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Staff

Kailee Tkacz Buller

President and CEO

Kailee Tkacz Buller

Kailee Tkacz Buller is the President & CEO of NOPA. She previously served as the President & CEO of the Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils, the Washington, D.C. based national trade association representing the edible fats and oils industry.

Prior to ISEO, she served in various leadership roles at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) serving as the Chief of Staff to Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky where she helped drive transformational change and oversee operations of the agency of 100,000 employees with an annual budget of nearly $200 Billion.

She played pivotal roles in the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations and implementation, renewable fuel policy, and led strategy on COVID-19. She served as the Chief of Staff of the Research, Education, and Economics Department as well as a Policy and Congressional Advisor to Secretary Sonny Perdue. Prior to her time at USDA Tkacz Buller served in a variety of legislative and regulatory leadership roles at the Corn Refiners Association, SNAC International, and the National Grocers Association.

She holds a Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives, is the Vice Chair of the Food Beverage Issue Alliance a DC based group of 58 national food and beverage trade associations, and currently serves as the 8th Congressional district representative of the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a four-year termed position appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Kailee resides in Alexandria, VA with her husband and two children.

David Hovermale

Executive Vice President, Government Relations

dhovermale@nopa.org

David Hovermale

Hovermale has served as NOPA’s Executive Vice President since May 2001. As Executive Vice President, he is responsible for government relations, issues management, and political strategy and coordination. Hovermale also provides the coordination for NOPA’s three primary committees: Government and Public Relations, Industry and Grower Relations, and International Trade. From December 1998 through April 2001, Hovermale served as NOPA’s Director of Government and Public Relations.

Hovermale has nearly 25 years of involvement in the Washington agricultural and international trade policy. He has extensive experience in both Congress and the Administration.

Before joining NOPA, Hovermale served as Legislative Assistant for Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) from 1994 through November 1998. He specialized in agricultural policy and organized Senator McConnell’s activities on the Agriculture Committee and the Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Agriculture. Hovermale served as Director of Legislative Affairs of the Foreign Agricultural Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 1998 to 1992. Hovermale also worked in several other USDA divisions, including International Affairs and Commodity Programs, Office of Congressional Relations, and Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. Hovermale earned his B.A. in political science from Frostburg State College in Maryland.

David is the staff person to contact if you need information on:

• Agricultural Policy
• Transportation Issues
• Congressional Activities & Outreach
• National & State Oilseed Grower Relations Outreach
• Domestic & Legislative Coalitions
• Press Inquiries
• NOPA Monthly Crush Statistics & Subscriptions

Katie Vassalli

Vice President, Regulatory Affairs

kvassalli@nopa.org

Katie Vassalli

Katie Vassalli joined NOPA on January 7, 2019 and serves as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs. In this role, she is responsible for leading NOPA’s advocacy efforts in addressing environmental, worker health & safety, and food & feed safety issues impacting oilseed processing facilities. She also provides critical support to NOPA’s Advocacy Committee, Regulatory Subcommittee and advisory groups and serves on cross-sector coalitions focused on federal regulatory initiatives impacting the industry at large.

Mrs. Vassalli is an experienced policy analyst with proven track record of building key alliances and delivering quality resources to help industrial companies and their employees comply with federal mandates, optimize performance and achieve business objectives. Prior to joining NOPA, she spent over 11 years at the International Liquid Terminals Association managing their advocacy and educational outreach programs designed to promote regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, occupational health and safety, enterprise management, and leadership development.

She holds a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies: Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics & Government from American University.

Katie is the staff person to contact if you would like more information on:

Federal Regulations Impacting Oilseed Processing Facilities:

  • Environmental Issues (EPA)
  • Food & Feed Safety Issues (FDA, USDA)
  • Worker Health & Safety Issues (OSHA)

NOPA Members-Only Resources:

  • Safety Survey Data Collection & Reports
  • Trading Rules for Soybean Meal & Oil

Jeanne Seibert

Office Administrator

jseibert@nopa.org

Jeanne Seibert

Jeanne was hired in July 2014. She is responsible for managing the daily office operations and implementing the policies and procedures, assisting the President, planning NOPA meetings and events, and reviewing and implementing communications.

Prior to NOPA she worked at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for 14 years as an Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President of Finance. Jeanne has over 20 years’ experience as an Executive Assistant, Project Manager and Meeting Planner in the Association environment.

Jeanne is the staff person to contact if you need information on:

• General Information Requests
• Annual and Semi-Annual Certificates
• Membership Materials, Roster and Services (Members Only)
• Board of Directors and Annual Meeting (Invitation Only)
• Annual Meeting and Event Sponsorship