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Kirk Merritt
Executive Director
Kirk Merritt joined the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) in June 2007 as International Marketing Director, and also served as Director of Outreach and Programs for the OSC Foundation. He was promoted to Executive Director of OSC and the OSC Foundation in December 2009. Kirk works closely with the OSC
Board of Trustees to advance OSC’s mission of enhancing profit opportunities for Ohio’s soybean farmers, and manages OSC’s staff and operations. From 2000 to 2007, Kirk was Director of the International Trade Division in the Ohio Department of Development, where he coordinated Ohio’s export and foreign investment programs, leading a team with offices in Ohio and eleven international markets. Prior to this, he worked for several years in international banking. Kirk earned a B.A. from Manchester University and a M.A. from The Ohio State University.
Julia Brown
Communications Director
Julia Brown joined the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) in July 2018 as the Communications & Project Coordinator and was promoted to Communications & Media Relations Manager in October 2020. She manages all communication programs and budgets including media relations, communication research, farmer awareness campaigns and consumer outreach. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Ohio University and a Master of Arts degree in strategic communication from Bowling Green State University.
Angela Cook
Administrative & Planning Assistant
Angela joined the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio Soybean Association in 2014 as the Administrative and Planning Assistant. She is responsible for planning board meetings, event planning, travel arrangements and office administrative duties. Angela previously worked as a Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant for 10TV News. Angela brings over 25 years in Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant experience.
Madison Corbi
Demand & Market Development Manager
Madison (Layman) Corbi joined OSC as the Communications Coordinator in June 2021 and was promoted to Demand & Market Development Manager in September 2022. Madison’s responsibilities include increasing global market access for Ohio soybeans and increasing customer awareness of the value and preference for high quality Ohio soybeans. She will also be monitoring the biodiesel and renewable diesel markets and seek opportunities for growth in those industries in Ohio.
Madison was responsible for content creation, editorial writing and editing, event management, digital marketing and social media outreach to both farmers and consumers. She was also responsible for managing the Ohio Soybean magazine and Ohio Soybean Council Foundation scholarship program. Madison earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural communication from The Ohio State University. She grew up on a dairy farm in Licking County.
Carla DeBoard
Director of Operations
Carla DeBoard joined the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio Soybean Association as the Accounting Associate in 2002. Carla manages OSC’s web-based project management system, the national soybean checkoff program for Ohio and all financial budgeting and transactions. She was previously employed with the Ohio Farm Bureau as the staff Accountant. Carla has over 20 years of experience in the accounting field and received a B.S. in Accounting and an M.B.A. from Franklin University.
Tom Fontana
Director, Research & Education
Tom Fontana, Director of Research and Education Ohio Soybean Council (OSC), joined OSC in 2005 as Director, New Use Development and assumed his current role in 2013. Tom has managed projects in the areas of new use research, product commercialization and marketing, international marketing, plant research and education. Currently his primary responsibility is managing projects in the areas of plant research, soybean agronomy, education and water quality. He also serves as Director, Programs and Development, for the Ohio Soybean Council Foundation. Tom has over 40 years of professional experience in sales, finance, project management and public relations. He holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University and a M.B.A. from Xavier University.
Wendy Hovey
Administrative & Operation Services Manager
Wendy Hovey joined OSC as Administrative & Operation Services Manager in August 2022. Wendy responsibilities include supporting on-boarding, leadership and development for the board members and will help execute OSC events throughout the year. She will also act as the office’s human resources liaison.
Wendy has 17 years of experience in facility and administrative management. She comes to OSC from Otterbein University’s Equine Science Department where she served as facility manager from 2017-2022. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Otterbein University and has years of team management, and administrative and event organization.
Brandon Kern
Director, Issues Analysis
Brandon leads research and analysis of regulatory, economic, and environmental issues that impact the industry. He also works to develop strategies that help Ohio soybean farmers capitalize on opportunities and address challenges created by the ever-changing set of issues that impact agriculture and their farming operations.
Brandon most recently served as the Senior Director of State and National Policy for Ohio Farm Bureau where he also spent time developing the organization’s efforts to engage industry strategic partners. Kern, who was a Military Intelligence Officer with the U.S. Army Reserve, has also filled various roles as a policy analyst throughout his career.
Barry McGraw
Director, Product Development & Commercialization
Barry McGraw joined the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) in 2013 and is responsible for leading OSC’s soy biobased research and commercialization program. Barry has 15 years of experience with Battelle, in program management, engineering and marketing. He played a key role on Battelle’s biobased materials team, working in development and commercialization of technologies that won four R&D 100 awards, in cooperation with OSC. He also worked on Battelle’s national security team in technology areas such as critical infrastructure, environmental challenges, information systems and defense technology. Since 2014, Barry has helped OSC win 3 R&D 100 awards and reach a milestone with respect to royalty payment from licensing soy biobased technologies. Barry earned a B.S. in Plastics Engineering from Shawnee State University, as well as Project Management Professional and The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business Management certification.
Kirk Merritt
Executive Director
Kirk Merritt joined the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) in June 2007 as International Marketing Director, and also served as Director of Outreach and Programs for the OSC Foundation. He was promoted to Executive Director of OSC and the OSC Foundation in December 2009. Kirk works closely with the OSC
Board of Trustees to advance OSC’s mission of enhancing profit opportunities for Ohio’s soybean farmers, and manages OSC’s staff and operations. From 2000 to 2007, Kirk was Director of the International Trade Division in the Ohio Department of Development, where he coordinated Ohio’s export and foreign investment programs, leading a team with offices in Ohio and eleven international markets. Prior to this, he worked for several years in international banking. Kirk earned a B.A. from Manchester University and a M.A. from The Ohio State University.
Angela Cook
Administrative & Planning Assistant
Angela joined the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio Soybean Association in 2014 as the Administrative and Planning Assistant. She is responsible for planning board meetings, event planning, travel arrangements and office administrative duties. Angela previously worked as a Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant for 10TV News. Angela brings over 25 years in Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant experience.
Carla DeBoard
Director of Operations
Carla DeBoard joined the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio Soybean Association as the Accounting Associate in 2002. Carla manages OSC’s web-based project management system, the national soybean checkoff program for Ohio and all financial budgeting and transactions. She was previously employed with the Ohio Farm Bureau as the staff Accountant. Carla has over 20 years of experience in the accounting field and received a B.S. in Accounting and an M.B.A. from Franklin University.
Brandon Kern
Director, Issues Analysis
Brandon leads research and analysis of regulatory, economic, and environmental issues that impact the industry. He also works to develop strategies that help Ohio soybean farmers capitalize on opportunities and address challenges created by the ever-changing set of issues that impact agriculture and their farming operations.
Brandon most recently served as the Senior Director of State and National Policy for Ohio Farm Bureau where he also spent time developing the organization’s efforts to engage industry strategic partners. Kern, who was a Military Intelligence Officer with the U.S. Army Reserve, has also filled various roles as a policy analyst throughout his career.