Kourtney Determan has joined the National Chicken Council staff as Communications Associate. She is a recent graduate from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Life Science Education, Communications option with minors in Political Science, Agronomy, and Agriculture Business. Prior to joining NCC she came to Washington, D.C. as a communications intern for National Pork Producers Council.

Ms Determan will be assisting with issues management, day-to-day media relations, positive media outreach, web site upkeep, social media management and strategic planning.

Harrison Kircher has been promoted to the National Chicken Council’s Manager of Government Affairs. He joined NCC in 2011 after being promoted from a successful internship following the 2010 Congressional elections, spending three years as a Government Affairs Associate on the legislative team.

His primary focus continues to be advancing NCC’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill and managing NCC’s broad legislative portfolio, including: energy policy (ethanol), international trade, food and agriculture, labor, taxes, immigration and environmental issues.

Mr Kirchner is a 2009 graduate of the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

NCC President, Mike Brown, said: “I’m confident these staffing announcements will position NCC to serve our members even more effectively.

“Harrison has been a valued member of the government affairs team for the past three years and Kourtney’s background and experience in agriculture, politics and communications makes her an excellent addition to our public affairs department.”