U.S. Grains Council Names Keith Heffernan Senior Vice President

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WASHINGTON, D.C., January 6, 2010 – Keith H. Heffernan will serve as senior vice president of operations and industry relations of the Washington, D.C., based U.S. Grains Council. Heffernan was formerly the chief of staff for the Farm Credit Administration. He accepted the charge to assist in leading the country’s largest export market development organization for barley, corn, sorghum and their co-products.

USGC President and CEO Thomas C. Dorr said Heffernan’s experience working in producer-run organizations is invaluable.

"Keith has a long history of service to U.S. producers through trade organizations. He understands the challenges and offers creative solutions," said Dorr. "The members of the Council will have a leader that truly values producer and agribusiness involvement."

As chief of staff for Farm Credit Administration, Heffernan coordinated the development and implementation of the agency’s strategic operating and budget plans and activities. Heffernan was the first executive director for the Iowa Corn Growers Association; director of public affairs for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; assistant director for the Center of Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University; and chief of staff for USDA’s Rural Development.

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The U.S. Grains Council is a private, non-profit partnership of farmers and agribusinesses committed to building and expanding international markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and their products. The Council is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has ten international offices that oversee programs in more than 50 countries. Financial support from our private industry members, including state checkoffs, agribusinesses, state entities and others, triggers federal matching funds from the USDA resulting in a combined program value of more than $26 million.

The U.S. Grains Council does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation or marital/family status. Persons with disabilities, who require alternative means for communication of program information, should contact the U.S. Grains Council.

Phone: (202) 789-0789 Fax: (202) 898-0522 Web site: www.grains.org E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

1400 K St. NW, Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20005

1400 K Street NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-789-0789 Fax: 202-898-0522

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The U.S. Grains Council is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to building export markets for barley, corn, sorghum and their products. The Council is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 10 international offices and active market development programs in more than 50 countries. Financial support from the Council’s private industry members, including state checkoffs, agribusinesses, state entities and others, triggers federal matching funds from the government and support from cooperating groups in other countries, producing an annual market development program valued at more than $26 million.

The U.S. Grains Council does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation or marital/family status. Persons with disabilities, who require alternative means for communication of program information, should contact the U.S. Grains Council. The U.S. Grains Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information on Section 508, please go to the following website: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/508/index.html