Experience

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

• United States
• International Trade and Development
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Senior Trade Advisor

  • Sep 2020 - Present

  Washington, District of Columbia, United States Represents US agriculture policy priorities and interests in international organizations and fora, global discussions of sustainable agriculture productivity growth, sustainable supply chains, and climate change policy impact on international trade and development.



USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service

• United States
• Government Administration
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Senior Marketing Specialist/Intermittent Acting Branch Chief

  • Mar 2019 - Feb 2022

  Rulemaking Support Branch (RSB), Marketing and Agreement Division (MOAD) ● Interface with USDA attorneys, senior MOAD and AMS staff, AMS Administrator and Deputy Administrator offices to discuss and review policy and rulemaking priorities. ● Engage with US Trade Representative's Office, USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service, the Department of Justice, and the Food and Drug Administration on foreign and domestic trade issues. ● Serve as Project Lead for the amendment of the federal California walnut program to establish “credit-back” reimbursement authority for… Show more ● Interface with USDA attorneys, senior MOAD and AMS staff, AMS Administrator and Deputy Administrator offices to discuss and review policy and rulemaking priorities. ● Engage with US Trade Representative's Office, USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service, the Department of Justice, and the Food and Drug Administration on foreign and domestic trade issues. ● Serve as Project Lead for the amendment of the federal California walnut program to establish “credit-back” reimbursement authority for handler-paid promotion expenses, overseeing the program's revision and leading the regulatory amendment process. Project will impact 5,700 growers and 90 handlers, of whom 86% and 66%, respectively, are SBA small businesses.

• Senior Marketing Specialist/Intermittent Acting Rulemaking Branch Chief

  • 2016 - Mar 2019

  MOAD, Rulemaking Branch ● Provided regulatory and policy guidance to headquarter and field staff (20 people); rulemaking training; and oversight of all major rulemaking projects. ● Interfaced with USDA attorneys, AMS Administrator and Deputy Administrator offices to discuss policy and rulemaking priorities. ● Interfaced with US Trade Representative's Office, USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service, the Department of Justice, and the Food and Drug Administration on foreign and domestic trade issues. ●… Show more ● Provided regulatory and policy guidance to headquarter and field staff (20 people); rulemaking training; and oversight of all major rulemaking projects. ● Interfaced with USDA attorneys, AMS Administrator and Deputy Administrator offices to discuss policy and rulemaking priorities. ● Interfaced with US Trade Representative's Office, USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service, the Department of Justice, and the Food and Drug Administration on foreign and domestic trade issues. ● Instrumental in drafting the US industrial hemp production program mandated by the US Congress under the Agricultural Adjustment Act (Farm Bill) of 2018. Conducted rigorous analysis and consensus-building across a complex network of stakeholders, including producers, processors, federal agencies, state and tribal departments of agriculture, law enforcement, consumer protection, private sector interests and international trading partners. ● Facilitated intra-agency collaboration to spearhead a resolution to a dispute between the USA and the California almond industry, resulting in a customized program, avoiding two years of regulatory time and expenses ● Provided technical expertise and facilitated stakeholder consensus building in the resolution of inconsistencies pertaining to the Export Apple Act and the Export Grape and Plum Act. -Project facilitated cross-border trade with Canada, the largest importer of US grapes and the second largest importer of US apples, representing roughly $220M and $167M in 2017, respectively.

• Senior Marketing Specialist

  • 2008 - 2016

  MOAD, Rulemaking Branch ● Managed the cost-benefit regulatory impact analysis and USDA mandate to minimize negative effects of regulatory action on small farming businesses. ● Represented USDA in industry discussions with the California raisin industry following a US Supreme Court ruling on the California raisin marketing order program's reserve pool authority and mandatory amendatory action. Negotiated the program's revision and led the regulatory amendment process, resulted in a restructured program to… Show more ● Managed the cost-benefit regulatory impact analysis and USDA mandate to minimize negative effects of regulatory action on small farming businesses. ● Represented USDA in industry discussions with the California raisin industry following a US Supreme Court ruling on the California raisin marketing order program's reserve pool authority and mandatory amendatory action. Negotiated the program's revision and led the regulatory amendment process, resulted in a restructured program to regulate the quality of raisins in the U.S. and international markets. Impacted 2,600 SBA small grower businesses and 16 SBA large handler businesses. ● Led the promulgation of a 15-state pecan program for research, promotion and standardization, handling and trade. Led industry stakeholder discussions, and oversaw the public hearing process and wrote all decisional papers resulting in collective industry action to pool resources for the development of trade with China, Mexico, and stabilization of market prices for US pecans. Impacted 2,500 SBA small growers and 250 SBA small handlers. ● Managed the development of a national program to minimize microbial contamination and improve consumer safety. Project impacted trade relationships with foreign suppliers and consumers, applying International Standards Organization (ISO) standards and international sanitary and phytosanitary concerns. Project was contentious and was terminated.



USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service

• United States
• Government Administration
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Junior Marketing Specialist

  • 2003 - 2007

  MOAD, Rulemaking Branch ● Interfaced with agricultural industries to discuss market stabilization issues and develop strategies. ● Identified and assessed requests for rulemaking, drafted regulations, participated in public hearings and wrote decision papers. ● Merged, through amendment, two federal marketing orders for US Pacific Northwest pears into one to enhance market stability through quality regulation, and research and trade promotion. Resulted in improved efficiencies and market coordination of… Show more ● Interfaced with agricultural industries to discuss market stabilization issues and develop strategies. ● Identified and assessed requests for rulemaking, drafted regulations, participated in public hearings and wrote decision papers. ● Merged, through amendment, two federal marketing orders for US Pacific Northwest pears into one to enhance market stability through quality regulation, and research and trade promotion. Resulted in improved efficiencies and market coordination of producers and handlers, improved market stability and extended program operations. Impacted 1,500 SBA small producers, 38 SBA large handlers and 43 SBA small processors. ● Promulgated a federal marketing order for California pistachios to minimize aflatoxin content and support research and international trade, resulting in the establishment of a collective action program for CA pistachio producers and handlers. -Additionally, USTR approval to establish quality standards for imported pistachios, "leveling the playing field"; Impacted 649 farmers of which 69% were SBA small businesses and 19 handlers of which 63% were SBA small businesses.

• Marketing Specialist, entry level

  • 2000 - 2003

  MOAD, Rulemaking Branch ● Analyzed information concerning fruit, vegetable and specialty crop industries, including production data, past and present trends, marketing data, including methods of sale, packaging, prices received, quality of production, shipment, area of distribution, distribution methods, storage, utilization of crop in various forms, and alternate uses or possible new uses for lower grades or surpluses. ● Developed an understanding of the characteristics of trade groups and the relationships… Show more ● Analyzed information concerning fruit, vegetable and specialty crop industries, including production data, past and present trends, marketing data, including methods of sale, packaging, prices received, quality of production, shipment, area of distribution, distribution methods, storage, utilization of crop in various forms, and alternate uses or possible new uses for lower grades or surpluses. ● Developed an understanding of the characteristics of trade groups and the relationships among those groups. ● Prepared recommendations as to the feasibility of market development programs, which typically consisted of complex and controversial situations and issues.



USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

• United States
• International Trade and Development
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Agricultural Economist

  • 1998 - 2000

  Dairy, Livestock and Poultry Division ● Analyzed economic events, trends and policies related to international production and trade of livestock products for the European Union, Eastern and Central Europe, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America. ● Provided support analysis for trade dispute resolution. Conducted market and trade analysis and forecasted potential price impacts for domestic farmers. ● Represented USDA on trade missions to Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Canada.



U.S. Department of the Treasury

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Economist

  • 1998 - 1998

  Statistics of Income Division, Foreign Returns Analysis ● Analyzed US foreign tax return schedule 5471, an informational document describing financial flows of Foreign Controlled Corporations, with special interest in offshore subsidiary income. ● Team member for database development and research commissioned by the Office of Tax Analysis, US Department of Treasury.



Shivaji University

• India
• Research Services
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Post Graduate Research Fellow (Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar)

  • 1995 - 1996

  Kolhapur Area, India ● Studied agricultural cooperatives in rural India in conjunction with Indian-led World Bank assessment project. ● Assessed goals of study and corresponding informational needs; developed research strategy, work plans and timelines. ● Assisted in the design and implementation of questionnaire; collected additional data through interviews and observation. ● Participated in conclusive analysis and report.



USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

• United States
• International Trade and Development
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Student Intern

  • 1993 - 1993

  International Trade Policy Division/Western Europe Group ● Conducted impact analysis of multilateral trade agreements (Uruguay Round) on US/EU trade relationships and tariff schedules. ● Evaluated European Free Trade Agreement countries’ accession to the EU and its effects on US/EU trade relations. ● Assisted in the development and preparation of final reports.



U.S. Economic Development Administration

• United States
• Government Administration
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Research Assistant

  • 1990 - 1990

  US Consulate, The Hague, The Netherlands ● Conducted market sector analysis of selected Dutch industries and respective US import/export trade relations. ● Compiled related Industry Sector Analysis reports.