CFI Board of Directors

In her current role as senior vice president and chief communications officer, Kristen is responsible for overseeing the Cooperative’s communications strategy, marketing, brand and messaging development and ensuring effective communication with farmer-owners, employees, consumers, customers and other key stakeholders. She also oversees the cooperative’s innovation efforts, including DFA’s CoLAB Accelerator and investments in ag-tech and dairy food startups. In addition, she leads farmer-owner development programs aimed at fostering the next generation of DFA and industry farmer-leaders. She also has responsibility for event planning and experiences and DFA’s headquarters administration. Kristen joined DFA in 2007 as a communications associate and has served in a variety of roles within the communications team.

Marc Cool is the Global Seed Policy Lead for Corteva AgriscienceTM, leading global seed policy development, product advocacy and technology acceptance and company engagement with global trade associations. Marc brings science and wide commercial experience into the discussion on how the agricultural industry fits into the context of societal needs. With very extensive international experience, working in multiple crop sectors, Marc tries to identify collaborations which add value to all parties.

Charles Leftwich serves as the Vice President of Food Safety and Quality Assurance for Sysco Corporation, the world’s largest foodservice distributor. In this role he supports Sysco’s Purpose of “Connecting the World to Share Food and Care for One Another” by establishing food safety, product quality, sustainability, and regulatory compliance strategies across the Sysco enterprise. To implement these strategies, Charles leads a team of talented food safety professionals across Sysco’s broadline distribution services, specialty manufacturing locations, and Sysco’s industry leading private label brand program which is renowned for its commitment to the highest product quality and food safety standards.

Charles is a highly-experienced professional in the food safety, quality assurance and regulatory field with expertise in the harvest, manufacturing, distribution, and foodservice industries. He has served on various industry associations’ boards of directors, committees and working groups. He has held positions of increasing responsibility throughout his career and prior to Sysco, Charles led teams in Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Operations and Environmental Health and Safety at Cargill Meat Solutions and Kane Beef. Charles graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, and a Master of Business Administration from West Texas A&M University.

Sarah Ludmer is a strategic global food systems leader who brings 15 years of industry experience on top of a decade of clinical expertise. As the Chief Wellbeing and Sustainable Business Officer for WK Kellogg Co., she connects her passion for making a positive impact with both the top and bottom line. Sarah is proactive, creative, and highly collaborative, working internally and externally with thought leaders, policymakers, environmentalists, and wellbeing partners. She is a persuasive and self-motivated leader who continuously seeks new ways to unlock impact, including broadening the definition of health to a wellbeing and food systems approach—one that considers not just nutrition but also the emotional, societal, cultural, and ecological dimensions of our food.

Dr. Nesbitt is Global Director of Regulatory and External Affairs at Genus PLC, where he is responsible for developing and implementing a global strategy for regulatory review and technology acceptance of animals derived through biotechnology.

He joined Genus in 2022 from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), where he was Senior Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs in the Food and Agriculture Section for seven years. From 2004-2014, he served as a regulator of agricultural biotechnology in the Biotechnology Regulatory Services of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Dr. Nesbitt has a Ph.D. in plant breeding and plant molecular biology from Cornell University, where he studied tomato genetics.

David Newman is the senior vice president of market growth for the National Pork Board. Newman leads a team of 16 professionals tasked with growing market demand domestically and internationally, as well as the organization’s health and nutrition research and outreach.

Prior to his employment with the National Pork Board, David had a successful career as a full professor at Arkansas State University. He served as the leader of the meat science program and the university’s swine research facility.
David is the owner and president of both Newman Farm Heritage Berkshire Pork and Quality Meat Solutions, LLC, a firm that conducts research on meat-case metrics and quality and provides consulting.

Matt Perin, currently Director and Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs based in Washington, DC. He reports to Keith Dailey, group vice president of Corporate Affairs at Kroger General Office.

In this role, Matt leads Kroger’s federal advocacy and lobbying efforts and consults with their state government relations leaders. He oversees Kroger’s Political Action Committee (KroPAC) and maintains relationships with key governmental and political stakeholders. He is also responsible for maintaining relationships with key trade associations such as the Retail Industry Leaders Association, the National Retail Federation, and FMI: The Food Industry Association where he chairs the government relations committee. Matt’s efforts in Washington, D.C. have been critical to Kroger’s strategy and response throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Washington, he serves on the board of directors for the Business-Government Relations Council, and volunteers for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.

Jessica Sobel is the Vice President of Strategic Growth Initiatives at Freshpet, where she leads long-term planning to drive the company’s growth and leadership vision. She joined Freshpet in 2021 after holding multiple strategy, sustainability, and finance roles at Unilever from 2016 to 2021, including Head of Business Transformation, Director of Corporate Strategy, and Director of M&A Integration. Previously, Jessica was Senior Director of Sustainability at The Hain Celestial Group, leading global sustainability efforts. Before that, she worked at Unilever as Senior Manager of North America Sustainable Living, focusing on Brands with Purpose and implementing the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan. She also held various roles in Corporate Finance at Unilever. Jessica holds a BA in Environmental Economics from Colgate University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Mary and her family operate a first-generation farm called Fawn View Farms in Pylesville, Maryland. Along with her husband Greg, and five children, Abby, Brad, Zack, Thomas, and Taylor, they grow soybeans, corn, hay, small grains, sorghum, and raise replacement heifers for her parents’ dairy farm. She is engaged in Agritourism by welcoming groups to the farm for educational tours and hosting private events. Mary also owns a dessert food truck selling milkshakes, ice-cream, and cheese made from her family’s dairy. She is dedicated to creating a diversified farming business to pass down to her children.

Douglas D. Buhler is Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation at Michigan State University.

As Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation Buhler supports the broad research and innovation mission at Michigan State University. His work focuses on the food, environment, and international research portfolios of the University.

Buhler who is also Professor of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences previously held positions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service. He joined Michigan State University as Professor and Chair of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences in 2000. In 2005 he became Associate Director of MSU AgBioResearch and Associate Dean for Research for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR). Buhler served as interim Dean of the CANR from 2011 to 2013 and again in 2016. From 2013 to 2021 he was Director of MSU AgBioResearch with additional duties as Senior Associate Dean (2013-15) and an Assistant Vice President for Research and Innovation (2015-21).

Buhler’s professional activities have generated over 330 publications including 130 refereed articles. Buhler has been an author or editor of three books and presented over one hundred invited seminars, symposia, and workshops. He has made presentations or represented MSU in over twenty countries. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Weed Science Society of America, and North Central Weed Science Society and is a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Buhler serves on numerous boards including the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation, and Center for Food Integrity.

Jason leads the Market Transformation work of WWF-US for agriculture, aquaculture, business and industry, finance, fisheries and forests. Over the course of his career he has worked on a family farm and in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He has taught at Harvard and Yale and spent more than 30 years with human rights and environmental organizations.

Jacquelyn Howard is a retired global supply chain executive with over 3 decades of domestic and international experience. She has served as a leader within the manufacturing and marketing departments of the textile industry (DuPont) and the end-to-end supply chain within the food & beverage retail sector (McDonald’s and Starbucks).

She has led a multitude of teams with knowledge and courage to ensure safe, reliable, and competitive supply chains. Throughout her working career, she has consistently hired, developed, and promoted promising individuals and served the community within several civic, private and non-profit boards. As a retiree and empty-nester, no moss grows under Jacquelyn’s feet! She continues to advocate for socially conscious, equitable and progressive change in her span of influence.

Craig Wilson is the Executive Vice President at IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group, an international lab & consulting services company, offering a comprehensive portfolio of lab testing services and consultation across multiple industries. IEH works with food production plants and manufacturers to ensure that the products released into the global supply are tested, safe, and in compliance with regulatory standards.

Craig recently retired as the Vice President, General Merchandising Manager of Quality Assurance/ Food Safety, Non-Foods Quality Assurance, Environmental Services/Haz Mat and Merchandise Services for Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Ian Reece was born in Manchester, England but the United States has been home for most of his life. He holds a BA degree from Upsala College and an MBA from Rutgers University.

Ian spent 40 years working for foreign bank branches in New York City. He retired as Senior Credit Officer and head of Corporate Social Responsibility for North America at Rabobank. He served as a member of the Clinton Global Initiative, treasure and later Co-Chairman of Global Green USA, Chairman of the External Advisory Board for The Ohio State University’s Global Water Institute, and currently is Chairman of the Center for Food Integrity’s Foundation.

As an executive at a 20 billion-dollar global food and beverage company with 20,000 employees, a broad customer network, and a diverse product portfolio, she navigated everything from daily challenges to innovation, sustainability, and strategy. Today, as the CEO of the American Cider Association, Monica’s challenger mindset is being put to work to grow U.S. hard cider in an astonishingly competitive space.