New York Farm Bureau Announces New Director of Public Policy

News from New York Farm Bureau:

New York Farm Bureau is pleased to announce that Jeff Williams is being promoted next month to Director of Public Policy, overseeing the organization’s legislative efforts in Albany and Washington, DC. 

Williams has been with New York Farm Bureau for more than a decade, most recently as the public policy department’s Deputy Director and Manager of Governmental Relations. He is principal lobbyist on environmental, business and energy issues. 

Prior to his tenure at New York Farm Bureau, Jeff worked for the New York State Senate, where he handled similar policy issues for a number of senators.

Williams will move into the role being vacated by Julie Suarez, who has taken a new position as Assistant Dean of Governmental and Community Relations for Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Suarez has been an integral part of New York Farm Bureau’s success for 15 years.

Suarez’s last day at New York Farm Bureau is Oct. 4, at which time Williams will begin his new position.

“I am pleased to announce that Jeff Williams will be New York Farm Bureau’s next Director of Public Policy.  I am very confident that his knowledge and experience will serve him extremely well in his new role, and that he will do an excellent job in his new position,” said Jeff Kirby, New York Farm Bureau’s executive director.

“I would also like to thank Julie Suarez for all of her hard work and dedication to New York Farm Bureau and its members during her many years of service. Julie’s efforts have been extremely positive and effective, and her commitment to representing, advancing, and serving the needs of our farmer members has simply been extraordinary,” he said.

“I have always spoken highly of the staff at New York Farm Bureau.  Because of that, I have full confidence in Jeff Williams as he takes over the reins of NYFB’s effective public policy team," said Farm Bureau President Dean Norton. "It is also why I am not surprised that Julie is moving on to yet another high profile position where she can support agriculture in this state.  I would like to congratulate both Jeff and Julie, and wish them much success in their new roles.”