Valerie McMakin
Chief of Staff to the CEO & COO
Valerie McMakin joined the Council in 2025 and is the chief of staff to the CEO & COO. Before joining the Council, McMakin was chief of staff for congressional relations at the United States Department of Agriculture, where she managed the Farm Bill legislative process and helped execute USDA priorities, including rural economic development, advancing equity, climate change, and building resilient supply chains. Before USDA, she served as a legislative assistant for Senator Jon Tester of Montana, providing policy support for commerce, trade, and agriculture. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science and ethics from Emory University.