Illinois Beef Association welcomes four new hires, expands team to increase outreach

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Beef Association announced four new hires to support advocacy and service on behalf of the more than 18,000 cattle farms throughout the state.

These individuals join current association staff in delivering beef industry programs and outreach to deliver on the mission of serving members to promote the viability of the beef industry in Illinois, while building demand for beef through education, communication and marketing.

• Devin Bollman, membership and communication manager: Bollman grew up in Houston and attended Texas A&M University, earning a bachelor’s degree in beef production and beef industry studies. Her work experience includes media coordination, content development, social media management and urban and consumer outreach on behalf of the beef industry. Bollman will support public relations and marketing campaigns on behalf of the association and will direct junior programs across the organization. Her contact is devin@illinoisbeef.com and she begins her work on May 9.

• Mary Faber, financial officer: Faber was raised on a dairy farm in central Illinois and attended Illinois State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in ag business and her master’s degree in business administration. She is a certified public accountant and is a QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor, with more than a decade of experience as a former controller for a large farm cooperative. Faber works to manage the financial operations of the association, including compliance and management of checkoff funds. She can be reached via accounting@illinoisbeef.com.

• Olivia Hoots, member services coordinator: Hoots grew up in the beef industry, raising and showing Red Angus cattle with her family in west-central Illinois. She has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications from Kansas State University and has worked on marketing communications programs promoting farm-raised goods and products. Hoots will help member and industry stakeholders with requests, provide communications support and assist with outreach programs. Her contact is olivia@illinoisbeef.com and she began her work on April 18.

• Annie Schoetmer, programs and services manager: Schoetmer is a native of southeastern Indiana and attended Lincoln Land College on a judging scholarship before transferring to Kansas State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science and industries. The programs and services Schoetmer will manage include IBA’s outreach activities across the state — including BQA, Illinois Beef Expo, EDGE Conference, IBA Summer Conference and workshops on behalf of IBA affiliate organizations. Her contact is annie@illinoisbeef.com.

“We’re focused on working for our producers throughout the state,” said Josh St. Peters, executive vice president of IBA. “Over the last year we have grown membership through new commercial and seedstock farms joining, along with growth of our youth numbers in junior beef programs.

“The addition of Devin, Mary, Olivia and Annie to the team reflects our plans to continue building out an association that serves all sectors of Illinois’ strong beef industry.”

IBA is a service-based nonprofit organization that strives to be the foundation of a profitable and sustainable beef industry.

The association’s Policy Division works to advance members’ economic and legislative interests, while the IBA Checkoff Division is the Qualified State Beef Council of Illinois administering the state and national beef checkoffs.

Based in Springfield, IBA is a member of the U.S. Meat Export Federation and a state affiliate of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The IBA Checkoff Division is a member of the Federation of State Beef Councils.