AgriNovus Indiana Announces Leadership and Staffing Additions

Beth Bechdol and Bridget O’Reilly

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AgriNovus Indiana, the state’s initiative to advance the agbiosciences, has announced Beth Bechdol, who has served as president and CEO in a contract capacity since it began in 2015, will now take on that role full-time. Bechdol had split her time between AgriNovus with her role at Ice Miller LLP, where she served as director of agribusiness strategies. In that position, she initially researched and brought stakeholders together to plan and launch AgriNovus and provided early strategic leadership.

Bechdol brings invaluable experience in agribusiness consulting and public policy to AgriNovus. She has served in leadership roles at the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee under Indiana Senator Richard G. Lugar and with Informa Economics.  

Bechdol graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science degree in international law and international affairs and received a master’s degree from Purdue University in agricultural economics. She serves as board chair for the Indiana Humanities Council, is a board member of the Indiana State Fair Commission, Conner Prairie, Purdue Research Foundation, and chairs the membership committee of the Farm Foundation Round Table. She has been a strong supporter of the National FFA, serving as chair of both its sponsors’ board and board of trustees.     

Also, Bridget O’Reilly has been named digital media manager. She will manage the social media and digital platforms. O’Reilly has experience in creating and managing digital content to build relationships for organizations and individuals. She has worked with several startups in both Austin, Texas and Indiana as a marketing director and social media manager and has also directed a Fort Wayne art gallery. O’Reilly graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history and media sciences.