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July 16, 2021

Erica Oakley promoted to Vice President of Programs with U.S Wheat Associates, leading to structure changes in the company

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) has promoted Erica Oakley to Vice President of Programs. Ms Oakley joined USW in 2015 as Program Manager and was promoted to Director of Programs in 2017.

Erica Oakley
Image credit: U.S Wheat Associates
Ms Oakley's promotion signals a structure change in USW's Headquarters Office, splitting the previous Program and Planning department. Previously serving the organisation as Vice President of Programs and Planning, Jennifer Sydney will shift titles to Vice President of Planning. In this role, Ms Sydney will continue leading USW's annual planning process and manage all facets of its intersection with federal programs, finance, and overseas office operations.

Ms Oakley will oversee all domestic components of USW programs in support of overseas offices in her new role, including export market development activities, consulting assignments, customer trade teams, USW director delegations, and customer conferences. Ms Oakley will also continue leading the development of USW's annual Crop Quality Report and seminars.

"It is important as an organisation to adapt based on the needs of its customers and stakeholders and how the skills and commitment of its employees can best serve its mission," says USW President Vince Peterson. "Erica has been an exceptional asset to the organisation, especially through all of the challenges and changes we faced during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are confident this change is in the best interest of USW's mission and look forward to both Erica and Jennifer's continued leadership."

Before joining USW, Ms Oakley worked as an Associate at Humanitas Global, Washington, D.C. She also worked as a Program Associate at the Academy for Educational Development, now FHI 360, supporting a USAID Title II-funded Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance project to strengthen food security and nutrition policies, programs and systems. Before that, Ms Oakley was a Project Associate at Washington-based Futures Group. A native of North Carolina, Ms Oakley earned a bachelor's degree in international studies at Meredith College, Raleigh, N.C., and a master's degree in international relations from Utrecht University in The Netherlands.

Reporting to Ms Oakley will be Catherine Miller, whose title will shift from Programs and Planning Coordinator to Program Coordinator with additional responsibilities. Also reporting to Ms Oakley will be Program Coordinator Maybelis Fernandez who coordinates program travel arrangements.

Reporting to Ms Sydney will be Nada Obaid, whose title will shift from Office Manager to Planning and Administrative Assistant. She will assume more responsibility in the day-to-day planning operations and continue administrative office management.

U.S. Wheat Associates' (USW) mission is to develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance wheat's profitability for U.S. wheat producers and its value for their customers in more than 100 countries. Its activities are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 17 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.

For more information visit the U.S Wheat Associates website, HERE.
 

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