Jul 12, 2021National Potato Council adds new program coordinator
The National Potato Council (NPC) welcomed Ethan Keller to serve as the organization’s program coordinator on July 12.
The recent Ohio State University graduate will support the execution and implementation of NPC’s programs to engage and inform its membership.
“We are excited to have Ethan join our team,” said NPC CEO Kam Quarles. “His agriculture background and experience in program organizing will be a great benefit in engaging our growers and allied industry partners to stand up for potatoes on Capitol Hill.”
Keller previously worked with the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and the Ohio Beef Council, where he helped coordinate membership initiatives and producer communications. In addition, he worked closely with producers to ensure that their best interests were being served by the organization and represented across the state of Ohio.
Keller is a native of upstate New York and found his connection to agriculture through his time in the National FFA Organization. He is passionate about helping share the story of agriculture and strives to support those who work to feed the world. In May 2021, Keller completed his bachelor’s degree in agricultural communication from Ohio State University, and previously earned an associate degree in agricultural business from the State University of New York Morrisville.
As program coordinator, Keller will assist in the design and implementation of programs to inform and engage membership. He will also support the Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) through a variety of communications tools, meetings and programs. Additionally, he will actively assist in the association’s annual convention, membership programs, meetings, industry publications, association governance, public policy and activities.
Keller replaces Hillary Hutchins on staff. Hutchins left the NPC in May for a role with another organization. The five-member NPC staff now includes Quarles, COO Mike Wenkel, Industry Relations & Events VP Hollee Alexander, Public Relations Director Mark Szymanski and Keller.
The National Potato Council represents the interests of U.S. potato growers on federal legislative, regulatory, environmental and trade issues. The value of U.S. potato production is over $4.5 billion annually and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly.
