Katy, Texas (July 19, 2021) – At a recent meeting in The Woodlands, the Board of Directors of the US Rice Producers Association (USRPA) selected Marcela Garcia to serve as the new President & CEO, replacing Dwight Roberts who is stepping down effective August 1, 2021. For the past 5 years, Garcia has held the position of Chief Operating Officer and the Director of the highly successful Rice Market & Technology Convention for 10 years.
A graduate of the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Spanish, Garcia is originally from South Texas where her family is involved in cattle and farming. “Several years ago, Marcela assumed a number of leadership roles for the USRPA, and her extensive knowledge and rice trade relationships throughout the Western Hemisphere will serve our rice farmers extremely well,” said out-going CEO, Dwight Roberts, while adding, “we have young, talented rice farmers coming onto our board of directors with our new generation of staff talent, USRPA is ready to lean into the future.” After 23 years at the helm of the USRPA, Dwight Roberts will serve in an advisory role for the organization, beginning August 1st.
The USRPA board also elected new officers for 2021-2023. Congratulations to Alex Clark from Poplar Bluff, Missouri for being elected as the new Chairman. East Texas rice farmer, Neal Stoesser from Dayton, Texas, will serve as Vice-Chairman and Dustin Watkins who farms near Welsh, Louisiana is the new Secretary-Treasurer. The board thanked Dr. Thomas Wynn from Egypt, Texas for his service to the association during the past two years which saw farmers dealing not only with weather extremes but a global pandemic as well.
The US Rice Producers Association, representing rice producers in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas, is the only national rice producers’ organization comprised of producers, elected by producers, and representing producers in all six rice-producing states.
25722 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. 203, Katy, Texas 77494
Phone: 713-974-7423
USRPA does not discriminate in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, or marital/family status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of information (such as Braille, large print, American sign language, language translation, etc.) should contact USRPA at 713-974-7423. EEO.
