U.S. Rice Growers Assn. names new CEO

By R. Hans Miller, News Editor
Posted 7/20/21

The Board of Directors of the U.S. Rice Producers Association has named Marcela Garcia as the new president and CEO of the organization, replacing Dwight Roberts who’s tenure ends Aug. 1. …

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U.S. Rice Growers Assn. names new CEO

Posted

The Board of Directors of the U.S. Rice Producers Association has named Marcela Garcia as the new president and CEO of the organization, replacing Dwight Roberts who’s tenure ends Aug. 1. Garcia has previously served as the chief operating officer for the organization and as the director of the Rice Market & Technology Convention for about a decade.

“Several years ago, Marcela assumed a number of leadership roles for the USRPA, and her extensive knowledge and rice trade relationships throughout the Western Hemisphere will serve our rice farmers extremely well,” Roberts said.

The USRPA is an association of rice producers in Texas, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri and is the only national rice producers organization made up of producers in all six rice-producing states, according to a USRPA press release.

The organization also elected new officers. East Texas rice farmer Neal Stoesser of Dayton, Texas will serve as vice-chairman while Alex Clark of Poplar Bluff, Missouri was elected chairman. Dustin Watkins from Welsh, Louisiana is now secretary-treasurer.

“We have young, talented rice farmers coming onto our board of directors with our new generation of staff talent, USRPA is ready to lean into the future,” said Roberts, who had served at the head of the association for 23 years.

USRPA, U.S. Rice Producers Association, Marcela Garcia, Dwight Roberts