Alec Varsamis

Alec Varsamis is an Account Supervisor at Ketchum where he works on communications and public relations campaigns for multinational companies in the Food, Agriculture & Ingredient space. Alec leads media and communications strategy, focusing on animal protein pricing, farmer stakeholder outreach, regulatory and antitrust policy, and issues and crisis response impacting global food systems.

Alec started his career at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), eventually becoming Press Secretary and Communications Director. He was responsible for the development and execution of the USDA’s internal and external communication strategy. Alec’s portfolio included Secretary Perdue’s editorial and speechwriting, event planning and logistics, and press relations strategy culminating in over 2,000 media interviews and 70 opinion pieces published.

Alec was involved in major policy rollouts affecting every American farmer, including the USDA’s $70 billion trade and coronavirus support programs, garnering farmer awareness. He worked to implement the 2018 Farm Bill, managing listening sessions and communicating stakeholder engagement for critical risk management and nutrition programs.

Alec has seen the depth and diversity of American farming, having visited over 200 farms and processors across 22 states and Ghana, ranging from traditional row crop operations to innovative and sustainable specialty crop farms.

Alec is driven by improving the lives of the men and women of American agriculture, ensuring our food system is resilient so we can continue to feed and clothe America and the world.