PBPC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Food Policy
Allison Cooke, Vice President of Food Policy, leads PBPC in overseeing and executing legislative and regulatory priorities for food, nutrition and agriculture policy ...
Allison leads the Plant Based Products Council (PBPC) in overseeing and executing legislative and regulatory priorities for food, nutrition and agriculture policy, as well as product safety and quality. She also develops documents and reports on regulatory policies, legislation, industry trends and potential threats, providing strategic insight and recommendations.
Prior to joining PBPC, Allison was an Account Executive at Kellen where she worked with the Calorie Control Council, the Healthcare Nutrition Council, the Infant Nutrition Council of America, the International Food Additives Council and Marinalg International. In this position, she managed issues for her trade associations related to nutrition, regulatory and scientific affairs.
Allison has a Master's degree in Public Health specializing in Maternal and Child Health Leadership and Policy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Exercise Science from Furman University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PBPC Advisory Board
- Assistant Director for Business Development, Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory / University of Illinois
Beth Conerty has been in her role with the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign since the end of 2017. As Assistant Director for Business Development, she is the primary point of contact for clients interested in working with the facility. She also runs educational opportunities for industry representatives in IBRL and advises a Professional Science Master's in Bioprocessing and Bioenergy. Beth received her Bachelor's in Chemistry and Master's in Bioenergy from the University of Illinois, and she received her Ph.D. in Energy Science and Engineering from University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Lab.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PBPC Advisory Board
- Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering / Mike and Jean
Brent Shanks is an Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering and the Mike and Jean Steffenson Faculty Chair in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State University. He established and serves as Director of the Center for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC). After completing his Ph.D. degree at the California Institute of Technology in 1988, he worked as a Research Engineer and Department Manager in the Catalyst Department at the Shell Chemical Company technology center in Houston, Texas. He joined the faculty at Iowa State University in 1999, where his group's research has primarily involved reaction systems for efficiently converting plant-based feedstocks to products.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PBPC Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair / Ingredion, Incorporated
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Environmental Affairs
- VICE PRESIDENT, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS and WORKPLACE SAFETY
Eamon Monahan serves as PBPC's Vice President of Environmental Affairs and Workplace Safety. In his position, he oversees and executes legislative and regulatory priorities for environmental and workplace safety policies.
Prior to joining PBPC, Eamon oversaw a laboratory and certification body for formaldehyde emissions at the Composite Panel Association, ensuring that North American composite wood manufacturers satisfied the requirements of EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Title VI regulation. He also administered a workplace safety program for the composite panel industry. Before that, Eamon served as a Presidential Management Fellow in EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, coordinating a broad range of air quality and climate change issues for the Assistant Administrator's office. As manager of the testing and certification process for ENERGY STAR products at EPA, Eamon gained expertise in sustainable product standards and consumer product labeling. Eamon has a Master's degree in Public Policy from American University.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of COMMUNICATIONS
- As PBPC 's Director of Communications, Jacqueline Boggess Is Responsible for Refining and Implementing Strategic Communications Plans and Contributing to Advocacy Plans .
As PBPC's Director of Communications, Jacqueline Boggess is responsible for refining and implementing strategic communications plans and contributing to advocacy plans.
Jacqueline has extensive writing experience and a diverse communications background. From 2019 to 2022, Jacqueline served as Cygnal's Director of Insights and Communication. There, she analyzed and interpreted data to find actionable insights and guide clients to make data-driven decisions. In 2018, as a Media Strategist for Strategic Partners & Media, Jacqueline helped develop award-winning ads for multiple gubernatorial, Congressional, and Senate candidates throughout the U.S. From 2012 to 2017, Jacqueline worked at D.C. London, first as a Senior Copywriter and then as Creative Director.
Jacqueline has also served as Deputy Press Secretary for Senator Chuck Grassley and worked in public relations in the D.C. area. She has won dozens of writing and directing awards, including 13 Pollies from the American Association of Political Consultants.
Jacqueline was raised in Iowa and is a graduate of Iowa State University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager of Sustainability
Jamaica Gayle is the Senior Manager of Sustainability at PBPC. In her position, she manages PBPC's efforts to advance sustainability across plant-based product value chains ...
Job Titles:
- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- ( PBPC ) Executive Director
- PBPC's Executive Director
Jessica Bowman serves as PBPC'S Executive Director, where she leads the organization's efforts in advocating for the expanded use of renewable, plant-based materials to help guide the global economy toward a circular model ...
Jessica Bowman serves as the Plant Based Products Council's (PBPC) Executive Director, where she leads the organization's efforts in advocating for the expanded use of renewable, plant-based materials to help guide the global economy toward a circular model.
Jessica joined PBPC in 2019 to provide the growing bioeconomy with an industry voice for both policy advocacy and education on Capitol Hill and beyond. She collaborates with PBPC members, which include early-phase startups and Fortune 500 companies, on their sustainability efforts, legislative priorities, and awareness initiatives. As an engineer and lawyer, Jessica plays a unique role in bridging the gap between today's biobased innovations and policies that encourage their broader adoption, including legislation that supports more robust end-of-life infrastructure such as composting and recycling.
Jessica joins PBPC from the American Chemistry Council, where she served as Executive Director of the FluoroCouncil, representing the world's leading manufacturers of fluorinated chemicals (PFAS). She also previously served as Senior Director of Environmental Affairs for the Airports Council International - North America. Jessica holds a J.D. with a concentration in environmental law from University of Maryland School of Law and a B.S. in GeoEnvironmental Engineering from Penn State University.
Jessica Bowman serves as the Plant Based Products Council's (PBPC) Executive Director. In her position, she leads PBPC's efforts in advocating for using more renewable, plant-based materials and ensuring they become part of the circular bioeconomy. In addition to leading PBPC, Jessica also serves as the Corn Refiners Association's (CRA) Vice President of Advanced Bioproducts, overseeing and executing legislative and regulatory priorities for policies related to advanced bioproducts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PBPC Board of Directors
- Chairman / Archer Daniels Midland Company
Keniece Barbee, Director of Board and Member Services, brings to PBPC over 10 years of C-Level Executive Assistant and Accounting experience ...
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager of Government Relations
Kent Roberson is the Senior Manager of Government Relations at PBPC. His focus in this position is to represent the policy interests of PBPC before Congress, the administration, and select state officials as well as development of PBPC's political capital.
Prior to joining PBPC, Kent was a member of The Smith-Free Group, where he worked on issues running the gamut from transportation, to infrastructure, cybersecurity, and environmental issues.
Prior to joining The Smith-Free Group, Kent worked for CSX Transportation as the legislative and administrative assistant. He gained exposure to Capitol Hill while interning for former U.S. Congressman Albert Wynn before working at the United States Supreme Court as a Marshal's Aide. He then served as a legislative assistant for a Maryland State Delegate. Currently, Kent serves as an elected member to the Maryland State Democratic Central Committee for District 25. He was also appointed the African American Diversity Leadership Council Chair, and most recently served as a member of the Electoral College for the 2020 election.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Economics
Michael Anderson, Vice President of Economics, provides strategic and tactical leadership to PBPC and its members regarding economic analysis, statistical reporting, and industry affairs ...
Michael provides strategic and tactical leadership to PBPC and its members regarding economic analysis, statistical reporting, and industry affairs. He coordinates policy and economic research priorities and industry affairs regarding the bioeconomy for PBPC members.
Michael has significant experience in the international commerce, economics and trade, joining our team from the U.S. International Trade Commission, where he held positions as an economist, advisor to the Commissioner and manager working on industry and economic analysis, industry competitiveness studies, and trade policy for the U.S. Congress and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Michael holds a master's degree in international business from George Washington University and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Utah.
Job Titles:
- As PBPC 's Project Coordinator, Michael Lockfeld Administers Key Programs and Maintains Office Operations through Administrative and Managerial Support .
As PBPC's Project Coordinator, Michael Lockfeld administers key programs and maintains office operations through administrative and managerial support ...
Job Titles:
- Member of the PBPC Advisory Board
- Director of Advocacy and Has Been
Nick Lapis is Californians Against Waste (CAW) Director of Advocacy and has been with the organization since 2007.
In that time, Nick has led CAW's team of advocates in campaigns to pass groundbreaking laws that have positioned California as a global leader in reducing and recovering waste. By building strong coalitions, he has helped enact policies to reduce the impacts of climate change, recover organic wastes, reduce plastic pollution, and develop sustainable markets for recyclable materials. Nick also engages in policy development and research, representing CAW on a variety of boards, commissions, taskforces, and coalitions.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PBPC Advisory Board
- Senior Manager at GreenBlue
- Senior Manager, Sustainable Packaging Coalition
Olga Kachook is a Senior Manager at GreenBlue, where she leads various projects in bioplastics, compostable packaging, food waste, and reusable packaging. Her background includes expertise in compostable materials and packaging, zero waste facility certification, life cycle analysis, and sustainable materials management. Prior to joining GreenBlue, she led corporate sustainability and waste initiatives at World Centric, Etsy, Cascade Designs, and Cascadia Consulting. Olga has a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University's School of Environment and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PBPC Advisory Board
- Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University
Ramani Narayan is University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science. He is an elected Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors(NAI) and Fellow of ASTM International having received the ASTM Robert MacFarlane Award of Excellence.
He has 250+ refereed publications in leading journals, 32 issued patents, and graduated 22 Ph.D. and 23 Master's students at MSU. He is a successful faculty entrepreneur and commercialized several biobased and biodegradable-compostable technologies.
Dr. Narayan is active in Standards development at ASTM and ISO for biobased and biodegradable-compostable plastics. He is also a technical advisor to the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), USDA BioPreferred program, and EU certification groups.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of External Affairs
Robin J. Bowen, Senior Vice President of External Affairs, manages PBPC's engagement with federal and state policymakers on legislative and regulatory issues as well as other agriculture, industry, and public policy organizations ...
Robin J. Bowen is the Senior Vice President of External Affairs for the Plant Based Products Council (PBPC), a group of organizations working to guide the global economy toward more sustainable and responsible consumer products and packaging through greater use of plant-based materials. Robin manages PBPC's engagement with federal and state policymakers on legislative and regulatory issues as well as other agriculture, industry, and public policy organizations.
Robin has over 20 years of experience in public policy advocacy and education. Previously, she served as director of federal outreach for a university-based research center, government affairs counsel to an association of alcohol beverage producers, legislative director for an insurance trade association, and senior legislative assistant in the US Senate. In private practice, Robin counseled alcohol beverage producers, importers and retailers. She has developed and managed numerous public policy education programs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PBPC Advisory Board
- Senior Consultant
For over 35 years Ron Buckhalt has been an advocate of the bioeconomy and has worked diligently to increase the production of, and market for, industrial products made from renewable sources such as agricultural commodities. His degree in Journalism from Auburn University led to positions as a radio and TV news director and on-air broadcaster, Congressional Press Secretary, public relations executive, and voice over talent. He was directly involved in the creation of USDA's BioPreferred program and served as director of the program until his retirement from federal service in 2016. Since 2019 he has served as a consultant to the BioPreferred program via a support contract held by Integrated Management Strategies, a Virginia-based small business.
Job Titles:
- Member of the PBPC Board of Directors