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Kirk Merritt
Executive Director
Kirk Merritt joined the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) in June 2007 as International Marketing Director, and also served as Director of Outreach and Programs for the OSC Foundation. He was promoted to Executive Director of OSC and the OSC Foundation in December 2009, and was appointed Executive Director of the Ohio Soybean Association in 2017. Kirk works closely with the OSC and OSA boards to advance their respective missions on behalf of Ohio soybean farmers and manages OSC and OSA’s staff and operations.
From 2000 to 2007, Kirk was Director of the International Trade Division in the Ohio Department of Development, where he coordinated Ohio’s export and foreign investment programs, leading a team with offices in Ohio and eleven international markets. Prior to this, he worked for several years in international banking. Kirk earned a B.A. from Manchester University and a M.A. from The Ohio State University.
Brandon Kern
Deputy Executive Director
Brandon supports the Executive Director in managing daily operations and strategic initiatives. Kern provides leadership of the staff team, leads key projects, and works to ensure the organization meets its strategic goals and objectives.
Brandon most recently served as the Senior Director of State and National Policy for Ohio Farm Bureau where he also spent time developing the organization’s efforts to engage industry strategic partners. Kern, who was a Military Intelligence Officer with the U.S. Army Reserve, has also filled various roles as a policy analyst throughout his career.
Julia Brown
Communications and Education Director
Julia Brown joined the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) in July 2018 as the Communications & Project Coordinator and was promoted to Communications & Media Relations Manager in October 2020. She manages all communication programs and budgets including media relations, communication research, farmer awareness campaigns and consumer outreach. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Ohio University and a Master of Arts degree in strategic communication from Bowling Green State University.
Angela Cook
Administrative & Planning Assistant
Angela joined the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio Soybean Association in 2014 as the Administrative and Planning Assistant. She is responsible for planning board meetings, event planning, travel arrangements and office administrative duties. Angela previously worked as a Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant for 10TV News. Angela brings over 25 years in Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant experience.
Madison Corbi
Demand & Market Development Director
Madison Corbi serves as the Director of Demand and Market Development for the Ohio Soybean Council. She joined the OSC team in June of 2021 and was promoted to her current role in September of 2022. Madison’s responsibilities include increasing global market access for Ohio soybeans and increasing customer awareness of the value and preference for high quality Ohio soybeans. She also monitors the domestic biofuels and animal agriculture markets to seek opportunities for growth in those industries for Ohio. Madison earned a Bachelor of Science from The Ohio State University in May 2021.
Taylor Dill
Director of Research
Taylor Dill joined the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) in 2026 as the Director of Research. Taylor has agronomic research and extension experience from both The Ohio State University and North Carolina Cooperative Extension. She grew up on a corn and soybean farm in Darke County, Ohio. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture from Wilmington College and her Master’s and Ph.D. in Agronomy from The Ohio State University. Her responsibilities at OSC include implementing research projects that address soybean farmer needs, and effectively communicating results to producers to advance adoption of new technologies and best management practices.
Carla DeBoard
Director of Operations
Carla DeBoard joined the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio Soybean Association as the Accounting Associate in 2002. Carla manages OSC’s web-based project management system, the national soybean checkoff program for Ohio and all financial budgeting and transactions. She was previously employed with the Ohio Farm Bureau as the staff Accountant. Carla has over 20 years of experience in the accounting field and received a B.S. in Accounting and an M.B.A. from Franklin University.
Kiley Holbrook
Manager of Policy and Demand
Kiley graduated from The Ohio State University in 2024 with a degree in agricultural communication and public, management, leadership, and policy. She graduated with research distinction in agricultural communications and was a CFAES distinguished senior. While in college, Kiley interned with the Ohio House of Representatives and The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture in Washington, D.C.
After graduation, she worked at the Ohio House of Representatives in the office of the House Agriculture Chairman, before moving into her current role as the Manager of Policy and Demand. Kiley’s role supports our work to implement and analyze state and federal policy priorities, drive farmer and partner engagement on key issues, and build domestic and international soybean demand, to the benefit of Ohio soybean farmers and stakeholders.
Wendy Hovey
Administrative & Operation Services Manager
Wendy Hovey joined OSC as Administrative & Operation Services Manager in August 2022. Wendy responsibilities include supporting on-boarding, leadership and development for the board members and will help execute OSC events throughout the year. She will also act as the office’s human resources liaison.
Wendy has 17 years of experience in facility and administrative management. She comes to OSC from Otterbein University’s Equine Science Department where she served as facility manager from 2017-2022. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Otterbein University and has years of team management, and administrative and event organization.
Mackenzie Joseph
Communications Manager
Mackenzie Joseph serves as Communications Manager for the Ohio Soybean Council, where she leads strategic communications, content development, digital marketing, event promotion, and outreach efforts that connect Ohio soybean farmers with consumers and industry stakeholders. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication, with minors in history and English, and certificates in writing and political communication. Prior to joining the Ohio Soybean Council, Mackenzie gained experience through communications roles with nonprofit and public advocacy organizations. A native of Johnstown, Ohio, she is also a former national champion member of the Ohio University Speech and Debate team.
Barry McGraw
Director, Product Development & Commercialization
Barry McGraw joined the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) in 2013 and is responsible for leading OSC’s soy biobased research and commercialization program. Barry has 15 years of experience with Battelle, in program management, engineering and marketing. He played a key role on Battelle’s biobased materials team, working in development and commercialization of technologies that won four R&D 100 awards, in cooperation with OSC. He also worked on Battelle’s national security team in technology areas such as critical infrastructure, environmental challenges, information systems and defense technology. Since 2014, Barry has helped OSC win 3 R&D 100 awards and reach a milestone with respect to royalty payment from licensing soy biobased technologies. Barry earned a B.S. in Plastics Engineering from Shawnee State University, as well as Project Management Professional and The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business Management certification.
Kirk Merritt
Executive Director
Kirk Merritt joined the Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) in June 2007 as International Marketing Director, and also served as Director of Outreach and Programs for the OSC Foundation. He was promoted to Executive Director of OSC and the OSC Foundation in December 2009, and was appointed Executive Director of the Ohio Soybean Association in 2017. Kirk works closely with the OSC and OSA boards to advance their respective missions on behalf of Ohio soybean farmers and manages OSC and OSA’s staff and operations.
From 2000 to 2007, Kirk was Director of the International Trade Division in the Ohio Department of Development, where he coordinated Ohio’s export and foreign investment programs, leading a team with offices in Ohio and eleven international markets. Prior to this, he worked for several years in international banking. Kirk earned a B.A. from Manchester University and a M.A. from The Ohio State University.
Brandon Kern
Deputy Executive Director, Senior Policy Director
Brandon supports the Executive Director in managing daily operations and strategic initiatives. Kern provides leadership of the staff team, leads key projects, and works to ensure the organization meets its strategic goals and objectives. Kern also leads the organization’s public policy and advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels.
Brandon most recently served as the Senior Director of State and National Policy for Ohio Farm Bureau where he also spent time developing the organization’s efforts to engage industry strategic partners. Kern, who was a Military Intelligence Officer with the U.S. Army Reserve, has also filled various roles as a policy analyst throughout his career.
Angela Cook
Administrative & Planning Assistant
Angela joined the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio Soybean Association in 2014 as the Administrative and Planning Assistant. She is responsible for planning board meetings, event planning, travel arrangements and office administrative duties. Angela previously worked as a Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant for 10TV News. Angela brings over 25 years in Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant experience.
Carla DeBoard
Director of Operations
Carla DeBoard joined the Ohio Soybean Council and Ohio Soybean Association as the Accounting Associate in 2002. Carla manages OSC’s web-based project management system, the national soybean checkoff program for Ohio and all financial budgeting and transactions. She was previously employed with the Ohio Farm Bureau as the staff Accountant. Carla has over 20 years of experience in the accounting field and received a B.S. in Accounting and an M.B.A. from Franklin University.
Kiley Holbrook
Manager of Policy and Demand
Kiley graduated from The Ohio State University in 2024 with a degree in agricultural communication and public, management, leadership, and policy. She graduated with research distinction in agricultural communications and was a CFAES distinguished senior. While in college, Kiley interned with the Ohio House of Representatives and The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture in Washington, D.C.
After graduation, she worked at the Ohio House of Representatives in the office of the House Agriculture Chairman, before moving into her current role as the Manager of Policy and Demand. Kiley’s role supports our work to implement and analyze state and federal policy priorities, drive farmer and partner engagement on key issues, and build domestic and international soybean demand, to the benefit of Ohio soybean farmers and stakeholders.
Wendy Hovey
Administrative & Operation Services Manager
Wendy Hovey joined OSC as Administrative & Operation Services Manager in August 2022. Wendy responsibilities include supporting on-boarding, leadership and development for the board members and will help execute OSC events throughout the year. She will also act as the office’s human resources liaison.
Wendy has 17 years of experience in facility and administrative management. She comes to OSC from Otterbein University’s Equine Science Department where she served as facility manager from 2017-2022. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Otterbein University and has years of team management, and administrative and event organization.