Folsom, CA – Jill Scofield has been hired as the director of communications and industry relations for the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) {{BB #:16239}} and the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC).
In this newly created role, Scofield, who started on staff April 7, is responsible for planning, directing and overseeing USHBC and NABC industry communications programs involving growers, marketers, exporters, importers, distributors and other stakeholders.
“Jill’s association management and industry relations experience, combined with her external marketing and PR expertise, makes her a knowledgeable and well-rounded addition to our team,” said Jennifer Sparks, USHBC/NABC vice president of marketing and communications. “We look forward to having her on board to take our industry relations program to the next level.”
Prior to joining the councils, Scofield spent nearly eight years as the director of producer relations at the California Beef Council in Sacramento.
An agricultural and communications professional with nearly 20 years of experience, Scofield has a proven track record in program management, public relations, strategic planning and external relations. Her experience includes serving in management roles for a statewide animal agriculture organization, as the primary public relations officer for city government and higher education institutions, and managing and overseeing comprehensive regional public relations and community outreach campaigns for a variety of public agency and private sector clients throughout California.
Scofield hails from northern Nevada, where she grew up on a cattle ranch and spent her early years participating in 4-H and rodeo. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of the Pacific.
In her new role, Scofield will oversee the councils’ industry email and digital marketing campaigns; data analytics; online resources and website updates; trade media outreach; and event and conference communications. She’ll also serve as a liaison to the USHBC Industry Relations Committee and drive relationship-building and stakeholder engagement in the blueberry industry.
“Jill understands agriculture,” said Kasey Cronquist, president of the NABC and USHBC. “She knows the hard work involved with growing, harvesting and marketing a crop, and will be a tremendous resource to our growers and industry stakeholders.”
“Working on behalf of men and women who work hard, day in and day out, to provide consumers with a nutritious product has been a highlight of my career the last several years and I’m thrilled to bring that experience and passion to the blueberry industry,” Scofield said.
About the North American Blueberry Council
Since 1965, the North American Blueberry Council (NABC) has been the voice of the blueberry industry in the U.S. and Canada. NABC’s members represent approximately 70% of the North American highbush blueberry crop. NABC was instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHABC), a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Learn more at nabcblues.org.
About the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council
Established in 2000, The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) is a federal agriculture research and promotion program with independent oversight from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USHBC represents blueberry growers and packers in North and South America who market their blueberries in the United States and overseas, and works to promote the growth and well-being of the entire blueberry industry. USHBC was established by blueberry growers and currently has 2,500 growers, packers and importers. USHBC is committed to providing blueberries that are grown, harvested, packed and shipped in clean, safe environments. Learn more at ushbc.org.
