Three new staff members recently joined the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) in international offices: Jessica Zhang, Chuin Shern Lee and Nguyen Thi Hai Ha.
Jessica Zhang joined the Council’s office in China as an executive assistant. In this capacity, Zhang will assist Bryan Lohmar, USGC director in China.
“Jessica has a strong background for the position, recently serving at an embassy in Beijing assisting diplomats with day-to-day communication with counterparts in the Chinese government and enterprises,” Lohmar said. “Prior to that, Jessica was the assistant to the general manager at a leading Chinese internet finance company, and before that was with an American insurance company, where she worked on government affairs and external relations. Jessica also worked as a translator and clerk at the Ministry of Science and Technology in Beijing and at the Department of Science and Technology in Shandong, her home province.”
Zhang graduated from Shandong University, earning a master’s degree in English linguistics and literature.
Chuin Shern Lee serves as the Council’s regional marketing manager for Southeast Asia and Oceania, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In this capacity, Lee will assist in leading, implementing and executing the Council’s market development programs in Southeast Asia and assist Manuel Sanchez, USGC Southeast Asia regional director, in formulating robust strategic plans for increasing sales of U.S. corn, barley, sorghum and their co-products in the region.
“Before joining the Council, Lee worked for StoneX Financial as a risk management consultant based in Singapore. He was responsible for helping clients manage their agricultural commodities price risk via exchange-traded futures and options, OTC derivatives products and spot foreign exchange contracts,” Sanchez said. “Before StoneX Financial, Lee worked as a licensed dealer representative in Kenanga Deutsche Futures.”
Nguyen Thi Hai Ha joined the Council as coordinator in Vietnam. In this capacity, Ha works with Tran Trong Nghia, the Council’s representative in Vietnam, to further foster the Council’s interest in Southeast Asia’s developing and dynamic market.
“Before joining the Council, Ha worked for Sojitz Vietnam Co., Ltd, focusing on the procurement of seafood products for export. She also worked for Enerfo Vietnam Co., Ltd and Mitsui & Co. Vietnam Ltd,” Sanchez said. “As a senior trader for feed and food ingredients, Ha earned a bachelor’s degree from Foreign Trade University, majoring in International trade.”
Please join the Council in welcoming Jessica, Lee and Ha!
Learn more about the Council’s worldwide presence.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.