RISE hires Scott Herndon as executive director

RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment), the national trade association representing the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry, announced the hiring of Scott Herndon as executive director.

Herndon brings more than 14 years of experience in advocacy, policy, law and coalition building to the specialty pesticide and fertilizer trade association.

Most recently, Herndon led U.S. government and industry affairs in Washington, D.C., for Corteva Agriscience and was president of Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. He worked as vice president and general counsel for the American Sugarbeet Growers Association and also served in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. He first came to D.C. from his home state of Florida as a staffer for a U.S. Representative.

Herndon earned a juris doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law; a master of business administration from the University of Florida; and a bachelor of arts from Tulane. He is admitted to the bar in Florida and the District of Columbia and before the Supreme Court of the United States.

“Scott stands out for his deep experience in advocacy and his ability to bring stakeholders together around shared goals. We’re confident he’ll strengthen RISE’s impact as well as build upon the association’s solid foundation,” said RISE Governing Board Chair Neil Cleveland, PBI-Gordon Corporation, who led the executive search committee to fill the leadership position.

CropLife America President and CEO Alexandra Dunn, who was also on the search committee, said, “Scott brings a broad understanding of the policy and regulatory landscape, along with a collaborative approach that will serve RISE and its members well.”

Other search committee members were RISE Governing Board Vice Chair Blaine Pinkerton, Nufarm; Immediate Past Governing Board Chair Karen Larson, Clarke; and RISE Vice President of Public Affairs Karen Reardon. The search was conducted with assistance from Kincannon & Reed, a global firm specializing in leadership recruitment for the life sciences, agribusiness and food sectors.

“I’m thrilled to lead the RISE team and to build upon the association’s strong foundation of member and stakeholder engagement and collaboration to achieve the industry’s advocacy objectives,” said Herndon.

Herndon begins his job as executive director on April 27. His initial priorities will be to establish strong engagement with staff, the RISE Governing Board and members; lead the refresh of the association’s five‑year strategic plan; and amplify the association’s voice and impact across all levels of government.

He and his family live in Washington, D.C., and he enjoys golf and spending time outdoors.