Speakers

Jim Abbott, born without a right hand, became one of baseball’s most inspiring figures. Overcoming significant challenges, he developed exceptional athletic skills, leading to a standout collegiate career at the University of Michigan, where he earned prestigious accolades, including the Sullivan Award and a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics. Drafted by the California Angels, Abbott made history as one of the few players to debut directly in the majors, defying skeptics at every stage. 

Abbott’s career reached its pinnacle in 1993 with the New York Yankees when he pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. Known for his innovative technique, he fielded with a glove on his right arm and seamlessly transitioned to throw. Beyond his achievements on the field, Abbott has inspired countless individuals as a motivational speaker and advocate for children with disabilities, proving that perseverance and ingenuity can overcome any obstacle. 

Michael Swanson is an agricultural economist for Wells Fargo. Based in Minneapolis, his responsibilities include analyzing the impact of energy on agriculture and strategic analysis for key agricultural commodities and livestock sectors. His focus includes the systems analysis of consumer food demand and its linkage to agribusiness. Additionally, he helps develop credit and risk strategies for Wells Fargo’s customers, and performs macroeconomic and international analysis on agricultural production and agribusiness.

Michael joined Wells Fargo in 2000 as a senior economist. He received his undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Economics from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. He received his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota.

Prior to working at Wells Fargo, he worked for four years at Land O’ Lakes, a large national dairy cooperative based in Minnesota. Before working in the dairy processing business, Michael lived in South America for four years working for Cargill. His first position was with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad as transportation systems analyst.

James Butler is senior vice president and chief supply chain officer for Brinker International, Inc., one of the world’s leading casual dining companies and home of Chili’s® Grill & Bar, Maggiano’s Little Italy® and its virtual brand: It’s Just Wings®.

In this role, he oversees all aspects of the company’s supply chain, including procurement, food safety, quality assurance, distribution, logistics, brand program management, and supply chain systems for Brinker’s corporate-owned restaurants. In addition to his supply chain leadership, James directs Brinker’s corporate strategy team, driving several of the company’s most impactful initiatives and strategic projects.

Prior to Brinker, James was Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions, LLC (RSCS), the supply chain co-op for Yum! Brands. There, he led a transformation of supply chain operations supporting Kentucky Fried Chicken, improving efficiency and performance. Before joining Brinker, James was senior vice president of supply chain at Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions, LLC (RSCS) – a Yum! Brands Co-Op. While there he led and transformed the supply chain management organization supporting Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants. Before RSCS, James served as vice president of strategy and integrated business planning at Georgia Pacific and spent several years as a leader and management consultant with Deloitte Consulting, LLC. He has a strong track record of linking operational strategies with commercial objectives to deliver lasting value and inspiring a shared vision that transforms organizations.

Earlier in his career, James held various roles in sales and marketing with AT&T, International Paper and Verizon Wireless. He earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Kentucky and an MBA from Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management.

Committed to giving back, James serves on the alumni boards of both of his alma maters and mentors young people entering college and their careers. Outside of work, he enjoys quality time with his wife, Catalina, and their three children. The family loves traveling, especially to South America to visit Catalina’s family. When home, they enjoy following their favorite college teams and laughing and playing together.

Michele Murray leads the Food Agriculture and Ingredient Practice for Ketchum, which specializes in providing communications guidance and strategic counsel for companies and organizations within the food supply chain. A farmer’s daughter from Minnesota, Michele Murray has deep roots connected to agriculture. She is passionate about improving access to healthy food, creating community through food and strengthening the food system by building a deeper awareness of where your food comes from.  

Michele has more than 25 years of experience leading strategic communications in food and agriculture. She directed Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. integrated marketing communications for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association for 12 years. She also led communications for Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation and LiveWell Colorado, a public health NGO focused on addressing food insecurity and health equity.   

Michele has earned several PRSA Silver Anvils, National Agri-Marketing Awards, the International Association for Business Communicators Gold Quill Award, PRWeek Crisis/Issues Management Campaign of the Year and Creativity in Public Relations Award. She is a former board member for a non-profit food access organization, GoFarm, and leads a summer series of Food Truck Nights in her neighborhood. 

Leslee Oden is the President and CEO of the National Turkey Federation (NTF) located in Washington, D.C. She assumed the role on July 1, 2024, marking a pivotal moment in her longstanding dedication to the U.S. turkey industry. With a commitment to advancing the interests of NTF’s members, Leslee oversees the organization’s day-to-day operations, guides its strategic direction, and provides leadership and guidance to the NTF staff. 

Leslee’s journey with NTF began in 2009 when she joined as an intern, demonstrating an early passion for the turkey industry that would shape her career trajectory. Throughout her tenure, she has played a pivotal role in the government affairs department, advocating for the interests of NTF and its members on a wide range of issues. She also co-founded NTF’s successful marketing initiative, Turkey Smoke; an innovative program aimed at increasing consumer awareness of turkey through barbecue. Leslee earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in poultry science from Texas A&M University and is originally from Leona, Texas.   

Josh Cobb is an accomplished Executive with a proven track record of leading multi-billion-dollar supply chains and high-performing teams across iconic brands such as Wendy’s, Wingstop, Taco Bell, and more.  

With expertise in strategic sourcing, risk management, innovation, and supplier partnerships, Joshua has driven over $200 million in cost savings and $250 million in new product sales throughout his career. Currently serving as Executive Vice President of Supply Chain at Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Co-Op, he oversees a department of 25, managing $4 billion in annual spend across domestic and international operations. His leadership has led to the successful implementation of next-generation bacon, saving $28 million annually, and the development of innovative products like Cinnabon Pull-Apart and Saucy Nuggs, generating a combined 250 million in top-line sales. 

Previously, served as Senior Director of Global Supply Chain at Wingstop Restaurant Inc.. He implemented industry-leading pricing models and risk management strategies, averting $100 million in market costs during the 2021 wing market highs allowing Wingstop to be one of the hottest restaurants for consumers and investors. Josh’s career also includes a tenure as Vice President of Supply Chain at Taco Bueno Restaurant Group,  Health Trust/CoreTrust, Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions, Avendra LLC. Josh started his career at Dean Foods Company, where he became the youngest Operations Manager in the country. 

Holding a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Finance from Florida State University, Josh is also HACCP certified by the FDA and a Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Certified Practitioner-Level 3. His strategic vision and leadership continue to deliver transformative results and operational excellence across the organizations he serves. 

Jonna Parker has been an innovator in the fresh foods space for two decades, driving the evolution of consumer-centric decision making and big data analytics throughout the retail food industry.  

Jonna leads IRI’s Fresh practice focusing on bringing the power of data-driven strategies to fresh foods suppliers and retailers. She spearheaded the development of IRI’s Integrated Fresh, the industry standard for viewing total food and beverage to accurately measure market trends, unlock shopper behavior, identify distribution gaps and reach high potential consumers. 

As an industry thought leader, Jonna appears in podcasts, webinars and publications. She authors IRI and FMI’s Top Trends in Fresh Series as well as many studies for North American Meat Institute, International Fresh Produce Association and IDDBA. In 2021, she was named a “Top Woman in Grocery.”  

Greg Tyler was appointed to the position of President & Chief Executive Officer for the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) on July 1st of 2022.  USAPEEC is an industry-sponsored trade organization dedicated to increasing exports of U.S. poultry and egg products in all foreign markets through marketing, trade policy, and technical programs. 

Tyler received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural economics with concentrations in marketing from the University of Georgia.  He served for 25 years with the Council overseeing USAPEEC’s global marketing programs and overseas offices. Tyler also previously worked for USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service in Washington, DC.   

Tyler recently elected as the President of the US Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) an export oriented non-profit association representing approximately 80 U.S. commodity trade associations, farmer cooperatives and state regional trade groups. In addition, he also serves on the Board of Director’s for the World Poultry Foundation.  

Dustin Pendell is an agricultural economist that focuses on economic issues related to animal health. In Dustin’s nearly 20 years of academic experience, his research and extension work has spanned from the producer through the meat supply chain to the final consumer. Dustin has significant teaching and mentoring experience with courses in agricultural marketing, production economics, farm management, managerial economics, data analysis, and animal health economics.  

Sam Kieffer serves as the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Vice President, Public Policy. In this role, he leads the AFBF government affairs, advocacy and economics teams.

Prior to joining the American Farm Bureau Federation staff, Kieffer served as Chief Administrative Officer of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. Kieffer also oversaw operations within PFB Members’ Service Corporation; the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation; and the Farmers Allied for Responsive, More Effective Representation (FARMER) PAC. 

Joining the PFB team in 2005, Kieffer first worked as a regional director, before becoming PFB’s National Government Relations Director. In 2013, he became Manager of the Government Affairs & Communications Division.

Kieffer is a 12-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard where he served as a logistics officer. In 2009, Kieffer was presented the Theodore Roosevelt Leadership Award by the National Guard Association of the United States for his outstanding leadership and professionalism in his service to country and community.

Kieffer earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Dickinson College, a master’s in public administration from Widener University and a master’s in business administration from Delaware Valley University. He was named a member of the Central Penn Business Journal Forty Under 40 Class of 2017 and received the FFA’s Honorary American Degree in 2016. As a student, he was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. During his youth, Kieffer earned his Eagle Award in the Boy Scouts of America and was recognized as a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow.

Kieffer grew up on a family grain and beef farm in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania,

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Pat Meehan is a seasoned Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) food executive with over 40 years of experience leading public, private equity-backed, and family-owned businesses. His career is distinguished by a proven track record in executive leadership roles at food companies serving both retail and foodservice channels. 

Pat currently serves as the CEO of Kreher Family Farms, a 101-year-old, multi-generational family business based in Western New York. Under his leadership, the company supplies over 3 million eggs daily and is recognized as the largest producer of organic crops in New York State—all driven by a deep, enduring commitment to feeding families and supporting the communities they serve. 

Pat holds a BBA in Marketing Management and an Executive MBA, and has completed executive education coursework at The Wharton School of Business. 

Johanna Ballesteros is a seasoned expert with over 20 years of global experience in the agribusiness, food systems, and AgTech sectors. She specializes in business development and market expansion. With a degree in Animal Science Engineering and an MBA from the Netherlands, Johanna bridges the gap between the technical and commercial aspects of agriculture, driving significant growth across animal health, food safety, and renewable energy sectors. 

Throughout her career, Johanna has led numerous successful initiatives, including the introduction of new product lines, the development of distribution networks, and the implementation of cutting-edge technologies that optimize agricultural operations and supply chains. Her ability to navigate the complexities of global agribusiness markets has been key to expanding market presence and improving operational efficiency for the organizations she has supported. 

After relocating to the United States, Johanna further expanded her leadership expertise by completing an Agricultural Leadership Program at Clemson University, where she gained deeper insight into the regional agricultural landscape and the critical role of innovation in enhancing productivity and sustainability. 

In her current role at SWARM Engineering, Johanna is at the forefront of integrating AI-driven solutions to tackle complex supply chain challenges. She works with major poultry producers and global commodity giants to boost productivity, reduce waste, and promote sustainability—playing a pivotal role in transforming the global agribusiness sector. 

Johanna’s commitment to advancing innovation through technology and leadership continues to drive meaningful change, positioning her as a key figure in the future of sustainable agriculture. 

Brian Earnest is lead economist for animal protein in CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division. He provides market and industry research for the poultry, pork and beef sectors. 

Mr. Earnest has more than 15 years of industry and consulting experience. Prior to joining CoBank, he was senior commodity analyst, poultry, with IHS Markit’s Food and Agricultural Commodities Economics group. Mr. Earnest provided forecasting and price risk strategies, client service, as well as project consulting in the poultry and egg space. He previously held various procurement and advisory roles with Topco Associates, LLC, a retail food industry cooperative.  

Mr. Earnest holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in economics from Eastern Illinois University. 

Jerry Shen has nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant world. As VP of Marketing at Dave’s Hot Chicken, he’s all about driving brand growth and guest engagement. Before that, he led marketing at Zankou Chicken and spent almost a decade at Blaze Pizza, helping to fuel its rapid expansion. He also honed his skills at Panda Restaurant Group in digital content and design. Passionate about branding, digital strategy, and storytelling, Jerry loves finding new ways to connect with guests and grow iconic restaurant brands. 

John Baffes is Senior Economist at the World Bank’s Prospects Group where he leads the World Bank’s commodity price forecasting process and oversees the management of the commodity price database. With a rich background in various units within the World Bank, including Latin America, South Asia, East Africa, Evaluation, and Research, John brings a diverse perspective to his work environment. His contributions extend beyond the confines of the World Bank, with numerous contributions to edited volumes and academic journals covering economic development, agricultural economics, resource economics, and applied econometrics. John also teaches an executive MBA course on Applied Econometrics for Commodity Markets. Prior to his academic pursuits, John gained invaluable experience managing a commodity trading company, solidifying his practical understanding of commodity market dynamics. John holds degrees in Economics from the University of Athens, Greece (BS), Agricultural Economics from the University of Georgia, U.S. (MS), and Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland, U.S. (Ph.D.). 

Dr. Steve Lerner is the Senior Scientific and Business Advisor – North America for the Animal Health Biosolutions division of Novonesis. In this role, Steve and his team are responsible for bringing Novonesis’ science-based, research-proven products to the North American animal health and production markets, including beef cattle feedlots, commercial dairies and calf ranches, and poultry and egg production facilities.  

Steve has a Ph.D. in Reproductive Physiology from West Virginia University and a post-doctoral Fellowship in Molecular Genetics from the University of Southern California. He holds an M.S. in Biology/Embryology from West Virginia University and a B.S. in Zoology from University of Maryland. Prior to joining Chr. Hansen, Steve worked at Nutrition Physiology Company as Vice President of Product Development and Commercialization.  

Ryan Bennett is the executive director of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs as well as the International Poultry Welfare Alliance. These organizations engage stakeholders from the entire poultry and egg supply chain to continuously improve sustainability and welfare. In this role, Bennett oversees the facilitation, management, and execution of the organizations’ strategies, bringing together the world’s leading experts in poultry and eggs toward their common goals. 

Bennett has a longstanding commitment to championing sustainable agriculture. He formerly served as the senior director of industry and environmental affairs at the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) where he managed the National Dairy Farmer’s Assuring Responsible Management Program (FARM). This program evaluates animal care, antibiotic use, environmental stewardship, and worker health and safety on farms representing 98% of the U.S. milk supply.  

Prior to working on animal care and sustainability, Bennett worked in government relations for the National Milk Producers Federation and the National Grain and Feed Association. 

Bennett lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, Katlyn, and their dog, Callie. He attended Kansas State University where he was active in livestock judging and the policy debate team. Bennett remains active in his rural community where he grew up in Maryland by mentoring youth with their livestock projects and as a member of the Howard County Fair Association Board of Directors. 

Tom Healey has served as an Executive in the protein and food ingredient sectors. He has held pivotal roles including Global Supply Chain Management; International Business Development; Global R&D – Quality Assurance; International Sales and Commodity Insights in a variety of Fortune 100 Companies (ConAgra, Heinz, Sonic, Jack Links, Dairy Queen). Tom earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science, then Master of Science Degrees’ in Genetics and Food Science providing him with a unique background that complements his work experience spanning 33 years in the food industry. During his career, Tom served on MICA (Meat Import Council of America) and the Cattleman’s Beef Board.  

Tom has been an organizer for 17 years for Mississippi State University’s Marination 101 short course helping industry professionals learn more about current information and technical applications regarding marinated meats. 

Tom recently retired and continues assisting the industry through consulting, and project management. In his spare time, Tom enjoys golfing, bar-b-queuing, developing meat items, hunting, and fishing. 

Was raised on a small family farm in Southern Missouri. 

Attended College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri 

Wife of nearly 30 years, 2 children and 1 grand daughter 

Have been in the Poultry Industry since 1997, in all aspects of the feed manufacturing, grains and ingredient logistics, procurement and risk management 

With Wayne Sanderson since 2022 as the Sr Director of Feed Ingredients and Risk Management 

Lauren Nolan is a dedicated expert in poultry nutrition whose career reflects a commitment to advancing animal health and production. She earned her PhD at the University of Kentucky, where her research centered on the role of organic minerals in improving eggshell quality and bone integrity of laying hens. Her innovative work contributed to the understanding of nutritional strategies for enhancing poultry welfare and productivity. 

Upon completing her doctoral studies, Lauren joined Alltech, a global leader in animal nutrition, as a Poultry Technical Consultant for Ridley Feed Ingredients. In this role, she provided comprehensive technical support to customers, specializing in finished feed and premix formulation.  

In October 2024, Lauren transitioned into the position of U.S. Poultry Research and Technical Lead. In this role, she continues to drive innovation by spearheading research initiatives and providing expert guidance in poultry nutrition and health. Lauren’s work exemplifies her passion for merging academic research with industry application, benefiting both producers and animals. 

Rami Fakhouri is a Risk Management Consultant at StoneX Financial Inc., where he specializes in providing strategic guidance within the integrated livestock sector. Since joining StoneX as a broker five years ago, Rami has built a strong portfolio of clients and cultivated deep industry expertise. A graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in Agricultural and Consumer Economics, he brings a data-driven and market-informed approach to managing risk. Rami is currently a member of the trading team on the Egg Swap desk, where he focuses on developing customized hedging solutions for clients navigating the complexities of the egg market. At this year’s conference, he will share insights on the Egg Swap and its growing role in price risk management across the poultry industry. 

Anne Krema is Director of Research and Product Development at CME Group. She is responsible for maintaining the current livestock, dairy and weather product offerings, as well as researching potential new products. Throughout Anne’s tenure at CME Group, Anne has worked closely with commercial market participants in the agricultural space to ensure CME Group continues to serve as an effective venue for risk management. For over 10 years, Anne has been passionate about the role CME Group plays in helping the agriculture industry manage risk as they continue to feed the world. Anne holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan where she studied economics and statistics.   

Vinay joined Expana in 2023 as CPO and is, currently, also the interim CTO. As a leader of Expana’s Product and Technology team, he leads product strategy and execution, including development of Expana’s user friendly SaaS platform. Vinay has 25+ years of experience in product development and leadership, including Motorola (Symbol), Qlik and Interos. He is skilled in developing successful products that delight customers, having helped scale startups as well as transform product organizations at large enterprises. In particular, he has focused on helping companies find product market fit and deliver against key business goals and metrics. Vinay holds a Masters degree from Harvard University as well as a BE in Computer Science and Engineering.

Vinay is a supporter/volunteer for WeSeeHope, helping create sustainable change for vulnerable children in East Africa through education, child rights and economic empowerment initiatives. Vinay is an avid runner and scuba diver in his free time.

Luana has nearly two decades of experience in the agri-food industry, including roles at major manufacturing companies such as Nestle and AB InBev. During her career, she focused on leading data and intelligence strategies to support industry players in making informed strategic decisions.

At Expana, Luana leads global multifunctional data and analytics teams. Her role involves growing and developing teams that apply quantitative and statistical analysis, as well as machine learning techniques, to enhance Expana’s data, insights, and forecasting capabilities. She also plays a critical role in integrating other businesses as part of Expana’s ambitious expansion efforts.

Luana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business. Outside of her professional life, Luana enjoys spending quality time with her daughter, often cycling or solving puzzles together. She’s also an avid swimmer, rugby fan, and adventurous diver, constantly seeking new spots worldwide.

Joe joined Expana as part of Mintec’s acquisition of Urner Barry. After starting his career at Urner Barry in sales, Joe held several reporting, management, and leadership positions within the organization, before becoming CEO. He has a strong track record in utilizing his deep experience in price reporting to initiate benchmark coverage in high-value, opaque markets. He also possesses rich expertise in working with organizations to align their reporting practices in order to become IOSCO-assured (the gold standard for Price Reporting Agencies). Joe holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Siena College. In his spare time, he enjoys surfing, fishing, skiing, off-road motorcycling, and spending time with family and friends.

Marcel joined Expana in 2019, bringing a wealth of experience in price reporting, analytics, and risk management. At Expana, Marcel leads the proprietary agri-food and industrial coverage, empowering stakeholders across the value chain to make informed business decisions and mitigate risks through best-in-class price benchmarks, news, and analytics. Since joining, Marcel has been instrumental in transforming Expana into the largest IOSCO-assured Price Reporting Agency (PRA) in the agri-food sector, leveraging advanced in-house capabilities and strategic M&A.

Marcel’s expertise in enhancing transparency within physical commodity markets stems from his outstanding achievements at global firms such as S&P Global. Marcel holds an MSc in Energy, Trade & Finance from Cass Business School and outside of work, Marcel enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.

Russ Whitman is Director Market Reporting for Urner Barry by Expana and oversees all of the company’s protein market reporting initiatives in the Americas. Russ joined Urner Barry in 1986 and was initially involved with COMTELL sales and support. He also served as Manager of the Instant Market News Department and coordinated the company’s marketing efforts. By providing oversight to the PRA team, Russ helps ensure  that all market researchers, reporters and managing editors are fully in-line with Expana’s methodology while observing IOSCO compliant reporting guidelines. As one of our most tenured team members, Russ holds prestigious, industry-wide recognition and often presents at events and conferences.    

Whitman graduated from Washington & Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with special attainments in Commerce. 

After a formal education in logistics and purchasing, Tom Bundgaard worked for 13 years in procurement as a Purchasing Manager. This naturally involves all the traditional aspects of purchasing, especially with sourcing in the Far East. This work had a heavy focus on materials, commodities and semi-finished products.

 

From 2000 onward, Tom Bundgaard specialised in commodities from an analytical forecasting standpoint based on technical and fundamental analysis. Three educations have supported this specialisation: An ongoing mentoring education, an MSTA degree from the Society of Technical Analysts in London and a Master of Financial Technical Analysis degree from IFTA in the USA.

 

Tom Bundgaard has been given lectures all over Europe since 2008 in various conferences, both on commodity price forecasts and macro economy, as well as being frequently interviewed on radio and TV. 

Jamie Chadwick is Managing Editor, directing the company’s news division in the Americas. She leads an elite team of writers, analysts, and global correspondents responsible for delivering the latest in breaking agricultural and food industry news to our network of subscribers. Serving previously as a livestock analyst for Urner Barry, she developed the framework for reporting impactful and objective intelligence for those operating throughout the entire agri-food space. Jamie has authored numerous educational resources on behalf of the protein industry and her experience has made her a sought-after speaker at industry events in the U.S., Canada and in Europe. She is a champion of the Women in Food and Agriculture initiative, serving as the Summit Chairman and campaign spokesperson.  

Karyn Rispoli is an accomplished market analyst and price reporter, currently serving as Managing Editor of Expana’s U.S. Egg Division. She brings extensive experience in commodity and financial markets, with previous reporting roles at Argus, Bloomberg, and OPIS, a Dow Jones company. Since joining Urner Barry (now part of Expana) in 2019, Karyn has been a leading voice in U.S. egg market reporting, delivering critical analysis of pricing trends, supply dynamics, and industry shifts. Outside of work, she is an avid reader, passionate photographer, and fitness enthusiast.

Ryan Hojnowski is a Market Reporter at Expana, where he has been covering egg markets since joining via Urner Barry in July 2021. In his role, Ryan delivers daily, data-driven market commentary, produces in-depth analysis pieces, and maintains a comprehensive list of benchmark price quotes in the shell egg and egg products categories. He is also a regular contributor to Expana’s webcasts and podcasts, offering insight alongside the broader market reporting team. Ryan attended The Ohio State University where he studied economics and consumer sciences. 

Amanda Rastovic is a Senior Forecasting Analyst with Expana. Prior to Expana, she spent 10 years as a Risk Management Consultant at StoneX. She has worked closely with a wide variety of companies to open markets, educate, and support their growth. She has been involved in the National Grain and Feed Association, most recently as a Finance & Administration Committee member for several years. She holds an undergraduate degree from Purdue University in Agricultural Business Management and an MBA in Finance. 

Randy Pesciotta is a Principal Reporter at Expana, overseeing the company’s egg reporting department. Pesciotta began his career in 1985 as an apprentice market reporter. Widely recognized as an expert in egg market production, trends and analysis, Pesciotta is responsible for reporting the shell egg and egg products markets throughout the United States and the European Union. He is also the Editor of Urner Barry’s Weekly Insider’s Dairy & Egg Report. His decades of experience in the egg industry and in the many facets of Expana’s daily operations has uniquely positioned him to speak on a wide range of topics impacting today’s market landscape. Pesciotta holds a degree in business administration from Stockton College of New Jersey where he graduated in 1983. 

Matt Busardo is the team lead for Expana’s poultry division where he provides detailed coverage of both the chicken and turkey markets. Busardo specializes in providing data-driven commentary and analysis to those operating in the sector. His diagnostic approach to uncovering the influences behind fundamental market changes provides unparalleled insight into an increasingly complex business environment. He has been a featured panelist at events speaking on poultry market dynamics. Prior to joining the Urner Barry team, Busardo worked in financial services for Wells Fargo Advisors. 

Dylan Hughes joined Expana, formerly Urner Barry, in December 2017 as a market reporter covering the chicken and turkey markets. In this role, Hughes provides in-depth coverage of the poultry industry while helping to analyze and effectively communicate the complexities that surround current market situations to the benefit subscribers. Hughes graduated from Stockton University with a B.A. in Business Studies and is a board member of the National Protein and Food Distributors Association. 

Mason Augustino is a Market Reporter at Expana, specializing in the US pork industry for the past two years. Over the last year, he has also expanded his focus to include the lamb and veal markets. Augustino provides accurate, timely market reports and price quotations, helping stakeholders navigate the wholesale protein space. His work delivers fully adequate insight into pricing trends and the analysis of supply and demand dynamics across the pork, lamb, and veal markets. Augustino holds a degree in Mathematics and Economics from Albright College, which has supported the development of his analytical strengths and consistent market data collection. 

With over a decade of experience in commercial content strategy and event leadership, Ollie Theocharous currently serves as Content Director for Communications and Events at Expana. In this role since January 2023, Ollie has been instrumental in shaping high-impact, content-led events and commercial content that serve clients across the global food and agriculture industries.  

Prior to this, Ollie held multiple senior roles at AgriBriefing, including Head of Commercial and Event Content, leading a multidisciplinary team in delivering commercial content across key brands such as Urner Barry, Feedinfo, Stratégie Grains, and Women in Food and Agriculture. Her portfolio included a wide array of content formats, ranging from conferences and webinars to podcasts, mentorship schemes, and bespoke digital projects, addressing topics from animal protein and nutrition to DEI in the agrifood space. 

Before entering the agri-food sector, Ollie developed her expertise at Capita Conferences, where she served as Production Manager for public sector events, building a strong foundation in content production and event management.