ISDA Builds Staff to Support Future Programs

News Date March 13, 2006

        Indiana Agriculture Director Andy Miller announced a new organizational structure and new staff members to support the Indiana State Department of Agriculture's strategies and program goals. Lt. Governor Becky Skillman applauded the changes for moving the department forward in achieving its mission.
        "Andy has successfully led our new Department of Agriculture through its first year with a bold vision and aggressive goals," said Skillman, who also serves as secretary of agriculture and rural development. "Now we have added the structure and resources to support the continued growth and development of the department's programs and initiatives."
        "In our first year we made great strides in defining our role and sharing our vision for Indiana agriculture," said Miller. "We begin our second year by building on our already topnotch staff to put into action the strategies and goals we have created."
        In December, ISDA announced a new Economic Development Team, lead by Assistant Director Ken Klemme. Sarah Yeager recently was hired to assist the Economic Development team as program manager, Diversification and Hardwoods. She will oversee the department's diversification strategy and will work with private woodland owners on the management and marketing of these resources. Yeager is a 2002 graduate of Marian College with a bachelor's in accounting and finance. Before joining ISDA, she was program manager for the Indiana Rural Development Council. Yeager lives in Indianapolis.
        To mirror the new Economic Development Team, ISDA has three more assistant directors leading program areas. Tammy Lawson serves as the assistant director, Conservation and Regulatory Affairs. She will continue to serve as director of the Division of Soil Conservation as well as oversee the Department's role in interacting with agricultural regulatory agencies and the Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency.
        To assist Lawson, Sarah Ash Simpson has been hired as the program manager, Regulatory Affairs. Simpson will serve as a liaison between the agriculture industry and key state regulatory agencies. She will teach the public about the importance of livestock to our state's economy. Simpson is a 2005 graduate of Valparaiso University School of Law and earned her bachelor's degree in management with an agricultural economics concentration in 1999 from Purdue University. She completed a legal internship at Indiana Farm Bureau and was project manager at Yeager & Sullivan, a swine production business. Simpson lives in Carmel.
        The Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency also now falls into the Conservation and Regulatory Affairs area. Bill Johnson has been named director of the agency, replacing Klemme who left to lead the Economic Development Team. Johnson has been with the agency for 32 years, most recently as auditor supervisor. He brings an extensive background of auditing, accounting and supervising experience to his new role. Johnson lives in Andrews.
        Melissa Zabel Acton serves as the assistant director, Operations. She oversees the department's budget and accounts, grants and contracts and departmental operations, including human resources and information technology.
        Paul Hoffman has been hired as the operations assistant. Hoffman will process claims and assist the Division of Soil Conservation in their budget-related issues. He spent many years as a field representative with Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. He has a bachelor's degree in animal science from Purdue University and recently received his associate's degree in accounting. Hoffman lives in Darlington.
        The final assistant director is Deborah Abbott who oversees Communications and Outreach. Her duties will continue to focus on communicating and educating the public on ISDA's activities and programs.
        Elisha Modisett joined the staff as legislative liaison, replacing Ryan West as he moved to the Economic Development Team. Modisett will work with the General Assembly and on federal policy issues. She has more than three years experience as a legislative assistant in the Indiana House of Representatives. She is a graduate of DePauw University with a bachelor's in criminology and is currently attending Indiana University School of Law. Modisett lives in Indianapolis.
        "I am impressed with every one of the individuals who have agreed to share our vision at ISDA," said Miller. "They have agreed to work hard for Indiana's agriculture industry as we use our second year to move our state closer to becoming a global center for food and agricultural innovation and commercialization." (Contact: Deborah Abbott, 317/232-8767)