KENDELL W. KEITH

President

Kendell has served as the NGFA's top executive staff officer since March 1987. As chief operating officer, he is responsible for implementing the policies of the Board of Directors and for planning, coordinating and implementing the NGFA's programs, services and budget. He was vice president and corporate secretary/treasurer from 1985-87. In that capacity, he administered the operation of the NGFA's unique and time-honored Trade Rules and Arbitration System.

A native of Oklahoma, Kendell joined the NGFA staff in 1980 as director of economic services. An economist, he has a background in a wide range of public policy issues, including government commodity, agricultural policy and storage programs; international trade; domestic grain markets; and livestock marketing. He earned his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University. He is a member of the American Agricultural Economics Association and the American Society of Association Executives.

RANDALL C. GORDON

Vice President, Communications and Government Relations

Randy joined the NGFA's staff in 1978, and was elected vice president in July 1987. He is responsible for providing NGFA members with timely, accurate information on developments affecting the industry. He authors and edits the NGFA Newsletter and other publications, and works with the print and broadcast media to convey the NGFA's views on issues and public policies affecting the industry. He is staff liaison to the Country Elevator Committee and Country Elevator Council, and the Feed Industry Committee and Feed Industry Council. He also provides communications support to other NGFA program areas, and manages the content of the NGFA's web site. A Nebraska native, he received a B.A. degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in journalism, history and political science. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi and the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.

TODD E. KEMP

Director of Marketing/Treasurer

Todd was promoted to director of marketing in May 1997. He is responsible for the overall management and direction of the NGFA's membership recruitment, development and retention programs. He also spearheads the marketing of NGFA products and services, including electronic commerce made possible by the software for electronic data interchange (EDI) developed by the NGFA and GE Information Services. Todd joined the NGFA's staff in 1991 as director of legislative affairs. Before that, he worked for the Agency for International Development, as a budget analyst at USDA and as legislative assistant for then-Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum-Baker, R-Kan. A Kansas native, he is a graduate of Kansas State University, with a bachelors degree in agricultural economics and a masters in business administration.

Mr. Delacruz joined the NGFA in 2002 as counsel for public affairs and corporate secretary. In this capacity, he serves as NGFA's in-house legal counsel and the administrator of the NGFA Arbitration System. He also is a staff liason to the Trade Management Committee, Arbitration Appeals Panel, Rail Arbitration Rules Committee, Risk Management Committee, and Rail Shipper-Receiver Committee. Mr. Delacruz has an extensive backround in business law and private legal practice serving clients in the food industry. After law school, he practiced law with a major international law firm for over 10 years, advising and representing corporate clients on business, contractual and litigation matters. Prior to joining NGFA's staff, Mr. Delacruz was an attorney with a Washington-based consulting firm that provided services for Fortune 500 food industry clients on regulatory, import-export, safety and quality, and business and litigation issues. A Virginia native, Mr. Delacruz is a magna cum laude graduate of James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va., with degrees in history and political science. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, Va., where among other things he was an editor of the Virginia Journal of International Law.

DAVID A. FAIRFIELD

Director of Feed Services

Fairfield joined the staff in June 2001. He serves as staff liaison to the NGFA’s Feed Industry Committee addressing a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues affecting feed manufacturers. He also serves as a liaison with Gordon and members of the NGFA Feed Industry Committee to various committees of the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Fairfield also serves as the principal NGFA staff contact to provide assistance as needed by affiliated State and Regional Grain and Feed Associations in addressing feed-related issues at the state level. And he assumes responsibility for managing the NGFA’s respected Feed Quality Assurance Program for Feed Mills, and related educational and training initiatives. Fairfield also works with NGFA's Director of Technical Services in addressing safety, health and environmental issues affecting the feed industry, and will work with NGFA's Director of Marketing in recruiting new members among the feed sector. Prior to joining the NGFA, Fairfield has had 20 years of experience in feed mill management and operations, and has received numerous personal recognitions for outstanding achievement.  He was plant manager for Hubbard Feeds Inc.’s Iowa feed mills in Atlantic and Sioux City. 

Fairfield is a magna cum laude graduate in feed science and management from Kansas State University, and was recognized as a Kansas scholar.   He also has been a contributing author for Feed Manufacturing Technology IV published by Kansas State University and AFIA, and has been a speaker at AFIA’s Regional Production School on preventive maintenance programs for feed mills.

CHRISTOPHER D. HOLDGREVE

Director of Legislative Affairs

Chris joined the NGFA staff in October 2002 as director of legislative affairs. In this capacity, Holdgreve is responsible for working on a wide range of legislative issues important to the NGFA’s members on Capitol Hill. He also works as principal staff liaison to the NGFA’s International Trade/Agricultural Policy Committee and Waterborne Commerce Committee. He joins the NGFA after serving for the past four years as assistant director for the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee (WETEC) in Washington, where he specialized in agricultural trade issues. While at WETEC, Holdgreve had multiple responsibilities, including involvement in all aspects of the association’s management; responding to requests from Congress for information on issues and member concerns; participating in meetings of international trade organizations, including the World Trade Organization; authoring its weekly newsletter; mobilizing and coordinating lobbying efforts among its members and industry partners; and developing the organization’s web site. He received his undergraduate degree in economics and political science from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C., and a masters in political science from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., where he later served as a graduate assistant in public administration in the Department of Political Science.

TAMELA S. ELLIOTT
Financial Administrator

Tammy maintains the Association's accounting functions and records. She analyzes financial and statistical information, prepares financial reports, monitors investments, and processes invoices and requisitions. Tammy joined the NGFA's staff in 1998 after serving for seven years as an administrative specialist and technical support representative for a private contractor for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Her responsibilities included preparing documents and graphics for reports, conferences and seminars; managing the firm's web site; and serving as office manager. Prior to that, she worked as a summer intern for the General Services Administration's Inspector General's Office. She attended Frostburg (Md.) State University, where her course work focused on accounting.

KATHERINE MACK
Systems Administrator/Arbitration Mediation Specialist

Kathy manages the NGFA's website and information systems. She also provides administrative support for the NGFA's Arbitration System and mediation services. She processes and distributes arbitration case materials, and monitors the progress of cases. She assists in managing the NGFA's mediation services for rail rate-related disputes. Kathy joined the NGFA's staff in May 2006. Prior to joining the NGFA's staff, Kathy worked as a computer specialist for USDA's Office of Inspector General.

FAITH SILVERS
Database/Member Services Manager

HEIDI CHAPMAN, CMP
Meetings Manager

Ms. Chapman joined NGFA in June 2007. Her responsibilities include coordinating all events and managing the selection of meeting sites and hotels for NGFA conventions, conferences, seminars and committee meetings. She also provides executive support for the NGFA president. She earned her Certified Meeting Professionals Certificate in July 2007.

Prior to joining the NGFA, Ms. Chapman managed events and operations at Pre-K Now, an early education advocacy non-profit. She also worked for the Local Initiatives Support Coalition where she managed communication strategies and web site development. She moved to Washington in 1993, when she joined the Clinton administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). During her tenure at HUD, she filled a variety of positions, including White House liaison, departmental events planner, communications and web specialist, special assistant in community planning and development and congressional liaison.

She is a native of Clinton, Iowa, and has spent much of her life in Arkansas. Her family still operates a corn and soybean farm in Low Moore, Iowa. Ms. Chapman currently is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and marketing. She has been active in the meeting and events industry since 1988, and currently is an active member of the Leadership Development Committee of Meeting Professionals International and a member of the American Society of Association Executives.

JACQUELINE CONGRESS

Mail Processor/Mailroom Manager

Jackie is responsible for the overall operation of the Association's mail room. She processes and distributes incoming correspondence, and mails the NGFA Newsletter, publications, and committee correspondence and materials. She also fills publication and audio/visual orders. She also assists as NGFA's telephone operator. Prior to joining the NGFA's staff in 1988, she worked as a stenographer for a reporting service and for an insurance company in records processing and mail operations.

Marion Wimbush

Pressman

Marion works part-time in operating the offset press. He joined the NGFA staff in 2000 and also works as an offset press operator for the Washington Metropolitan Police Depart. He prints publications and letterheads, as well as brochures and special projects.