The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is pleased to announce the promotion of three members of its Washington, D.C., staff, shifting their responsibilities and adding capacity in a key global office.

Heidi Bringenberg, previously a manager of global programs in Washington, is now assistant director in Council’s Mexico City office, starting her post Nov. 1. In that role, she will be responsible for helping to set strategy and execute programs in the office serving the top U.S. corn and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) market.

Bringenberg has worked at the Council since 2012, focusing on program planning and development in her prior role. She is a graduate of George Washington University, having studied international affairs with a Latin America concentration and a minor in Spanish.

Filling the global programs manager role in Washington is Emily Byron, who has served the Council as global programs coordinator for nearly two years. Byron holds a bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College in globalization studies with a double minor in philosophy and religious studies and a master’s degree from Kings College London in religion in contemporary society. She began her new position on Oct. 22.

Larry Byrd, who joined the Council and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) in July as receptionist and administrative assistant, will become global programs coordinator on Nov. 7. He studied consumer affairs at the University of Alabama.

“I am confident our new global programs line up will inject new energy into the critical promotion efforts we carry out with our members and global staff, and I’m excited to be able to send one of our loyal D.C. staff members to her first overseas post,” said Cary Sifferath, senior director of global programs, who oversees the Washington-based global programs staff and USGC offices in Asia and the Western Hemisphere.

“I’ve been fortunate to be able to grow within the Council, from working in a role similar to these to running overseas offices. Developing staff at all levels is so important to our ongoing success.”

The Council congratulates Heidi, Emily and Larry on their promotions!