Tim Hamilton
Executive Director

Tim Hamilton is Executive Director of the Food Export Association of the Midwest USA (Food Export-Midwest) and Food Export USA-Northeast (Food Export-Northeast). Together these associations offer international trade development services to U.S. exporters to over 40 countries around the world. Tim works directly with the U.S. food industry, government officials, importers and distributors throughout the world to design and implement export development and promotion activities for U.S. food and agricultural products. Tim also leads programs that provide financial support to U.S. exporters of food and agricultural products through funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program.

In addition, Tim recently served as Chairman of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council. He holds an appointment to the U.S. Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Processed Foods by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative. He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Association Forum of Chicago.

Tim has experience in both food manufacturing and international agriculture. Prior to joining Food Export-Midwest in 1991 and Food Export-Northeast in 2000, Tim was the general manager of a Chicago-based natural foods producer. Early in his career he was a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps in Ghana, West Africa. As an agricultural extension agent, he focused on increasing food production by working directly with farmers and ranchers in a remote region of the country. A Wisconsin native, Tim holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of International Business from DePaul University in Chicago.

Michelle Rogowski
Deputy Director

Michelle has been working at Food Export-Midwest since August 1997. Michelle has held a variety of positions during her time with the organization.  Michelle received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from DePaul University.

In her position as Deputy Director, Michelle works closely with the Executive Director on office operations to ensure that the organization's overall mission always remains the top priority.

Michelle is a native Chicagoan and grew up in Pilsen, located on the South Side of Chicago.

Teresa Miller
International Marketing Program Manager

Teresa Miller grew up in Mexico City, but she discovered the Midwest as an exchange student during her sophomore year in high school in Shawano, Wisconsin. Preferring the snow and cold over sunny Mexico, she returned to the Midwest for graduate school at the University of Wisconsin.

Prior to joining Food Export Association, Teresa worked in Mexico with an organization with a similar mission as Food Export Association's. Whenever she has a chance, she likes to play the piano and go sailing (summers only in Chicago, anytime in Mexico!).

Robert Lowe
Financial Manager, CPA

Rob joined Food Export Association in August of 2002, after working the previous 10 years in various managerial accounting capacities. His most recent prior experience was as the Vice President of Finance for Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, a Midwest-based social services organization.

Rob was raised on the south side of Chicago, and currently resides in the downtown area. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from Harvard University, and received his CPA license in 1997. An avid golfer, Rob enjoys spending the summer playing at all of the great courses in the area.

Barbara Tieder
Communications Manager

Barbara joined Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast in January 2010. As Communications Manager, she leads the organizations’ marketing efforts.

Previously, Barbara served as the Director of Communications and External Affairs for a community health center where her responsibilities included internal and external communications, fundraising, public relations, media relations, special events management and community relations. She has worked for several Illinois non-profit organizations and brings extensive experience to Food Export-Midwest and Food Export Northeast.

Barbara holds a Bachelor’s of Science from Northern Illinois University as well as an Associate’s Degree from Prairie State College and a Management Certificate from the University of Wisconsin in Transportation Logistics.

Joe Yotti
Branded Program Manager

Joe began at the Food Export Association in September 2000 as a temp and became the full-time Branded Program Coordinator the following June. In January 2010 he was promoted to Branded Program Manager and works directly with over 200 food and agricultural companies to support their participation in the program and help them grow their businesses overseas.

In his spare time he is a writer, and he is desperately trying to learn the Thai language so he can tell when his in-laws are talking about him.

Will Smith
International Marketing Program – Coordinator and Electronic Marketing Resource System Administrator

Will joined Food Export Association in January of 2005 after holding a sales position with a retail frozen food firm in Maine. Prior to that, he interned with the Maine International Trade Center while completing a Master of Arts in International Trade and Economic Policy at American University. Will has studied abroad in Brussels, Belgium and has traveled throughout Europe, North Africa, and parts of Russia.

Will has an extensive information technology background, and enjoys building web pages in addition to kayaking, mountain biking, and volunteering at the local Chicago Youth Hostel.

Brandon Davis
International Marketing Program - Coordinator
 
Brandon is originally from Lansing, Michigan.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in Food Industry Management with a specialization in Agribusiness Management.  While at Michigan State, he also had the opportunity to study abroad in the United Kingdom.  He originally became exposed to Food Export Associations programs and services by serving as the Food Export Association intern for the state of Michigan.

In his free time he enjoys running and playing just about any sport, especially basketball and roller hockey.  He is also an avid movie-goer and likes to visit the cinema as often as possible. 

Jasmine D. Scott
Communications Coordinator

Jasmine joined Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast in the summer of 2007 after working as an Assignment Editor in television broadcasting. As the Communications Coordinator, she works to publicize the organizations’ programs through the creation of marketing and promotional materials.

Jasmine received a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Communications and Education and a Master’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is from the northern suburb of Waukegan and enjoys spending time with her sisters and friends, playing tennis and learning to play golf in her spare time.

Vanessa Simsick
Program Coordinator - Communications
 
Vanessa joined Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast as a temp in the summer of 2007 and became a full time employee in February of 2008. She grew up in Denver, Colorado and lived in Switzerland for 7 years where she worked in international sport management for professional Beach Volleyball. Vanessa has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and French, with a minor in Business Administration and plans on pursuing a Masters Degree in International Business.
 
Vanessa is fluent in French and has traveled extensively worldwide. She enjoys living in Chicago and enjoys the baseball season just as much.

Brandy Erwin
Business Development Assistant

Brandy started at Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast in February 2008.  Prior to that, she worked with Food Export as a post-graduate intern at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. 
 
Brandy earned her B.S. in Agribusiness and Applied Economics from The Ohio State University, with a minor in International Studies.  She gained significant international experiences as an undergraduate, having studied abroad in Australia, Uganda, the Czech Republic, and the Dominican Republic.
 
She enjoys the fall and college football; is an avid Ohio State Buckeye fan and loves to travel.

Nina Smith
Accounting/Human Resources Coordinator
 
Nina joined Food Export-Midwest in January 2008 after working for 6 years as an Accounting Coordinator for Real Estate/New Developer of condominiums. As the Accounting/Human Resources Coordinator, she assists with accounting and human resources work.
 
Nina received her undergraduate degree in 2008 from Robert Morris College in accounting and is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Human Resources. She enjoys spending time with her son, singing and dancing.

Veronica Wade
Program Assistant - Branded
 
Veronica, a native Chicagoan, joined Food Export – Midwest in February 2009 after working as a Billing Manager for an online investment company. Her primary responsibilities as the Branded Program Assistant are initial review of reimbursement claims and corresponding and interacting with program participants regarding administrative and compliance issues of the Branded Program.
 
Veronica holds an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies and is currently completing her Bachelor’s in Accounting.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her toddler son, reading, and cheering on her high school sons’ basketball and football teams.