corn harvest
 
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. – The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is changing leadership on its public policy and political strategy team with the addition of two new staffers. 

Katharine Emerson will become director of public policy and political strategy and Colleen Willard has been named director of public policy of the NCGA’s Washington, D.C., U.S., team.  Emerson leads NCGA’s political strategy development and PAC duties while also heading lobbying efforts on conservation and domestic biotech issues. Willard will be handling water quality and ag chemical issues. 


“In adding both Katharine and Colleen to our team, NCGA gains a wealth of experience and unique perspectives that will serve our efforts to advance opportunities for America’s corn farmers well,” said Jon Doggett, executive vice-president of the NCGA. “It is with great enthusiasm we welcome these respected industry-leading professionals. I look forward, and I believe our membership should as well, to seeing the new heights that they will help us reach.”

\Katharine Emerson director of public policy and political strategy for NCGA
Katharine Emerson
Prior to joining the NCGA, Emerson was director of strategic partnerships at the World Food Program USA, where she oversaw WFP USA’s annual fundraising event honoring U.S. leaders who have made a major impact in ending global hunger. Prior to her service with WFP USA, she was manager of government affairs for Monsanto Co. for nearly eight years, where she also managed the company’s Washington, D.C.-based food and nutrition security partnerships, an issue she also represented on behalf of Monsanto on the Hill. 

A passionate advocate to end hunger, Emerson is a board member for the Congressional Hunger Center, where she chairs the Development Committee. She received a bachelor of arts degree in politics from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, U.S.

Colleen Willard director of public policy for NCGA
Colleen Willard
Before coming to the NCGA, Willard was director of government affairs for the Community Associations Institute. She has also previously worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, interned for U.S. Congressman Sam Graves and also worked at The Fertilizer Institute. 

Willard works on behalf of America’s veterans by donating her services as an attorney through the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program. She received a law degree from Charleston School of Law in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S., and a bachelor of science degree in business marketing with a minor in legal studies from Clemson University.