April 29, 2024

Washington, D.C. – The Corn Refiners Association is pleased to announce the hiring of Shawna Newsome as its Vice President of Food Policy. In this role, Newsome will leverage her years of expertise in food and agriculture policy to deliver science-based solutions for CRA’s members in the legislative and regulatory arena and represent the organization in critical coalitions.

“Shawna’s diverse work history will be critically important as we navigate the dynamic and ever-changing food policy space,” said CRA President & CEO John Bode. “As consumers want to know more about where their food comes from, it is critical that government and industry officials come to the table with factual information grounded in science. CRA has a vital role to play in making that happen. Shawna will be a great addition to the CRA team and excited to have her on board.”

In her role, Newsome will also serve as the Vice President of Food Policy for the Plant Based Products Council, where she will execute strategies to advance food, nutrition, and agriculture priorities for PBPC members.

Newsome comes to CRA from analytics firm SAS, where she was an industry consultant for food safety. She also spent time in senior food and agriculture roles at the Department of Agriculture and on staff in the U.S. Senate after beginning her career in Washington on the staff of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Newsome holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in food and resource economics and a master’s degree from Texas Tech University in agricultural communications.

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About The Corn Refiners Association (CRA)
The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is the national trade association representing the corn refining industry of the United States. CRA and its predecessors have served this important segment of American agribusiness since 1913. Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, starch, advanced bioproducts, corn oil and feed products from corn components such as starch, oil, protein, and fiber.