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14 Potato Grower | NOVEMBER 2014 Around the Vine INDUSTRY NEWS The National Potato Council announces the appointment of Steve Holton as its director of corporate and public relations. Holton has more than 10 years combined work experience in both the public and private sectors as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill, public relations professional and writer. He will direct NPC's media outreach, grassroots initiatives, and social media programs, as well as work with NPC's partners on coordinating the industry's public policy messaging. Holton spent his time as a legislative aide with the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx of North Carolina during her time as a committee member of the House Committee on Agriculture. John Keeling, NPC's executive vice president and CEO said, "Holton's agricultural background has already made him a key addition, and I believe his experience will help NPC address the diverse interests of U.S. potato producers. We view his appointment as a sign of our commitment to being the unifying vehicle of the potato industry voice in the public policy arena and expanding the U.S. growers' ability to compete both domestically and globally." Holton is a native of Camilla, Ga., and holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and political science from the University of Alabama. He spent close to 10 years working in various areas of agriculture, including a stint as a consultant on cotton management, and directed flight operations for an aerial application service. "Coming from a farming family, I feel this position is a great fit for me. The natural exposure that I have had with agricultural issues in the field, around the dinner table and in the professional world will be beneficial for me when relating to NPC members," said Holton. "I am excited about the challenge and feel fortunate to join such a respected organization. I'm also confident that my experience and abilities will make an immediate contribution and prove to be a significant asset to the NPC team." Valmont Industries, Inc. has acquired a majority interest in South Dakota-based AgSense. The acquisition further extends Valmont's industry-leading offerings in remote monitoring and control technology for agriculture. AgSense's cutting edge global WagNet network provides growers with a more complete view of their entire farming operations by tying irrigation decision- making to field, crop and weather conditions. "We are pleased to have entered this long-term partnership," said Leonard Adams, group president of Valmont's Global Irrigation Division. "Growers increasingly seek to utilize data-driven technology to increase yields and maximize water efficiency. The cutting- edge approach AgSense takes to providing technologies that our customers desire, their passion for customer service and their outstanding reputation fit perfectly with Valmont's strategy." AgSense president Terry Schiltz said the similarities in customer-focused values led to the creation of this strategic alignment. "We are very excited about this partnership with Valmont," Schiltz said. "Partnering with the recognized market leader not only enhances our strong position in North America, but will provide opportunities to accelerate our growth internationally." Syngenta announced today that Ponsi Trivisvavet has been appointed a region director for North America and president of Syngenta Seeds, Inc. She is based in Minnetonka, Minn. In this role, Trivisvavet will share responsibility for the Syngenta North American business with Vern Hawkins, region director of North America. She replaces David Morgan, who was recently named global head of vegetables and is based in Basel, Switzerland. Previously, Trivisvavet was head of Syngenta's Southeast Asia territory, where she led agricultural business operations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. She managed the development of key crop solutions to help increase the productivity of corn, rice, specialty crops and vegetables. Trivisvavet joined Syngenta in 2008 to lead the seeds strategy team. Previously she held positions with McKinsey & Company in the U.S., Europe, Middle East, South Africa and Asia. She holds a master's in business administration with distinction from Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management. "I look forward to leading our North American business with Vern Hawkins," said Trivisvavet. "Syngenta is the leader in crop protection with a strong pipeline of new products. In seeds, we have a trait package that is second to none along with the genetics growers need for improved crop productivity. Our focus will remain on delivering what our customers need. When they succeed, we succeed." NPC Names Holton Director of Public, Corporate Relations Syngenta Names Trivisvavet as Syngenta Seeds President Valmont Acquires Majority Stake in AgSense Steve Holton