Doug Winter, Chair, United Soybean Board (USB), USSEC Board
Doug is a fifth generation farmer in Southeastern Illinois, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in agricultural economics from Southern Illinois University. He continually strives to improve his farm’s sustainability and profitability by improving current practices, as well as implementing new strategies and technologies. His farming operation includes raising commercial soybeans, seed soybeans, yellow corn, wheat, and milo, and occasionally white corn. He is a seed sales representative for Pioneer. Doug is currently serving in his ninth year as a United Soybean Board Director and has many years of service in the agricultural industry, beginning with the White County Soil and Water Conservation Board, and continuing with the White County Farm Bureau, the White County 4-H Extension Service, and as an advisor to the Southeastern Illinois College Board.
John Buboltz, Cargill, USSEC Board
John Buboltz is Cargill’s North American Soybean Processing Manager. John has 24 years+ of experience in the grain/oilseed industry and has been employed with Cargill since 2000. John began his Cargill career, working for Cargill’s flour milling joint venture, Horizon Milling, in various wheat trading, merchandising and risk management roles. In 2011, John moved over to the CASC platform as Hard Red Winter Wheat Product Line Manager and in 2013 transferred to Winnipeg, Canada, to take on the role of BU Risk Management Leader. He returned to Minneapolis in 2016 as the North American Oilseed Product Line Leader, managing Cargill’s soybean export and origination program and in 2018 moved over to the crush desk to lead Cargill’s North American soybean processing business.
Bobby Frederick, National Grain and Feed Association
Bobby Frederick is NGFA’s senior vice president of legislative affairs and public policy.
Frederick previously held a position as legislative director for Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., serving as his lead staff member for agricultural biotechnology and research issues, as well as rail, waterway and surface transportation policy.
Frederick has more than 11 years of experience on Capitol Hill, having previously worked as senior legislative assistant for then-Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Ill., and as acting chief of staff and legislative director for then-Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Ill.
As NGFA vice president of legislative affairs and public policy, Frederick serves as the Association’s principal policy advocate on Capitol Hill, and is intimately involved in developing and executing the association’s overall legislative strategy. He is the lead staff member on agricultural biotechnology issues, and serves as principal staff liaison to NGFA’s Biotechnology Committee. He also leads NGFA’s staff efforts on inland waterway and port issues, and serves as principal staff liaison to the Waterborne Commerce Committee. In addition, he is responsible for operating Grain and Feed PAC.
A native of Champaign, Ill., Frederick received his undergraduate degree with a major in political science from DePauw University in Indiana, and received a certificate in political management and political action committees from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Tom Hammer, National Oilseed Processors Association
Tom Hammer became President of the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) in September 2001. NOPA’s members are engaged in the crushing of U.S. soybeans, sunflower, canola, flaxseed and safflower. As the Association’s CEO, he is responsible for the strategic management, tactical administration, and operation of DC office activities and all staff as well as communication with the Board of Directors and Committee Chairs.
Tom has over 40 years of involvement in the Washington agricultural and international trade policy area. He has extensive experience in both the government and private sector.
Hammer’s government experience includes service as Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs and Commodity Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1981-1982. Currently, Hammer serves as Vice Chair on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Council (APAC) for Trade to the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S Trade Representative.
He is a member of several industry organizations, including the National Association of Manufacturers’ (NAM), the Council of Manufacturing Associations, the U.S Chamber of Commerce, the Washington Agricultural Roundtable, and the Manufacturing Action Council. He is also a member of the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and its Sustainability and Market Access Strategic Utilization Team.
Hammer received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Marietta College, Marietta Ohio and earned his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the George Washington University, Washington, DC.
He resides in Washington, DC with his wife Anne.
Brian Kemp, American Soybean Association (ASA), USSEC Board
Brian and his wife, Cindy, raise soybeans and corn near Sibley in Northwest Iowa. Brian served as president of the Iowa Soybean Association. He currently serves as a Township Trustee, Chairman of the Sibley-Ocheyedan High School Ag Education Fund Governing Board, Elder on his church’s governing board, and is president of the Iowa Wallaces Farmer Master Farmers Association. He is a past president of the Osceola County Iowa Farm Bureau. Brian is a former County Agricultural Extension Agent and has bachelor's and master’s degrees from Iowa State University. Brian is serving as Director on the board of the American Soybean Association. He currently serves on the Trade Policy and International Affairs Advocacy Committee. He and Cindy have two adult daughters.
Gary Martin, North American Export Grain Association
Gary C. Martin has served since June of 2000 as President and Chief Executive Officer of the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA). Since 2014 he has served as the President of the International Grain Trade Coalition. In addition, his many industry leadership activities include service with the U.S. Food and Agriculture Dialog for Trade, the Canada-U.S. Grain and Seed Trade Task Group and the Board of Directors of Soy Export Sustainability LLC.
Before assuming the presidency of NAEGA, Gary was a NAEGA Board Director and officer, representing Farmland Industries, Inc. At Farmland he had several responsibilities including Director of Trade and International Relations, Director of Grain Marketing, and Founder and President of Farmland Graños in Mexico. From 1990 to 1992 Mr. Martin served the Administration of George H.W. Bush at the US Department of Agriculture as Deputy Administrator of Commodity Operations and as an officer of the Commodity Credit Corporation. In the first year of the Clinton Administration, from 1992 to 1993, he served as an advisor to the Special Ambassador to the former Soviet Union at the U.S. Department of State.
Gary earned a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics, with highest honors, from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He is also a graduate of the University of Missouri, Institute of Cooperative Leadership, and has graduate studies in International Transactions at the George Mason University. Gary and his wife Denise reside near Leesburg, Virginia USA.
Craig Pietig, Ag Processing, Inc, USSEC Board
Craig is a Senior Director of Exports at AG Processing Inc., and has worked for AGP for 13 years. After graduating from Iowa State University, Craig began working at various plant locations buying soybeans and selling soybean meal prior to moving to Omaha. In Craig’s current role, he focuses on exporting grain, soybean meal and DDGs through the Port of Grays Harbor into Southeast Asia.
Jim Sutter, U.S. Soybean Export Council, Ex Officio Member
Jim Sutter serves as USSEC’s CEO after spending significant time in the global oilseeds industry with Cargill, Inc. USSEC represents the full U.S. Soy Export Supply Chain, which runs from the Farm through the Export Elevator including all facets along the way and USSEC’s 100+ Members represent that full chain. Since joining USSEC, Sutter has worked with their global team to differentiate and build a preference for U.S. Soy with strong emphasis on ensuring market access. Key initiatives have included building collaborative relationships with international Customers of U.S. Soy and multiple Organizations with whom we partner. Sutter grew up on a crop and cattle farm in northeastern Colorado and received a degree in Agricultural Business/Economics from Colorado State University.