Washington, D.C. (May 11, 2026) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, has announced that Kellie Adesina, a former Chief Counsel on the House Agriculture Committee and Senior Counselor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is joining its Commerce and Infrastructure practice as a Vice President. With extensive experience in both the public and private sector, Kellie will bolster the firm’s food and agriculture policy offering.
“Kellie is a highly regarded policy and legislative strategist in the agriculture space,” BGR President Erskine Wells said. “Her service in the private sector, on Capitol Hill, and in the administration gives her tremendous perspective and background on critical agriculture and nutrition issues. We are thrilled to welcome her to the team.”
Collin C. Peterson, former Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, said, “During the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations, Kellie proved to be an indispensable asset. She possesses a rare combination of policy expertise and the ability to bridge different viewpoints to move legislation forward. Her work ethic, collaborative spirit, and commitment to excellence make her an invaluable team member.”
Kellie previously served as a Director of Federal Government Affairs at Kraft Heinz, where she helped manage advocacy efforts in food and agricultural spaces. She served in a similar role at Bayer where she focused on crop science issues like gene editing, biotech, and pesticides.
On Capitol Hill, Kellie served as Chief Counsel on the House Agriculture Committee for Chairman Collin C. Peterson (D-MN). In this role, she was integral to drafting key portions of the 2018 Farm Bill which passed with bipartisan support.
Prior to her service with the Agriculture Committee, Kellie was Senior Counselor in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Kellie also served as Legislative Director to Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) and Legislative Counsel to Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA). She began her career on Capitol Hill working for Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), her home state Senator.
Kellie is a founder of Black Professionals in Food and Agriculture (BPFA), chair of the Board of Directors for the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), and a member of the Board of Directors for CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, Board of Directors for the Farm Foundation, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
###
