Kay Johnson Smith Bio

Kay Johnson Smith is a native Virginian who has worked professionally with agriculture promotion and education for 25 years. She joined the Alliance as executive director in 1994, and was named president and CEO in 2011. She is a leading advisor to the ag and food industry on farm animal welfare issues, serves as a national spokesperson and has provided hundreds of presentations and media interviews on related matters. She serves as the industry liaison to USDA on farm animal welfare matters and coordinates U.S. agriculture input to international farm animal welfare initiatives, such as those of the World Health Organization for Animals' (OIE) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Kay regularly works to engage media, government and broader industry stakeholders about the importance of modern animal agriculture and provides strategic guidance to managing activist campaigns. Kay serves on the Virginia Board of Agriculture and is a member of numerous national coalitions and engages frequently with international organizations.

Hannah Thompson-Weeman Bio

Hannah Thompson-Weeman is the Alliance's vice president of communications. Since joining the Alliance in 2014, Hannah has led the development and implementation of communications strategy and uses traditional, digital and social media to help connect consumers and influencers with factual information about modern food production. She monitors and responds to misinformation about food production and reaches out to the media and other stakeholders with accurate, science-based resources about modern animal agriculture. Hannah holds a B.S. in agricultural communication and an M.S. in agricultural and extension education from The Ohio State University. While pursuing her education, Hannah completed an undergraduate thesis based on agricultural policy and a graduate thesis focused on crisis communications and planning within the dairy industry. Prior to joining the Alliance, Hannah worked in marketing and public relations for Farm Credit Mid-America.

Morgan Hawley Bio

Morgan Hawley has worked with the Alliance since 2013. As special projects manager, Morgan manages the College Aggies Online Scholarship Competition. She coordinates the day-to-day operation of the competition including planning and promotion. Morgan interacts with students and serves as a mentor during the training program. Morgan also assists in planning and logistics of the annual Stakeholders Summit. Morgan holds a B.S. in animal science and agricultural economics from the University of Missouri. Prior to joining the Alliance, she worked in the Animal Health Division at the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Morgan grew up in central Missouri on a beef cattle and grain operation.

Allyson Jones-Brimmer Bio

Allyson Jones-Brimmer joined the Alliance in 2015 and serves as director of industry relations. In her role, she fosters relationships with current and prospective members and donors of the Alliance. Allyson is responsible for raising awareness and recognition of the Alliance brand with external stakeholders as well as growing Alliance membership and sponsorship. Allyson works to get the Alliance's resources in the hands of the farmers, ranchers and industry professionals. She communicates with the industry about activist strategy and what the Alliance is doing along with what the industry can do to provide a counter voice to activists. Allyson holds a B.S. in animal science and agricultural science education and an M.A. in agricultural education from Cornell University. Allyson grew up in northern New York, where she gained experience in the dairy industry through working on farms and in a cheese processing plant.

Casey Kinler Bio

As communications manager, Casey Kinler develops and distributes both written and graphic content for the Alliance. Casey joined the Alliance team in 2015 and manages social media, tracks media engagement, writes press releases, provides special reports for members and manages the Alliance website. In her role, Casey utilizes traditional, digital and social media to help connect consumers with factual information about modern food production. Casey holds a B.S. in agricultural communication from Auburn University. While pursuing her education, Casey interned at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System writing news stories and managing social media. Casey is currently working on an M.A. in strategic communication from George Mason University.

Terry Wehrkamp Bio

Terry Wehrkamp, director of live production, Cooper Farms, is now chairperson of The Animal Agriculture Alliance Board of Directors. As director of live production, Wehrkamp manages the teams caring for the company’s turkeys, hogs and chickens and its feed production. A well-respected industry leader, Wehrkamp was inducted into The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences Hall of Fame in December 2015 and was awarded the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award in 2010.

Sarah Novak Bio

Sarah Novak joined the Alliance board in 2009. Novak is the American Feed Industry Association’s vice president of membership and public relations. Prior to joining AFIA, Novak was Director of Membership for the U.S. Grains Council and has industry experience from her employment with Vita Plus and Milk Specialties. Novak joined AFIA in 2007 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in animal science and a Master’s degree in Communications from the University of Wisconsin.

Naajiya Williams Bio

Naajiya Williams, a Georgia native, studied art and design at Georgia State University. With four years of non-profit work under her belt, she joined the Alliance team in 2017 as the administrative assistant. In her role, she attends to all administrative tasks as well as processes membership requests. Prior to joining the Alliance, she worked with the National Union of Hospital and Healthcare Employees.