Speakers

Jack Bobo is the CEO of Futurity, a food foresight company that works with food and agriculture organizations to better understand emerging food trends and consumer attitudes and behaviors so they can position themselves to thrive in an ever more complex world.  Jack previously served as the Chief Communications Officer and Senior Vice President for Global Policy and Government Affairs at Intrexon Corporation.

He is a globally recognized thought leader having delivered more than 300 speeches in 50 countries on the future of food, the role of science and technology in sustainably and nutritiously feeding the world and how to build consumer trust.  In 2015, he was named by Scientific American one of the 100 most influential people in biotechnology.  Prior to joining Intrexon Jack worked at the U.S. Department of State for thirteen years as a senior advisor for global food policy, food security, climate change, biotechnology and agricultural trade. Prior to his career at the State Department, he was an attorney at Crowell & Moring LLP.  He received a J.D., an M.S. in Environmental Science, a B.A. in psychology and chemistry and a B.S. in biology from Indiana University.

Shawn Marie Jarosz is the Founder and Chief Trade Strategist of TradeMoves LLC.  Shawn has over 25 years working with US companies and industry associations on their cross-border trade priorities.

She advises clients on export strategies and import compliance matters and provides tools and resources in support of global supply chains.  As an export expert, Shawn helps seasoned US exporters access new markets, remove barriers to their American-grown and -made products, and capitalize on the benefits of cross-border trade.  As an import expert, Shawn is a licensed US Customs broker and Certified Customs Specialist.  Shawn has been a cleared advisor to the US Trade Representative on trade issues affecting US small businesses (Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Small and Minority Businesses/ITAC 9) since 2008, and food and agriculture exporters (Agriculture Trade Advisory Committee for Processed Foods) from 2007 until 2015.  In 2020, TradeMoves was awarded the President’s E Award for Export Service.

Ryan LeGrand serves as the president and CEO for the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), a non-profit organization that promotes the use of U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products worldwide.

LeGrand joined the Council in 2015 as the assistant director and then director of the Council’s Mexico office where he identified and addressed all relevant trade, technical and policy-related factors relevant to building and maintaining the market for U.S. grains and co-products in Mexico. Before joining the Council, LeGrand worked for Gavilon as the director of ingredients, located in Guadalajara, Mexico. In this capacity, he managed the company’s feed ingredients trading, import and distribution throughout Mexico. LeGrand also served as the director of exports for Hawkeye Gold, LLC where he exported DDGS to Latin America and Asia.

LeGrand earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University in international business.

Haksoo Kim serves as the country director of Korea for the U.S. Grains Council, a non-profit organization that promotes the use of U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products worldwide. In this capacity, Haksoo manage the Grains Council Seoul Office, develops strategies and plans to increase U.S. market share for the items that the Council deals with.

Prior to the Council, Haksoo served as a director general for Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) where he managed agricultural trading division, and the president of aT Grain Company where he managed a grain trading venture in Chicago. Haksoo has mainly engaged in the international grain business and agricultural trade in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Korea for last 33 years.

Haksoo studied international trade and industry at Graduate School of Economics at Yonsei University.

Manuel Sanchez serves as the regional director of Southeast Asia for the U.S. Grains Council, a non-profit organization that promotes the use of U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products worldwide. In this capacity, Sanchez identifies and addresses all relevant trade, technical and policy factors relevant to building and maintaining the market for U.S. coarse grains and co-products for the countries stretching from Myanmar to New Zealand.

Before his current function, Sanchez held various positions for the Council in both the Southeast Asia Office and headquarters in Washington, D.C. His most recent position was assistant director for Southeast Asia, where he assisted with the overall coordination and management of Council programs in the region.

Manuel Sanchez also served as the manager of global trade for the U.S. Grains Council. In this capacity, Sanchez will provide support for the Council’s worldwide trade servicing, monitor and track trade issues in expanding markets and the overall management of Council programs involving U.S. corn and barley.

Prior to joining the Council, Sanchez worked at Cargill Incorporated from 2007-2014, serving in various roles including grain marketing advisor in Valparaiso, Indiana and trade execution supervisor in Coral Gables, Florida. Sanchez brings an extensive set of experience and skills in the arena of international trade of grains and oilseeds.

Stephan Wittig serves as the director of the Mexico City office for the U.S. Grains Council, a non-profit organization that promotes the global use of U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including ethanol and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

In this capacity, Wittig leads the Mexico office staff in identifying and addressing trade, technical and policy-related factors relevant to building and maintaining the top market for U.S. grain and related products exports.

Prior to becoming director, Wittig served as an ethanol consultant with the Council, helping to develop the U.S. grains industry’s ethanol programming in his country.

Wittig previously worked as a chief strategy officer for Grupo Baltico, Mexico’s biggest ethanol producer and distributor, where he established Oxifuel® E100 Fuel Retail Stations, making the group become the first private fuel retailer.

Wittig has a strong financial background with an educational specialization in distillation processes with a focus in the development of alcoholic beverages.