Summit Speakers

Luncheon Keynote Speaker

Sanah Baig
Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics
United States Department of Agriculture

Sanah Baig has served USDA across two Presidential administrations. She was appointed by President Biden to serve as the Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (REE) in November 2022. In her role as Deputy Under Secretary, Baig leads the management of the more than $4 billion USDA Science enterprise responsible for ensuring U.S. agriculture’s success through the advancement of science, technology, and innovation. Under Baig’s leadership, REE is focused on increasing research and extension support for underserved communities and strengthening partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions, advancing precision nutrition research in support of more equitable health outcomes, and positioning agricultural transformation as a fundamental solution to fighting the climate crisis. Prior to this role, Baig served for one and a half years as the REE Chief of Staff. Before returning to federal service in 2021, Baig served for three years as Chief of Staff for the global nonprofit the Good Food Institute. She also served as Program Director at the National Association of Counties in Washington, D.C. Baig worked at USDA for six years during Obama Administration, in a variety of capacities including serving as an advisor in the Office of the Secretary, Rural Development, and the Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) mission area. Baig started her federal career at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after working at the Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) Woodbridge campus. She is a proud D.C. resident and graduate of the University of Virginia.

Speaker: Workforce trends in the agri-food landscape

Mark C. White, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
Interim Assistant Dean and Program Leader, Community and Economic Development
University of Illinois Extension

Dr. Mark C. White is the Interim Assistant Dean and Program Leader for Community and Economic Development with Illinois Extension and a Clinical Associate Professor with the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). His recent applied research projects include an examination of rural vitality in Illinois and a workforce analysis of the Midwest’s food, agriculture, and forestry industries. This latter project is part of a larger USDA-funded, multi-state project focused on encouraging young people to explore careers in food and agriculture. Previously at the University of Missouri, Dr. White conducted labor market analyses of Missouri’s food and agriculture industries for the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the St. Louis life science industry for BioSTL. Dr. White serves on the Board of Directors for the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER)—a national membership organization for professionals involved in applied economic and community development research. Each spring, Dr. White also teaches an undergraduate course on Business and Industry Data Analysis.

Panel: Industry Insights into Workforce Development

Mark Beckmann
Director, Manufacturing Industry Solutions
Microsoft

As a Director, Manufacturing Industry Solutions at Microsoft, Mark works with all manufacturers to consult with them on their Industry 4.0 and Digital Transformation Initiatives. In particular, helping them transform their innovation, operational excellence, supply chain, field and dealer management services to fuel their ability to grow and compete in the face of advances in technology and disruption. Mark frequently engages with and advises manufacturers on innovations related to the Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Manufacturing, Connected Products, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and the application of these technologies to address their manufacturing challenges. He frequently speaks at conferences and industry events on topics in manufacturing and leads Microsoft work with the Digital Manufacturing Design and Innovation Institute. Mark has worked in the Information Technology field for 38 years as a consultant, partner manager, sales and sales management positions. The last 15 years he has spent at Microsoft in his current role serving their manufacturing clients.

 

Tami Craig Schilling
Vice President, Agronomic Digital Innovation
Bayer Crop Science

Tami Craig Schilling is a fifth-generation farm girl from southern IL, graduate of the University of Illinois in ag communications and Bayer Crop Science Vice President, Agronomic Digital Innovation. Tami is an experienced customer-centered leader with more than three decades in the food and ag industry leveraging her diverse and unique perspectives from multiple leadership roles in sales management, R&D and public affairs. A trustee for the University of Illinois, she serves on the boards of Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation, Illinois State Fair Advisors and the National FFA Sponsors Board. For her efforts, she has been recognized by Illinois 4-H as a Distinguished Alumni, Illinois Leadership Council for Ag Education for Excellence in Agribusiness and named a U of I ACES Alumni Award of Merit honoree.  In her spare time, she enjoys mentoring young people, hanging out with her grandchildren, going to livestock shows, and cheering on the Fighting Illini!  Tami is most proud of the three children that she and her husband Rodney raised on their grain and livestock farm in southern Illinois.

 

Tom Welge
President and CEO
Gilster-Mary Lee Corp

Tom Welge serves as President & CEO of Gilster-Mary Lee Corp, a store brand and food service manufacturer headquartered in southern Illinois.  He is the 4th generation of the family working in the 127 year old business.  Prior to assuming his current role in 2020, he worked in sales, technical services, and served as the organization’s General Counsel.  He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Buena Vista National Bank in Chester, IL,  a board member of the Illinois Manufacturers Association (IMA) and the SI-NOW! Foundation (a regional economic development organization), and an advisory director of Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial.  He is also President of the St. Nicholas Brewing Co. which operates 3 brewpubs in southern Illinois.  Tom holds a BA in Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL and a JD from Washington University in St. Louis.