The Fertilizer Institute announced some staff changes last week. Estelle Grasset has been promoted to TFI director of communications, and Sarah Monke has joined TFI as its new public affairs specialist. Grasset will assume the responsibilities previously held by Harriet Wegmeyer prior to her move to the executive director position at the Nutrients for Life Foundation. Grasset will continue to lend communications expertise to TFI’s public affairs team and will take the lead in developing brochures and messaging materials, creating and distributing TFI’s monthly newsletter, and handling media relations. Monke will contribute to the public affairs department’s internal and external communications efforts by producing and distributing TFI’s weekly newsletter and providing support on strategic initiatives. Monke, who joined TFI April 7, previously served in the communications department at CropLife America.
The Agricultural Retailers Association recently announced several staff additions, including Kelly Jones, office administrator/associate director of membership; Jon Samson, deputy director of public policy; and Carmen Haworth, associate director of public policy and counsel. Jones is responsible for day-to-day office administration, database management, and membership support. Samson is responsible for managing legislative policy, the ARA Political Action Committee (ARAPAC) and membership recruitment. Haworth is responsible for managing regulatory policy, and will assist with membership and other association projects.
Jones is a 2007 magna cum laude graduate from the Indiana Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, specializing in marketing and human resources. Samson previously served as manager of government affairs for the Automotive Recyclers Association, and as a legislative correspondent for Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.). He also served as assistant to the staff director on Baucus’s Senate Finance Committee staff. Haworth previously served as congressional intern coordinator in the Office of the President at Texas Tech University. She is a law graduate from Texas Tech University, specializing in trade and environmental policy, and holds a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University.
T.J. (Tim) Hearn has joined Viterra Inc.’s board of directors. He will serve on the board’s audit committee. Hearn served as chairman, president, and CEO of Imperial Oil Ltd. from the time of his appointment in 2002 to his retirement earlier this year. Prior to this, he spent ten years as an executive with Exxon Corp. and Exxon Mobil. A graduate of the University of Manitoba, Hearn began his career with Imperial Oil in 1967.