(NAFB) – The National Pork Producers Council Monday announced two new staff members.

Annemarie Pender is NPPC’s new assistant vice president for marketing and communications. A native of Florida, Pender received a bachelor’s degree in history from Christopher Newport University, and a master’s in public communications from American University, where she taught strategic communications for several years. Before joining NPPC, Pender was vice president of communications for Autos Drive America, where she played a key role in launching the newly created association and led the transformation of its brand.

NPPC also recently hired Chase Adams as manager of congressional relations. Prior to joining NPPC, Adams was senior policy and information director for the American Sheep Industry Association and from October 2012 to November 2016 was director of communications for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He began his career in agriculture as farm director for radio station KBHB in Sturgis, South Dakota, and also practiced law for several years.