March 29, 2022
The Honorable Glenn Youngkin, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Governor Glenn Youngkin is a homegrown Virginian who grew up in Richmond and Virginia Beach. As his father changed jobs, Governor Youngkin learned that moving around didn’t equal moving up – nothing was handed to him. From his first job washing dishes and frying eggs at a diner in Virginia Beach, he embraced hard work and responsibility to help his family when his father lost his job. His determination to succeed earned him multiple high school basketball honors in Virginia and an athletic scholarship to college.
After earning an engineering degree at Rice University, and his MBA at Harvard Business School, Governor Youngkin and his wife Suzanne moved to Northern Virginia. He landed a job at The Carlyle Group, where he spent the next 25 years. Working his way to the top of the company, Governor Youngkin played a key role in building Carlyle into one of the leading investment firms in the world. His efforts have helped fund the retirements of teachers, police officers, firefighters and other frontline public servants and supported hundreds of thousands of American jobs.
Married for over 27 years to his amazing wife Suzanne, Governor Youngkin is a dedicated father of four wonderful children. Their family journey has been and continues to be guided by their faith.
We are pleased to announce that the Governor will speaking at lunch.
Secretary Matthew Lohr, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for the Commonwealth of Virginia
Matthew Lohr was raised on a Virginia century family farm in the Shenandoah Valley. As a fifth-generation farmer, he has spent his entire life working for the betterment of the agricultural industry and rural America.
Matthew developed his passion for public service and agricultural policy while serving as both a state and national FFA officer before graduating from Virginia Tech with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Education. He has more than 30 years of experience as a professional leader and communicator.
Over the past two years, Matthew has served as the Chief of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency with more than 10,000 employees across 3,000 field offices and an operating budget of over $4.5 billion.
Matthew previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2006-2010 before being appointed as the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. His other career experiences include serving as Director of the Farm Credit Knowledge Center, teaching middle school agriscience, operating his own leadership development company, and serving as President of Valley Pike Farm, Inc., his family’s farming operation.
Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, USDA Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh was appointed the 16th Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 2018 by Governor Ralph Northam. She previously served as the Virginia State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe and then-U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, in July 2015.
Prior to her FSA appointment, she served as Dean of the College of Agriculture at Virginia State University (VSU) with oversight of Extension, Research and Academic Programs. Previously she was the Associate Administrator for Extension Programs and a 4-H Extension Specialist.
In spring 2019, Dr. Bronaugh launched the Virginia Farmer Stress Task Force to raise awareness and coordinate resources to address farmer stress and mental health challenges in Virginia. In the fall of 2020, she helped establish the Virginia Food Access Investment Fund and Program, the first statewide program of its kind to address food access within historically marginalized communities.
Dr. Bronaugh received her Ph.D. in Career and Technical Education from Virginia Tech. She is passionate about the advancement of youth leadership in agriculture. Dr. Bronaugh is from Petersburg, Virginia. She is married to Cleavon, a retired United States Army Veteran
Mark Brusberg, Chief Meteorologist, USDA
Mark Brusberg serves as the Chief Meteorologist of USDA’s agricultural weather and assessments group, a component of the World Agricultural Outlook Board. In this capacity, Mr. Brusberg helps to coordinate the activities of USDA agencies responsible for weather- and climate-related issues and serves as a liaison with other organizations having similar interests, notably the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Since 2000, Mr. Brusberg has been a leading figure in the Department’s drought assessment and mitigation activities, and has worked toward improving the performance of the U.S. Drought Monitor through a strong partnership with the National Drought Mitigation Center. He has been a leading advocate within the Department for the establishment of a National Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.
Mr. Brusberg was active in the design and implementation of the NOAA-led National Integrated Drought Information System and currently serves on its Executive Council. He has also assisted in development of several Subsidiary Interagency Agreements between USDA and NOAA and is a lead representative to the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Support and Services. In 2013, he began serving in a leadership capacity with the National Drought Resilience Partnership, an advisory group supporting the Executive Office of the President.
Mr. Brusberg began his career with WAOB in 1986 as a staff agricultural meteorologist, advancing to the post of Deputy Chief Meteorologist in 2013. During his career, he attained expertise with the weather and climate of various international regions, global cropping patterns, and the potential impacts on agriculture by ENSO and other climate phenomena. As a crop weather analyst, his current areas of responsibility include South America and large sections of North America and Africa. Mr. Brusberg is the International Editor of the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin and is involved in the production of the North American Drought Monitor. Prior to his service at USDA, Mr. Brusberg briefly worked for Climate Prediction Center and Techniques Development Laboratory of NOAA’s National Weather Service. Mr. Brusberg holds a Master’s Degree in Meteorology (1987) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Sciences (1985) from the University of Maryland. His graduate studies focused on identifying weather patterns leading to crop stress on the Great Plains as a result of enhanced levels of potential evapotranspiration (PET).
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, AgTrade Strategies LLC
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen is the founder of AgTrade Strategies LLC, a consulting service on U.S. agricultural trade policies. She retired from the U.S. government in 2020 with 29 years of experience, most recently as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Executive Office the President.
Sharon served at USTR for 15 years leading agriculture trade negotiations for the United States, including with Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and at the World Trade Organization. She also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, for ten years in senior management positions, and five years leading the agriculture section of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. She started her career in government relations for the United Fresh Produce Association.
Rosalind R. Leeck, Senior Director for Market Access/Northeast Asia Regional Director – U.S. Soybean Export Council
Rosalind (Roz) Leeck is the Senior Director for Global Market Access and Northeast Asia Regional Director at the U.S. Soybean Export Council. She is responsible for worldwide activities monitoring and addressing trade barriers and other market access issues that impact the U.S.’s ability to export soy and soy products. She is also the Regional Director for Northeast Asia responsible for Korea and Japan.
Prior to joining USSEC, Roz served as the Director of Grain Marketing at the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) and Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA). She has more than 10 years of experience in the grain trade field with previous positions at Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Demeter L.P. She has also worked for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, serving in the Division of Soil Conservation.
Roz has been involved in a number of industry activities and is currently serving on the Management Council of the International Grain Trade Coalition and as a cleared advisor for the USDA and USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feeds, Oilseeds, and Planting Seeds. She is also past Chair of the Indiana Grain and Feed Association and Agribusiness Council of Indiana. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Trustees at Millikin University. Roz originally hails from southern Illinois where she remains a partner in her family’s grain and livestock farm. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, a Master of Business Administration from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
William Westman, President of William Westman and Associates LLC
William W. (Bill) Westman is President of William Westman and Associates LLC, a boutique consulting firm established in August 2021, specializing in agricultural trade policy and export market development. From March 2010 to July 2021, Bill was Senior Vice President of International of International Affairs at the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), where he led NAMI’s efforts to reduce barriers to trade in meat and poultry products. From January 2019 until the end of his tenure at NAMI, Bill also served as Senior Vice President of Administration in charge of Budget, Finances, Personnel, and Information Technology.
Bill was Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service for 29 years. His postings included Beijing, China; Berlin, Germany; Brasilia, Brazil; Panama, Caracas, Venezuela; and, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and enough Mandarin to get around Beijing in a taxi.
Tom Capozzi, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Virginia Port Authority
Thomas D. Capozzi is the chief sales and marketing officer of Virginia International Terminals (VIT), LLC, where he is responsible for managing and coordinating The Port of Virginia’s global commercial business activity through the sales division.
Tom started his career with the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) in sales and marketing in 1999. In 2009 following a reorganization, Tom was transferred to VIT, which is the VPA’s private, terminal operating subsidiary.
“Growing and evolving with The Port of Virginia during the last 15 years, I’ve learned a lot. My management philosophy has changed as well and it is centered on cross-leadership and communication. Instead of the hierarchical approach, I like to empower the team to make choices and involve colleagues from other departments in the decision making process. Communication is key in a large organization such as the port.”
Tom is constantly developing new goals and plans for the sales team to support the overall company by creating measurable objectives and strategies to grow business. Working in a competitive business environment, Tom’s leadership style is especially anchored in fortitude and perseverance through challenges that arise. When working with customers and team members alike, honesty, helpfulness and accessibility are keys for success.
Tom values his personal interactions with colleagues inside the organization and customers of the company as the most rewarding aspects of his job. He enjoys meeting people from different cultures and developing genuine personal relationships with team members and clients.
Prior to joining the port, Tom’s career in the liner shipping business included serving as regional manager of sales and operations for “K” Line America Inc. In that position, he was responsible for all sales activity in Virginia and Maryland. He also supervised port, rail and truck operations in the ports of Virginia and Baltimore. Tom began his career in shipping as a sales representative for Evergreen America Corporation, handling sales in Virginia and North Carolina.
Tom has a bachelor’s degree in political science and international studies from Old Dominion University, a master’s degree in business administration and global management from the University of Phoenix and a port management degree from Lloyd’s Maritime Academy.
He is the currently serves as chairman of the Advisory Committee to ODU’s International Maritime Ports and Logistics Management Institute. Tom was the recipient of the “Commerce Builder Award,” as chosen by the Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council (HRGCC). This annual award recognizes an individual for their efforts in stimulating commerce through The Port of Virginia.
Greg Edwards, Director of Agriculture and Forest Product Sales, Port of Virginia
Greg Edwards is a native Virginian and a 1992 graduate of Old Dominion University. During his 30-year maritime career, Edwards has held positions in public relations, marketing, external affairs and sales. He has participated in Governor’s trade missions, calling on port customers on three different continents.
As Director of Agriculture and Forest Product Sales, Edwards is responsible for the largest export market segment at The Port of Virginia. From soy beans and meal, to cotton, to kraft linerboard, Edwards is charged with supporting the port’s largest ag. and forest products accounts across the United States, enabling them to grow their export market share through Virginia.
Greg is a 2009 LEAD Virginia graduate, and a 2011 graduate of LEAD 757. He and his wife, Laura, live in Chesapeake. They have three adult children.
Brett Bruen, President, Global Situation Room
We live in an increasingly uncertain times. It has never been more difficult to navigate the changes, challenges, and to create new opportunities around the world. From cyber security to terrorism, threats appear around every corner. During twelve years as a U.S. diplomat, Brett became a specialist in using strategic communications to influence the course of crisis and conflict. As Director of Global Engagement at the White House, he coordinated the United States Government’s public diplomacy programs, international media, crisis communications, and global entrepreneurship. He is now a leading expert on counter-crisis management theory, a term he coined during his time on the U.S. National Security Council.
A CNN investigation documented his leadership of the US Government’s initial
response to Russian propaganda in 2014. When more than 200 school girls were kidnapped in Nigeria, Brett created the Let Girls Learn campaign, which Marie Claire called, “one of the most critical things to remember from the Obama White House.”
While in the diplomatic service, Brett worked in the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Guinea, Iraq, Venezuela, Argentina, Zambia, and Eritrea. In his current role as President of the Global Situation Room, he runs a consulting firm that specializes in helping clients navigate their most complex communications challenges. He teaches crisis communications at Georgetown University and sits on the boards of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Foundation at Harvard University and the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin. He is a Columnist for Business Insider and is regularly interviewed by major media outlets on world events. Brett speaks fluent Spanish and French.
Veronica Nigh, Senior Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation
Veronica Nigh is a Senior Economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation. In that role, she conducts economic research, policy analysis, presentations and commentaries for AFBF in accordance with the policies established by the voting delegates and guided by the Board of Directors. Her research and policy analysis areas of focus include international trade, taxes, environmental issues related to water and air, labor, transportation and food safety.
Prior to joining Farm Bureau Nigh worked for the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in the Office of Negotiations and Agreements as an International Economist. Veronica also served as an International Marketing Specialist at the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
Nigh is a native of Savannah, Missouri where she grew up on a small, diversified livestock operation. She holds a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri and a Masters in Economics from American University.