Wheat Quality Council names interim executive director
The Wheat Quality Council, based in Manhattan, Kansas, announced April 16 that Sean Finnie of Sif Grains, LLC, will serve as interim executive director during a six-month transition period following the retirement of Dave Green as executive vice president at the end of February.
The executive committee of the Wheat Quality Council board of trustees decided to ensure continuity of operations while the organization designs its long-term leadership structure.
March 6, the executive committee issued a request for proposals seeking interim leadership support, with proposals due March 20. Following review of several proposals, the board accepted a joint proposal from the Kansas Wheat Commission and Sean Finnie/Sif Grains, LLC.
Under the arrangement, Finnie will provide interim executive leadership, while Kansas Wheat will provide administrative support services to the Wheat Quality Council. Together, they will provide operational oversight, program continuity, trustee and technical committee support, and transition documentation to support a smooth handoff to permanent leadership.
“Sean Finnie and Kansas Wheat bring the experience, industry knowledge and organizational capacity needed to guide the Wheat Quality Council through this transition,” said Brad Erker, chairman of the Wheat Quality Council board of trustees and executive director of Colorado Wheat. “We appreciate their willingness to step forward and help lead the council into its next phase.”
Finnie brings experience across the wheat value chain, including roles as a researcher with Cargill and Bay State Milling, leadership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service’s Western Wheat Quality Laboratory, and work as an independent consultant. He has long been actively engaged with the Wheat Quality Council through its meetings, tours and technical programs, and maintains strong relationships with breeders, millers, bakers and wheat organizations nationwide.
“I care deeply about the Wheat Quality Council’s mission and its role as a trusted, neutral convener for wheat quality testing,” Finnie said. “I am devoted to providing a stable and credible bridge during this transition, bringing technical rigor, industry perspective and organizational focus to ensure continuity and position WQC for long-term success.”
Finnie’s appointment is effective immediately.
The Wheat Quality Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving wheat and flour quality through evaluation, testing and communication spanning all segments of the wheat industry. The council brings together wheat breeders, producers, millers, bakers and other stakeholders to promote wheat quality and value throughout the supply chain.
