2023 Speakers
Roselyn Connor - Keynote Speaker
"Leading at the Speed of Change"
Roselyn Connor is on the faculty of Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety as one of their major executive management trainers of police and fire personnel. She has been a successful business consultant and speaker since 1990. Since starting her firm in 1993, she’s been a speaker and/or consultant to many major US establishments including: The Chicago Police Department, over 500 military base presentations for all branches of the service, NASA, the FBI, the IRS, several hospitals and over a hundred schools, school systems or educational associations….as well as several hundred engagements at military installations throughout the world.
Roselyn’s majors in Astrophysics and Russian never led to her original career goal; becoming an astronaut. Instead, her natural ability for motivating and energizing people took center stage. She’s never regretted her choice.
Roselyn has been instrumental to many companies, associations, schools, and government agencies in motivating and educating their staff. Her seminars have been the subject of over 20 newspapers and magazines both local and national. She’s appeared on CNN and FOX News affiliates.
Roselyn is a published author and has been a speaker to more than 650,000 people. She frequently crisscrosses the country speaking to audiences both large and small and says she’s blessed to be doing what she loves. Among her many topics are: Dealing with Change, Leadership, Diversity, and Teambuilding.
Dr. Edmond J. Seifried - Keynote Speaker
"Economic Outlook"
Dr. Seifried is a Professor Emeritus of Economics and Business at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. He also serves as the Executive Consultant for the Sheshunoff CEO Affiliation Programs, and Chief Economist for SB Value Partners as well as the Chief Economist and faculty member of the SWGSB Foundation.
Dr. Seifried is the dean of the Virginia and West Virginia Banking Schools and currently is on the faculty of the Southwest Graduate School of Banking. In addition, he has served on the faculty of numerous banking schools including the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, and the Graduate School of Banking of the South.
He frequently appears as a guest speaker at regional and national conferences and has delivered over 2500 economic presentation to various groups both in the United States and abroad. Dr. Seifried is the author of the book “The Art of Strategic Planning for Community Banks.” In addition to his academic and consulting experience, Dr. Seifried serves as a director of a community bank.
Wilma V. Davis - USDA ERS
Rebecca Bratter - Executive Director, US Dry Bean Council
Rebecca Bratter - Executive Director, US Dry Bean Council
USDA Dry Bean Statistics
Wilma Davis joined ERS in August 2020 as a vegetable and pulse market analyst in the Crops Branch, Market and Trade Economics Division—with her primary role coordinating the Vegetables and Pulses Outlook Report. Prior to joining ERS, she served as a Risk Management Specialist and Team Lead at the USDA Risk Managem
USDA Dry Bean Statistics
Wilma Davis joined ERS in August 2020 as a vegetable and pulse market analyst in the Crops Branch, Market and Trade Economics Division—with her primary role coordinating the Vegetables and Pulses Outlook Report. Prior to joining ERS, she served as a Risk Management Specialist and Team Lead at the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA). She was responsible for managing, revising, and implementing agricultural risk management and crop insurance programs from 2006 to 2020 for various programs—such as Pulse Crop Revenue, California Citrus Tree, and the Quarantine Endorsement programs. While at RMA from 2008 – 2014, Wilma also served as an economist—responsible for researching, analyzing, and developing price election forecasts for various crops such as raisins, sugar beets, sugar cane, dry peas, lentils, macadamia trees, and apples. Prior to joining RMA, she served as an Agricultural Marketing Specialist at the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in the Storage Contract Branch, Bulk Commodities Division. Her primary role was team lead administering commodity storage contracts under the Sugar Storage Agreement and supporting the other lead specialist managing the Uniform Grain and Rice Storage Agreement.
Wilma received her M.S. degree in Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics from The Ohio State University and B.S. degree in Agricultural Business from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Rebecca Bratter - Executive Director, US Dry Bean Council
Rebecca Bratter - Executive Director, US Dry Bean Council
Rebecca Bratter - Executive Director, US Dry Bean Council
US Dry Bean Council Update
Rebecca has spent the last twenty-three years dedicated to global market development and trade for a variety of US agricultural commodities. In her current role, she provides leadership and vision to the global export market development and trade policy interests of the US dry bean industry. She guides the stra
US Dry Bean Council Update
Rebecca has spent the last twenty-three years dedicated to global market development and trade for a variety of US agricultural commodities. In her current role, she provides leadership and vision to the global export market development and trade policy interests of the US dry bean industry. She guides the strategic direction of the industry to ensure that dry bean dealers, growers, and processors are represented in all global and domestic agricultural policy matters. She develops and leads sustainability and innovation programming to bring U.S. dry beans into the global spotlight. She has also collaborated with both USDA and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on humanitarian feeding and nutritional programs utilizing US origin commodities to provide sustenance for food insecure nations.
She has been active in developing broad trade policy agendas to run in tandem with global market development activities and has represented US agricultural interests in bilateral and regional trade negotiations and at multilateral fora such as the World Trade Organization (WTO). A key aspect of her roles with various associations has been leadership of industry and association committees to achieve consensus among divergent interests with a view towards program excellence. To that end, together with other members of executive leadership, she has played a leadership role in several organizational development initiatives ensuring use of best practices and streamlining operations for efficiency. Before joining the US Dry Bean Council, Rebecca represented the global trade and market development interests of the US wood products industry, US wheat growers and farmers, US corn, barley, and sorghum growers and processors, U.S. rice growers, agricultural technical providers, and traders.
Alejandro Leloir - US Dry Bean Council
Rebecca Bratter - Executive Director, US Dry Bean Council
Alejandro Leloir - US Dry Bean Council
US Dry Bean Council Update
Alejandro Leloir joined the U.S. Dry Bean Council in May 2019 where he serves as Regional Director for Central, South America, and the Caribbean, where he provides trade servicing, market analysis and supervises the promotional activities in Central, South America, and the Caribbean.
Alejandro was born in Bueno
US Dry Bean Council Update
Alejandro Leloir joined the U.S. Dry Bean Council in May 2019 where he serves as Regional Director for Central, South America, and the Caribbean, where he provides trade servicing, market analysis and supervises the promotional activities in Central, South America, and the Caribbean.
Alejandro was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in a family with strong agricultural roots. He received his agriculture engineering degree from Buenos Aires University in 2013 and is currently pursuing an MBA in Agribusiness. At the beginning of his career, he was Production Manager at a large farming operation in Uruguay. After moving to Costa Rica, where he resides since 2016, he became the International Pulses Purchaser for the largest pulse importer in the country, where he was responsible for market analysis and global pulse purchases, originating from the main producing countries. He is a strong believer that an increase in dry bean consumption would bring immense benefits to human nutrition and the environment while contributing to a diverse and tasty diet.
Matt Stawowy - Steele & Company
Rebecca Bratter - Executive Director, US Dry Bean Council
Alejandro Leloir - US Dry Bean Council
International Markets Report
Matt has been a dry edible pulse trader with Steele & Company since 2010. He trades all major classes of dry edible beans and is active in the domestic markets as well as several international markets around the world. Matt has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Northwood University in Michigan, and curr
International Markets Report
Matt has been a dry edible pulse trader with Steele & Company since 2010. He trades all major classes of dry edible beans and is active in the domestic markets as well as several international markets around the world. Matt has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Northwood University in Michigan, and currently resides in Sterling, MI with his wife and (two) daughters. In addition to working as a pulse trader he also operates the family’s cash crop farm together with his father.
Keven Sawchuk - Viterra Inc.
Andrew Fontaine - Spokane Seed Company
Andrew Fontaine - Spokane Seed Company
Canadian Crop Report
Raised and educated in the Edmonton, Alberta region, Keven and his wife Michelle relocated to Southern Alberta in 1994 where they started their careers and raised 3 children. Managing facilities in
Taber and Bow Island in the heart of an irrigated farming district that produces a wide variety of pulses and special
Canadian Crop Report
Raised and educated in the Edmonton, Alberta region, Keven and his wife Michelle relocated to Southern Alberta in 1994 where they started their careers and raised 3 children. Managing facilities in
Taber and Bow Island in the heart of an irrigated farming district that produces a wide variety of pulses and specialty crops. Keven has focused on the international trade of dry beans for nearly three decades. Keven is an active member of pulse trade associations and often presents market analysis to grower groups, trade associations and international meetings related to pulse crops.
Related experience includes export logistics, processing plant design, quality system implementation, audit, and process improvement.
Andrew Fontaine - Spokane Seed Company
Andrew Fontaine - Spokane Seed Company
Andrew Fontaine - Spokane Seed Company
Pea and Lentil Report
Born and raised in the Seattle area, Andrew became a loyal alumnus of Washington State University in 2000, graduating with an Advertising/Marketing degree. As the President / G. M. for Spokane Seed Company, Andrew is responsible for all daily operations as well as all Domestic and International trading for the 115-y
Pea and Lentil Report
Born and raised in the Seattle area, Andrew became a loyal alumnus of Washington State University in 2000, graduating with an Advertising/Marketing degree. As the President / G. M. for Spokane Seed Company, Andrew is responsible for all daily operations as well as all Domestic and International trading for the 115-year-old company. Spokane Seed Company prides itself on supreme processing that permits them to supply the largest most recognized food companies in the world.
Andrew is a fourth-generation pulse trader with 22 years’ experience selling Peas, Lentils and Chickpeas. He is a very active member of the US Dry Pea and Lentils Council. Andrew serves on the board of the American Pule Association as well as Domestic Marketing Committee Chairman. In his spare time he enjoys many outdoor activities and spending time with his wife and three sons.