There are few things that I am more passionate about than family, farming communities and feeding American families. Communicating to others the importance of farming in today’s increasingly urbanized society is right up there. Fortunately, as Senior Director of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs for U.S. Sugar, I found a career doing what I love with a farming company that values families and community. Communicating through U. S. Sugar’s media, social media and public relations activities and developing our public education and information programs—including Raisin’ Cane tours provide ways to share this information with the public. My responsibilities also include coordinating external and internal communications functions, acting as a corporate spokesperson and assisting our public affairs and community relations efforts.

My key subject areas are U.S. and Florida agriculture, especially Florida’s sugar and fresh vegetable crops, trade, regulatory and environmental issues. Since 2011, when U.S. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk first appointed me to the Agriculture Trade Advisory Council (ATAC) on Sweeteners, I have been re-appointed in a bi-partisan manner several times. This group advises both USDA and USTR on trade negotiations in regard to sugar/sweeteners. I am also a Trustee of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and on the Board for Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau and the Ag Communicators of Florida. Former member of the South Florida Water Management District’s Water Resources Advisory Commission (WRAC) and its subcommittee on Lake Okeechobee and Board member of the Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic Alliance of Palm Beach County.

My credentials include the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communication and a B.A. in communications from Florida Atlantic University. I grew up in Belle Glade, FL, where my husband Julio and I live and raised our family. We have two grown sons and two grandsons.

Life is sweet.