DES MOINES, IOWA – The National Pork Board has named two new executives to its leadership team. Bryan Humphreys has been named the vice president of producer, state and industry relations, and Jacque Matsen has been named vice president of strategic communications. Both will assume their new roles Dec. 16.
Humphreys grew up working on the family farm in Iowa raising hogs, corn and soybeans. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, he organized grassroots efforts and managed multiple political campaigns around the country. In 2009, he joined the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) as the director of grassroots, where he encouraged pork producers to tell their stories and interact with influencers and key decision makers. As part of this role, Humphreys also spent time in more urban areas helping educate elected officials and other influential decision makers on modern pork production practices.
In 2014, Humphreys became the executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Council, where he led efforts around some most pressing social and environmental issues of the day.
“Bryan is highly respected by pork producers in Ohio and his colleagues around the country,” said Bill Even, chief executive officer of the National Pork Board. “Ohio Pork has led from the front in terms of innovation and consumer engagement under his leadership, and we’re excited to have him bring a new approach to the national organization’s producer and state outreach efforts.”
Matsen, an Ames, Iowa native, earned degrees in Journalism and Political Science from Iowa State University. She comes to the Pork Board from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) where she served as administrator of the marketing & communications division, which also includes the Iowa Tourism Office. In this role, she oversaw strategic marketing and communication efforts in support of IEDA’s mission to strengthen economic and community vitality across the state.
Before joining IEDA, Matsen was a senior vice president in the Kansas City office of FleishmanHillard. There, she counseled clients on building markets for new products, crisis response and media engagement. Prior to her agency experience, Matsen oversaw global public affairs for DuPont Pioneer (now Corteva Agriscience) where she managed issues such as biotech/GMO acceptance, and was responsible for executive communications, thought leadership and traditional/social media efforts. Matsen joined Pioneer after spending more than 10 years at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in Denver, Colorado, where she led beef industry responses to animal welfare videos, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and the use of lean, finely textured beef.
“Jacque’s experience as a leader in ag communication will be invaluable to us as we launch ‘Checkoff 4.0,’” said Even. “Her experience in association, business, and government communication, as well as shaping consumer perception about products and practices will be vital to the pork industry as we face a dynamic, rapidly changing marketplace and increasing threats to production from foreign animal disease.”
The National Pork Board has responsibility for Pork Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in consumer education and marketing, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, science and technology, swine health, pork safety, and environmental management and sustainability. For the past half century, the U.S. pork industry has delivered on its commitment to sustainable production and has made significant strides in reducing the environmental impact of pig farming. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. Importers of pork products contribute a like amount, based on a formula. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675 or visit www.pork.org.
