Victoria Brohem director of communications at AFIA
Victoria Broehm
ARLINGTON, VIRIGINA, U.S. – The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has named Victoria Broehm as its new director of communications. She will lead the association’s media relations and strategic communications efforts and serve as editor of the AFIA Journal and other member and media communications.

Broehm has more than 10 years of communications experience working in associations and federal agencies throughout the Washington, D.C., region. She joins AFIA from CropLife International, where she managed communications on plant biotechnology issues on behalf of the global plant science industry. Prior to that, she managed federal communications for the American Veterinary Medical Association and web communications for the Nuclear Energy Institute. She also served as a political appointee to the George W. Bush administration at the U.S. Department of Energy.


“Victoria brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in agriculture to our communications team,” said Sarah Novak, AFIA vice-president of membership and public relations. “We are thrilled to have her on board, and I look forward to seeing how her leadership can amplify our communications efforts on Capitol Hill and with regulatory agencies, so we can better serve our members.”

Broehm has a master’s degree in strategic public relations from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from the University of Washington. She joined AFIA on July 17 and can be reached at 703.558.3579 or [email protected]

Brohem’s appointment is the most recent in staff changes or new hires in the past few months.

In June, Constance Samuels was appointed as AFIA’s new manager of meetings and events. Samuels joined the association from Envision EMI, where she was contracts and events manager. She has additional experience in the events industry from the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S., and White Lodging Services in Austin, Texas, U.S.

Also in June, Veronica Rovelli was promoted to senior director of meetings and events. Rovelli has been with the AFIA since 2008 and is responsible for the planning and implementation of all AFIA meetings, webinars and the International Feed Expo.

In March, Gary Huddleston was promoted to director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs. He previously was the manager of feed manufacturing safety and environmental affairs. He joined the AFIA in 2015.

In February, Jenny McFarland was appointed as AFIA’s new executive assistant to the president and chief executive officer (CEO), Joel G. Newman. In addition to supporting the association’s president, she will handle administrative duties for AFIA's foundation, the Institute for Feed Education & Research.