AOSCA News
April 10, 2008
Tucson, AZ
Abed Anouti Assumes Executive Position
at
Arizona
Crop Improvement Association
The Board of Directors of
Arizona Crop Improvement Association (ACIA) is pleased to announce
that Abed Anouti assumed the position of Executive Vice-President of
the Association on April 1, 2008. Previously, Abed was ACIA’s
certification specialist and Foundation seed program manager since
1999.
As EVP, Abed will supervise
the entire range of activities and responsibilities undertaken by
ACIA, including
Arizona
’s official seed certification program and the Foundation seed
program it conducts under an arrangement with the
College
of
Agriculture
and Life Sciences at the
University
of
Arizona
. He will also be
Arizona
’s vested member representative for the Association of Official Seed
Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) and will serve on AOSCA’s Certification
Standards and Requirements Council.
“The directors of ACIA
are fortunate to have someone of Abed’s character, experience and
knowledge to turn to for leadership of the association,” according
to ACIA President Pete Jepsen. “He has developed a great
relationship with the state’s seed industry and growers and we look
forward to continuing to work with him.”
“I greatly appreciate the
opportunity to manage ACIA, which is celebrating its 75th
anniversary in 2008. And, I look forward to working with other AOSCA
members in strengthening seed certification,” says Abed.
Abed Anouti is a graduate
of the
University
of
Arizona
, earning B.S. and M.S. degrees in horticulture. He was employed as a
research specialist in arid lands studies at the U of A prior to
joining ACIA. He resides in
Tucson
with his wife, Rula, and their children, Jamil and Reem.
Abed fills the position
previously held by Allan Simons since 1987. Al will continue with ACIA
in a part-time role.
****************************************
April 8, 2008
St. Paul, MN
MCIA ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF
BENJAMIN J. (BEN) LANG AS NEW PRESIDENT/CEO
Tim Backman
, Chairman of the MCIA board of
directors has announced the appointment of Ben Lang as the
President/CEO of the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association, effective
June 1, 2008. Ben will
take over as President/CEO upon the retirement of Dr. Gary Beil, who
has served as the association’s President/CEO since January 1, 1995.
Mr. Lang is a
1979 graduate of the
University
of
Minnesota
and joined MCIA as a field inspector and seed analyst after his
graduation from the University. During
his career, he has served the association in several senior management
positions, most recently as the Manager of Field Services.
In addition to his University training, Ben has successfully
completed extensive training as a National Seed Health Systems
Auditor, Organic Handler and Producer Inspector, ISO/IATCA Quality
Management System Lead Auditor and Organic Livestock Inspector.
In addition, he has been actively involved on numerous
committees of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies
(AOSCA) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) focusing on
various quality assurance issues.
For additional
information on Ben Lang’s appointment, contact Cindy Wippler at MCIA.
MCIA is an
innovative
Minnesota
based non-profit association established in 1903 to provide support
services to members to improve their productivity and profitability.
The association conducts programs under recognized quality
management systems, including certification and foundation seed
services, National Organic Program (NOP) accredited producers,
handlers and livestock certification programs, technology marketing,
and various Quality Assurance, Identity Preserved and trait
verification audit programs.
Contact
Cindy Wippler
Minnesota
Crop Improvement Association (MCIA)
612 625 7766 (phone)
612 625 3748 (fax)
mncia@umn.edu
****************************************
Mar 21, 2008
Indiana Crop Authorizes Oat
Re-Certification
The
Indiana Crop Improvement Association advises that seed producers who
have seed resulting from the Certified class of the oat variety “Classic”
may plant that seed for another year of certification. “Classic”
was released in 1996 by
Purdue
University
and it supports the recertification in 2008.
If you
have questions or comments about this notification, please direct them
to the Indiana Crop Improvement Association at 765-523-2535.
****************************************
Mar 3, 2008
Kentucky Seed Improvement Association
Announces New Manager
The KSIA
Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Mr. Kenny Hunter has
been hired to serve as Manager of the Association.
He began working on Monday, February 25, 2008, and is getting
settled into the
Lexington
office. In the near future
Kenny will be meeting with the field inspection staff and preparing
for the upcoming small grain season.
Kenny, his wife Jennifer, and three year old son, Riley are residents of
Lexington
. Kenny, who has a degree
from Berea College, previously worked with F. W. Rickard Seed as a
Seed Production Processing Manager since 1993.
Kenny can be reached at the KSIA office in
Lexington
, by cell phone at 859-351-5325, or by email at khunter.ksia@gmail.com.
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