Kurt Shultz Honored For 25 Years Of Service With The U.S. Grains Council

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) honored Kurt Shultz, senior director of global strategies, for his 25 years of service to the organization during its 22nd International Marketing Conference and 65th Annual Membership Meeting in Austin, Texas.

Shultz joined the Council in 1999 at the organization’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., as manager of international operations for offices based in Latin America, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. In addition, he managed the Council’s Latin American marketing program activities upon the closure of the regional office in 2001.

“I was fortunate to have strong mentors early in my career from Council members, staff and our international partners. Learning to stop and listen to their advice and their perspectives helped me navigate the complexities of working internationally. They taught me when to take risks and when to walk away. They also trusted me with a lot of responsibility which I never took for granted,” Shultz said.

“These days, as a senior team member, I hope that I can return the favor as I see a host of younger staff with a lot of energy and enthusiasm looking to learn and grow. I hope I can contribute constructively to their career development and encourage them when they experience the inevitable challenges and setbacks that we all face.”

While working as the Regional Director in Tunisia, Shultz oversaw Moroccan poultry projects in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This project became a flagship program with the help of the Council, USDA and Moroccan poultry industry experts in developing the Moroccan poultry industry.

“Over the years, the Moroccan poultry industry has become the most modern and advanced poultry industry in Africa. Over the last 30 years, U.S. agricultural exports to Morocco have grown from $380 million to approximately $1.2 billion annually. This growth can be attributed to the work of USDA and other U.S. agricultural cooperators including the Council by investing in building trading relationships with the Moroccan industry,” Shultz said.

“Building on this success, the Moroccan Poultry Association, FISA, has become partners with the Council in training and developing the poultry sector across East and West Africa, planting the seeds for dynamic growth and import opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers in the future.”

Today, Shultz serves as senior director of global strategies where he supervises two international offices – Africa, Europe and the Middle East and India – and oversees D.C. staff working on international projects with members. He also works closely with Council partners at USDA on developing export program priorities.

“I have been lucky to be engaged in many impactful programs, both small and large,” Shultz said. “Most of them center around the power of relationships and why we need to invest in long-term relationships with our international partners. Often, it takes years for programs to yield the results, and it’s important to keep focused on these long-term objectives.”

Through his 25 years at the Council, Shultz has shared the importance of the Council’s mission demonstrated through the projects he and his colleagues have worked on.

“We go where the market doesn’t work and we lay the groundwork for future trade to happen. Whether it is tariff and non-tariff barriers or more complex issues impeding sector growth, our job is to create openings and work with local partners to build mutually beneficial trading relationships with U.S. businesses,” Shultz said.

“I have seen and continue to see the mission of the Council as incredibly relevant, to develop markets, enable trade and improve lives. I have seen how the Council’s programs have improved lives both in the U.S. and with our international partners and that makes me excited to go to work each day.”

Please join the Council in thanking Kurt for his service!