Washington, D.C., Feb. 6, 2020. The American Soybean Association (ASA) is pleased to announce Kyle Kunkler will join ASA’s policy team Feb. 20 as director of government affairs, with a focus on the biotech and crop protection portfolio.

This comes as part of ASA’s strategic realignment of establishing an independent office in Washington, D.C. and restructuring the government affairs team.

Kunkler spent three years with Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) managing federal government affairs on food, agriculture, energy and environmental policy. Previously, he served on the legislative teams for Congressman Dan Newhouse and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, as well as with the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

“Kyle is a great addition to our team, bringing expertise in agriculture and policy, a can-do attitude, and eagerness to serve ASA in an advocacy capacity,” said ASA Executive Director of Government Affairs Christy Seyfert. “As ASA begins its historical centennial year with a growing independent D.C.-based government affairs office, we’re excited to have Kyle on board.”

Kunkler joins Seyfert and Hanna Abou-El-Seoud, trade and international policy expert, on the ASA government affairs team.

Kunkler is a native of eastern Washington state, where his mother’s family farms potatoes and onions. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political economy from the College of Idaho.