Mar 26, 2025

1,4GROUP CEO elected chair of Potatoes USA board

Steve Elfering, CEO of 1,4GROUP, has been elected chair of the Potatoes USA board. Elfering has worked with the national marketing, research and promotion board for 14 years.

Chemical distribution company 1,4GROUP supports potato growers. Its leader has been involved for more than three decades with the potato industry, according to a news release from Potatoes USA.

Elfering, of Boise, Idaho, most recently served as chair of the organization’s communications committee.

“It’s an honor to be elected to lead this group where we all have such a clear sense of why we do this work,” Elfering said. “We have passion for the product itself, passion for strengthening demand for this fantastic, versatile food, and passion for bringing together the deep expertise of people who make this an amazing industry.”

Additional 2025-2026 executive committee members are:

• Hunter Gibbs of Washington, North Carolina, chair, market development consumer committee
• Kathy Sponheim of Urbana, Ohio, chair, nutrition and health committee
• Nathan Bender of Bakersfield, California, co-chair, production research committee
• Trever Belnap of Hamer, Idaho, chair, communications committee
• Dave Masser of Sacramento, Pennsylvania, chair, market development retail committee
• Jess Blatchford of Baker City, Oregon, co-chair, production research committee
• Wendy Dykstra of Rio, Wisconsin, chair, finance and policy committee
• Cliff Shaw of Monte Vista, Colorado, chair, culinary committee
• Travis Meacham of Moses Lake, Washington, chair, market development foodservice committee
• Shelley Olsen of Othello, Washington, immediate past chair