Micheal Clements, NAFB News Service

The United Sorghum Checkoff Program Monday announced Norma Ritz Johnson as the organization’s third executive director. Johnson most recently served as Executive Vice President for the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, where she led initiatives and staff communications with an emphasis on transportation, agriculture and health care. As a leader, her teams implemented programs that were awarded the national Chamber of the Year twice in the last 11 years.  Sorghum Checkoff CEO Tim Lust says Johnson “brings strong organizational management with a background in agriculture and sorghum.” She also served as Communications Director for National Sorghum Producers in the early 2000s. Johnson says, “I’m eager to roll my sleeves up and get to work helping to bring value to the organization and sorghum producers.” Johnson replaces Florentino Lopez, who has served as the organization’s executive director since 2011. Lopez will continue to serve the sorghum industry in a new capacity consulting on international market development.