U.S. Grains Council Elevates Suárez, Adds Two Staff

Last week, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) promoted Carlos Suárez to the newly created position of director of global sustainability and added staff to its ethanol and communications teams.

Suárez began with the Council in 2019 as a regional ethanol trade specialist in Latin America before joining the Council’s trade policy department as its manager of sustainability, policy and innovation in 2022.

He will now lead the Council’s global sustainability efforts and further integrate its commitment to promoting the environmental stewardship of the U.S. farming sector through initiatives like the Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol (CSAP).

“Carlos’ passion and diligent work as manager of sustainability, policy and innovation combined with strong appetites from consumers and importers for environmentally friendly products shows us the Council can and will expand its promotional activities on that front,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGC President and CEO. “Carlos’ ability to educate on U.S. sustainability practices is second to none and I’m excited to see what he can accomplish in this new role.”

Stephanie Larson is the Council’s new regional ethanol manager for the EU, UK and Canada, where she will oversee programming and strategy for the U.S. ethanol industry’s largest markets.

Stephanie Larson

“Stephanie will greatly enhance the DC ethanol team with her extensive background in international agricultural trade and development and market research,” said Mackenzie Boubin, USGC director of global ethanol export development. “We are delighted to have Stephanie join us and use her talent and abilities to expand and maintain some of our top ethanol export markets.”

Larson recently worked as a syndicated market research consultant with Euromonitor International. Previously, she worked as an international agriculture trade and development specialist, which included collaborations with Land O’Lakes, Venture37, Chemonics International and others. She also has experience as an agricultural specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA’s FAS) in the Dominican Republic.

Emma Dostal joined the Council as communications coordinator and will be responsible for the department’s administrative tasks and supporting the development of the Council’s weekly newsletter, social media pages and website.

Emma Dostal

Dostal is a recent graduate from the University of Nebraska and interned with the Council during the summer of 2022. She also has experience as a communications intern for the Nebraska Water Center and as a public and congressional affairs intern at the U.S. Department of State.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Emma back to the team in a permanent capacity after her successful internship with us,” said Bryan Jernigan, USGC director of communications. “Her familiarity with the Council’s mission, membership and procedures will help her hit the ground running and be a strong asset to the communications department.”

Please join the Council in congratulating Carlos and welcoming Stephanie and Emma!