesses. In the 117th Congress, she was number one in the Senate for introducing bipartisan bills and number three for passing bills into law.
Senator Klobuchar is guided by the belief that her first duty is to represent the people of Minnesota. She acted quickly to obtain full funding to rebuild the I-35W bridge just thirteen months after it tragically collapsed into the Mississippi River. She worked across party lines to expand education and job opportunities for returning service members, fought to ensure that Minnesota National Guard members received the full benefits they earned, and helped turn Minnesota's ground-breaking “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” program into a national model. As a member, and now lead ranking member, of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Klobuchar worked to pass several bipartisan Farm Bills to strengthen Minnesota’s rural economy and give farmers the certainty and support they need.
Working with both Democrats and Republicans, Senator Klobuchar has made key progress on legislation to keep people safe. She led the effort to pass landmark pieces of legislation to end human trafficking and combat the opioid and fentanyl epidemic. She fought to pass the most significant consumer product safety legislation in a generation, keeping foreign toxic products off our shores and out of our stores. She also pushed the cell phone companies to enact more consumer-friendly policies. Additionally, her efforts to protect consumers have resulted in the largest furniture and airbag recalls in American history.
As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Senator Klobuchar is working on behalf of farmers, agriculture workers, and rural communities by fighting to expand the farm safety net, support food assistance programs, and expand voluntary conservation programs. She has also passed legislation to encourage the use of renewable fuels and to invest in programs to stop the spread of animal disease. Additionally, Senator Klobuchar is devoted to passing on Minnesota’s tradition of outdoor recreation, fishing, and hunting to the next generation and has secured significant funding for research, restoration, and conservation activities, including the 2022 Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act.
As a member of the Joint Economic Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Klobuchar has been a leader in working to implement a competitive agenda to ensure businesses have the tools they need to grow and create good jobs in their communities. She has established herself as a leader on addressing supply chain issues, successfully leading the bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act to address sky-high shipping prices, which was ultimately signed into law. She has also authored legislation to lift the trade embargo with Cuba as well as legislation to help small businesses tap into new markets abroad and foster the creation and growth of new businesses across the country. She has successfully advocated to take action to combat illegal steel dumping. As co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, Senator Klobuchar has been a leading advocate working to connect every American to high speed internet once and for all. Her provisions to expand high-speed broadband across the country were included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in 2021. She has also passed significant legislation aimed at increasing funds for STEM education and led national initiatives to boost American tourism, including a long-term reauthorization of Brand USA, which helps attract international travelers to destinations throughout the United States. Finally, she has established herself as a key voice on workforce training and leads bills to boost apprenticeships, skills training, and community and technical college so that America can continue to compete on the world stage.
Senator Klobuchar also serves as a senior member on the Senate Judiciary Committee where she has been active in advocating for legislation focused on increasing funding for police and first responders, protecting civil rights, expanding drug courts, improving our criminal justice system, and reforming our immigration laws. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and Law, she is committed to establishing guardrails online to protect Americans - from children exposed to harmful content and illegal drugs to consumers who have no privacy protections. She has also worked to reinvigorate America’s antitrust laws and restore competition to American markets. She introduced legislation to strengthen prohibitions on anticompetitive conduct and mergers, and make additional reforms to improve enforcement. In 2022, her bipartisan bill to create rules of the roads for digital markets became the first piece of antitrust tech legislation to pass the Senate Judiciary Committee since the advent of the Internet. She also passed bipartisan legislation to modernize merger fees and increase resources for antitrust enforcers. The Washington Post credited her approach, noting, “The moderate but meaningful proposals provide a launchpad for cross-aisle cooperation, a goal of much of the senator’s legislative handiwork.” She has also introduced bipartisan legislation to lower prescription drug prices by cracking down on “pay-for-delay” agreements, the practice of brand-name drug manufacturers using pay-off agreements to keep more affordable generic equivalents off the market. Long focused on bringing down costs for families, provisions from Senator Klobuchar’s legislation to finally unleash Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices with the big pharmaceutical companies were signed into law in 2022.
Senator Klobuchar previously served as the Chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee, where she has worked to ensure fairness, transparency, and efficiency in government. In response to the January 6th insurrection, she led a bipartisan investigation into the security, planning, and response failures related to the violent and unprecedented attack. The report made numerous recommendations, including passing a law to change Capitol Police Board procedures and improving intelligence sharing. Senator Klobuchar has worked across the aisle to implement these recommendations, including passing bipartisan legislation to give the U.S. Capitol Police Chief with the authority to request assistance from the DC National Guard or federal law enforcement agencies in emergencies without prior approval of the Capitol Police Board.
Senator Klobuchar spearheaded the Freedom to Vote Act in the U.S. Senate and was instrumental in passing the bipartisan Electoral Count Reform Act. Additionally, she helped pass the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate and has authored legislation to automatically register eligible voters when they turn 18. She has also led efforts to improve election security and prevent foreign interference in our democracy and successfully secured $1.2 billion to strengthen states’ election infrastructure and help protect them from future attacks by foreign adversaries. She was the lead Democrat chairing the inaugural ceremonies for the 59th and 60th Presidential inaugurations.
Before serving in the Senate, Senator Klobuchar headed the largest prosecutor’s office in Minnesota for eight years, making the prosecution of violent criminals her top priority while increasing the office’s focus on white collar crime. In the Senate, she has championed reauthorizations of the local COPS Hiring Program and has prioritized both the funding of local police officers across the country as well as federal law enforcement such as the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Attorneys Offices, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service. She led the effort for successful passage of Minnesota’s first felony DWI law and received the leadership award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Her safe schools initiative, community prosecution efforts, and criminal justice reforms earned national awards from both the Bush and Clinton Justice Departments. She worked with the Innocence Project to advocate for videotaped interrogations across the country as well as innovative eyewitness processes to protect against false identifications. As a private citizen and before being elected to public office, Senator Klobuchar was the leading advocate for successful passage of one of the first laws in the country guaranteeing 48-hour hospital stays for new moms and their babies.
Senator Klobuchar’s work has gained national recognition. Vogue magazine described her as “personable, popular, and pragmatic,” The New York Times described her as a “former prosecutor with made-for-state-fair charms,” and Working Mother named her as "Best in Congress” for her efforts on behalf of working families. “Want to reform antitrust? Amy Klobuchar knows where to start,” The Washington Post headlined its opinion piece on her sweeping antitrust legislation, the Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act. She has received numerous awards from the National Farm Bureau and National Farmers Union for championing farmers and rural communities. She has been recognized for her work on behalf of children and consumers, and Refugee International gave her the Congressional Leadership Award for her work to support refugee communities. She received an award from the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) for her work to fight sexual assault in the military, and the Disabled American Veterans honored her work to improve the lives of America’s veterans. She also received the “Outstanding Member of the Senate Award” from the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition and the Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Legion. In 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented her with the Order of Merit, First Class.
Senator Klobuchar was the valedictorian of her Wayzata High School class. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School. Her senior essay in college, published as the book "Uncovering the Dome," chronicles the 10-year-history behind the building of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and is still used at colleges and universities across the country. Her book, “Antitrust,” was on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
Senator Klobuchar is married to John Bessler, a native of Mankato, who attended Loyola High School and the University of Minnesota. Senator Klobuchar and John have a daughter, Abigail, who they are very proud of!
Glenn "GT" Thompson
Congressman
A life-long resident of Howard, Pa., Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson represents Pennsylvania’s Fifteenth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to being elected to Pennsylvania’s geographically largest congressional district, GT spent 28 years as a therapist, rehabilitation services manager, and a licensed nursing home administrator. Through his professional experiences, GT has touched the lives of thousands of individuals facing life-altering conditions. As a result, he has learned firsthand the importance of access to quality healthcare and has become a strong advocate for increased access, affordability, quality of care, and patient choice.
An Eagle Scout and 30+ year veteran of the Juniata Valley Boy Scout Council, GT has served as Scoutmaster, Council executive board member, and Council President. He has enriched the lives of youth throughout Central Pennsylvania. Among just 2,000 presented since 1969, GT received the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 2012.
GT is also a former member of the Bald Eagle Area School Board, past vice-chair of the Private Industry Council of the Central Corridor, and a former Workforce Investment Board member. Because of these experiences, he was appointed to the House Committee on Education & Workforce in 2009. For more than a decade, Rep. Thompson has served as Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus. In the 115th Congress, Thompson introduced the Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act which passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by President Donald Trump.
A community leader and a volunteer firefighter with over three decades of service, GT is acutely aware of the challenges facing Pennsylvania communities. As Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and a senior member of the Education & Workforce Committee, GT is in a unique position to bring his expertise and knowledge to bear on the issues facing rural businesses, communities, and families, in order to improve the lives of the citizens of the Fifteenth District.
GT is a top speaker on the House floor, he views this as a responsibility to be a strong voice for the citizens of the Fifteenth District and an opportunity to influence the Washington legislative agenda.
GT is a proud graduate of Penn State and Temple Universities, where he earned a B.S. and a Master of Education, respectively. He and his wife, Penny Ammerman-Thompson, have three adult sons, Parker, Logan, and Kale, and two grandsons. GT and Penny reside in Howard, Pa.
Congressman
A life-long resident of Howard, Pa., Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson represents Pennsylvania’s Fifteenth District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to being elected to Pennsylvania’s geographically largest congressional district, GT spent 28 years as a therapist, rehabilitation services manager, and a licensed nursing home administrator. Through his professional experiences, GT has touched the lives of thousands of individuals facing life-altering conditions. As a result, he has learned firsthand the importance of access to quality healthcare and has become a strong advocate for increased access, affordability, quality of care, and patient choice.
An Eagle Scout and 30+ year veteran of the Juniata Valley Boy Scout Council, GT has served as Scoutmaster, Council executive board member, and Council President. He has enriched the lives of youth throughout Central Pennsylvania. Among just 2,000 presented since 1969, GT received the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 2012.
GT is also a former member of the Bald Eagle Area School Board, past vice-chair of the Private Industry Council of the Central Corridor, and a former Workforce Investment Board member. Because of these experiences, he was appointed to the House Committee on Education & Workforce in 2009. For more than a decade, Rep. Thompson has served as Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus. In the 115th Congress, Thompson introduced the Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act which passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by President Donald Trump.
A community leader and a volunteer firefighter with over three decades of service, GT is acutely aware of the challenges facing Pennsylvania communities. As Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and a senior member of the Education & Workforce Committee, GT is in a unique position to bring his expertise and knowledge to bear on the issues facing rural businesses, communities, and families, in order to improve the lives of the citizens of the Fifteenth District.
GT is a top speaker on the House floor, he views this as a responsibility to be a strong voice for the citizens of the Fifteenth District and an opportunity to influence the Washington legislative agenda.
GT is a proud graduate of Penn State and Temple Universities, where he earned a B.S. and a Master of Education, respectively. He and his wife, Penny Ammerman-Thompson, have three adult sons, Parker, Logan, and Kale, and two grandsons. GT and Penny reside in Howard, Pa.
