National 4-H Council Adds Leading Industry Executives to Board of Trustees

CHEVY CHASE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- National 4-H Council is pleased to announce the addition of several leading executives in healthcare, life insurance, retail and agriculture to the organization’s Board of Trustees. Their progressive leadership will bring new vision to the 4-H movement and provide strategic guidance as the organization furthers its growth during their term.

“We are excited to bring aboard individuals who collectively offer a wealth of information and expertise in such diverse areas of corporate and non-profit governance,” said Donald T. Floyd Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO. “As we advance 4-H into its second century of positive youth development, it is fitting that we have such a forward thinking and experienced Board Trustees to help continue driving the organization’s success.”

The new members will be integral in building organizational strategy for many of 4-H’s retail partnerships, health and wellness programs, diversity engagement, science and engineering programs, Extension and land-grant university partnerships, and many other activities that service the six million young people who will be the extraordinary leaders of this country’s next generation.

New board members include:

• Martha Bernadett MD, MBA is the Executive Vice-President of Research and Innovation at Molina Healthcare. A family physician and daughter of the founder of Molina Healthcare, Dr. C. David Molina, she joins the Board of Trustees with 20 years of experience in addressing health disparities and cross-cultural medicine with an emphasis in underserved populations.
• David L. Epstein is principal of the J.H. Chapman Group, LLC, one of the nation’s leading investment bankers in the food industry. Combined with his own 10-year 4-H experience, Epstein will bring his leadership skills and expertise in business valuations, mergers and acquisitions, and the food and horticulture industries to the Board of Trustees.
• Landel C. Hobbs is president of LCH Enterprises, LLC. He joins the Board of Trustees with past experience as COO of Time Warner Cable where he was responsible for all lines of business (residential, commercial and media sales), and oversaw the company’s corporate marketing and customer care outreach.
• Jeff Howard, Ph.D., assistant director and state 4-H program leader of the University of Maryland Extension. Howard joins the Board of Trustees with more than 20 years of experience in Extension as a county agent, state specialist, and associate professor.
• Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Lance LaVergne is responsible for overseeing all aspects of New York Life Insurance Company’s Diversity and Inclusion program. He brings strategic insight on engaging diverse populations, a valuable resource to an organization with millions of youth from many different backgrounds.
• Kayla Martell is the reigning Miss Delaware and a lifelong 4-H’er. She has volunteered more than 8,000 hours of community service, with the majority served through Delaware 4-H programs. As a person living with Alopecia Areata, Martell has appeared on “The Early Show,” “Fox and Friends,” “20/20,” and “The Wendy Williams Show” raising awareness about the illness and those who are affected. She will provide guidance and stewardship from the perspective of more than 6 million 4-H youth across the country.
• Mark Martino, vice president of Global Seeds and Traits Manufacturing for Monsanto Company, joins the Board of Trustees with insight on fostering strategic global growth within the organization.
• In her more than 25 years working for Walmart Stores, Inc., Julie Murphy has shown innovation and leadership advancing her through the retail leader. She currently is Senior Vice President for Operations of the Midwest Division where she supervises over 330 stores in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. She will provide corporate experience, leadership and insight to the National 4-H Council.
• Russell C. Petrella, Ph.D, was named President of UnitedHealthcare Community & State in early 2009. As a clinical psychologist, he brings more than 32 years experience as a clinician, state official and executive focusing on the delivery of high quality, effective health care.
• Ananda Roberts joins the Board of Trustees as CEO of nFocus Sofrware®, a system that tracks performance and measures outcomes for 3,500 youth agencies, and tracks training and mission readiness for 1.2 million United States Army soldiers. As President, Roberts oversees the strategic direction for the company’s growth, and manages company operations.
• John D. Wendler, is the senior vice president of Marketing for Tractor Supply Company and oversees all marketing activities associated with Tractor Supply’s more than 1020 retail stores. Wendler was instrumental in forging the multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership between Tractor Supply Company and the National 4-H Council in 2010.

About 4-H:

4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA. 4-H programs are implemented by the 109 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices across the country. Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H.

National 4-H Council
Kyle Jones, 301-961-2889
[email protected]

Source: National 4-H Council