New vice president of federal government affairs to head WGA's Washington office
New vice president of federal government affairs to head WGA's Washington office
The new Washington, DC, office of Irvine, CA-based Western Growers Association will be headed by Cathleen Enright, a trade negotiator who has represented American agriculture industry interests in her capacity as deputy assistant U.S. Trade Representative as well as previous positions in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. State Department.
"We conducted a wide and thorough search for the right person to lead our Washington, DC, office," Western Growers Association President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Nassif said in a July 30 press release. With so many talented professionals expressing interest in this position, we were able to consider people with different backgrounds and experiences. Ultimately, Cathleen stood out for her combination of academic training in science, intellectual firepower, her energy and determination, and her substantial record of achievement in the difficult world of foreign trade negotiations. These experiences and qualities, and Cathleen's desire to help our members, will ensure that in Washington, DC, Western Growers will be an effective leader and outspoken voice for our members.
In her role as deputy assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Ms. Enright negotiated several bilateral and multi-lateral agreements with U.S. trading partners that restored market access -- or opened access for the first time -- to U.S. agricultural commodities. Among these include agreements with South Korea for California citrus, India for California almonds and Canada for Northwest U.S. potatoes.
Previously, Ms. Enright served as assistant deputy administrator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2000 to 2006, where she negotiated resolution of more than 30 phytosanitary trade barriers affecting U.S. agricultural commodities and served as department and agency liaison with U.S. industries, other federal government agencies, state departments of agriculture and Congress.
From 1995-2000, Ms. Enright served as a policy analyst with the U.S. State Department, where she coordinated interagency and international coalition efforts for negotiation of international treaty in trade in products of biotechnology and served as department advisor and technical expert for biotechnology-related issues.
Ms. Enrights experience working with American agricultural commodity interests provides both international and domestic policy expertise, Mr. Nassif noted in the press release. Cathleen has a detailed understanding of our industrys challenges and opportunities, from foreign market access to food safety to the farm bill.
Ms. Enright earned a doctorate in biochemistry from State University of New York and completed her post-doctoral training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
WGA opened its Washington, DC, office on April 30, and the associations executive vice president, Matt McInerney, has been heading the new office in the interim. Ms. Enright, who will be vice president of federal government affairs, will start in her new position Sept. 4.
"We conducted a wide and thorough search for the right person to lead our Washington, DC, office," Western Growers Association President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Nassif said in a July 30 press release. With so many talented professionals expressing interest in this position, we were able to consider people with different backgrounds and experiences. Ultimately, Cathleen stood out for her combination of academic training in science, intellectual firepower, her energy and determination, and her substantial record of achievement in the difficult world of foreign trade negotiations. These experiences and qualities, and Cathleen's desire to help our members, will ensure that in Washington, DC, Western Growers will be an effective leader and outspoken voice for our members.
In her role as deputy assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Ms. Enright negotiated several bilateral and multi-lateral agreements with U.S. trading partners that restored market access -- or opened access for the first time -- to U.S. agricultural commodities. Among these include agreements with South Korea for California citrus, India for California almonds and Canada for Northwest U.S. potatoes.
Previously, Ms. Enright served as assistant deputy administrator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2000 to 2006, where she negotiated resolution of more than 30 phytosanitary trade barriers affecting U.S. agricultural commodities and served as department and agency liaison with U.S. industries, other federal government agencies, state departments of agriculture and Congress.
From 1995-2000, Ms. Enright served as a policy analyst with the U.S. State Department, where she coordinated interagency and international coalition efforts for negotiation of international treaty in trade in products of biotechnology and served as department advisor and technical expert for biotechnology-related issues.
Ms. Enrights experience working with American agricultural commodity interests provides both international and domestic policy expertise, Mr. Nassif noted in the press release. Cathleen has a detailed understanding of our industrys challenges and opportunities, from foreign market access to food safety to the farm bill.
Ms. Enright earned a doctorate in biochemistry from State University of New York and completed her post-doctoral training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
WGA opened its Washington, DC, office on April 30, and the associations executive vice president, Matt McInerney, has been heading the new office in the interim. Ms. Enright, who will be vice president of federal government affairs, will start in her new position Sept. 4.
