Tag: clewiston

Top 10 Reasons I Spent a Career Here

Posted on by Judy Sanchez

Judy Clayton Sanchez

Senior Director, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs

  1. FAMILY–People of U.S. Sugar truly are a family that cares about each other and the community
  2. “TEAM SUGAR”—Extraordinary colleagues, friends, and community partners 
  3. NOBLE PURPOSE– American farmers sustainably feeding American families
  4. GREAT LEADERSHIP—Appreciate working  for and with such visionary, strategic thinkers (Notably, Nelson Fairbanks, Bob Buker, Robert Coker, Bubba Wade, Ken McDuffie, and Ryan Weston)
  5. AMERICA’s Sweetest Town—Clewiston, Florida is a great place to work, live and raise families
  6. CHALLENGING—Every day on the job demanded my very best effort
  7. GIRL POWER—So proud of all my Communication, PR and Community ladies getting things done
  8. SUGAR EXPRESS—Love a Company that has its own railroad (www.sugarexpress.com)
  9. THEY GOT NEXT—Happy knowing that my Company and its Communications/Community Relations/Public Affairs will be in good hands—Thanks, Ryan, Brannan, Eric
  10. SWEET—Spending more than 30 years doing something you love, with people you love

U.S. Sugar Announces Promotion of Eric Edwards to Senior Vice President, Public Affairs

Posted on by U.S. Sugar

Clewiston, FL – U.S. Sugar announced today that Clewiston native Eric Edwards, current Vice President, State Governmental Affairs, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Public Affairs.  This promotion is effective immediately.

“Each year with U.S. Sugar, Edwards has taken on increasingly greater roles and responsibility, and he has proven to be a strong and effective leader — both within our company and the industry,” said Ken McDuffie, President and CEO. “We are extremely proud that one of Clewiston’s own will continue our long-term efforts to advocate for agriculture and our agricultural communities in Tallahassee and Washington DC.”

Edwards will lead all of the company’s governmental affairs efforts, incorporating all public affairs responsibilities in Florida and Washington DC. Additionally, as part of his promotion, Edwards was recently recognized by U.S. Sugar’s Board of Directors as a senior leader in corporate management and business strategy.  He first started with U.S. Sugar in 2016.

Throughout his time at U.S. Sugar, Edwards has taken an active role in further establishing U.S. Sugar’s role in the public affairs arena as an industry leader in agriculture as well as land, water and air stewardship. He serves as an active member of the Florida Agriculture Coalition, Florida Land Council, and is an active member of many other statewide and regional business and agricultural organizations.  Edwards is a Lifetime Member of Leadership Florida and graduate of the Leadership Florida Connect Class 9.  In 2021, INFLUENCE Magazine named Edwards as the “Florida Agriculture Lobbyist of the Year”

Edwards, a seventh generation Floridian, resides in Tallahassee, Florida with his wife Jennifer and their two young children. Edwards is an avid outdoorsman, enjoys golf, and in his personal time, he and his wife spend their time finding ways to support their church and their children’s school in Tallahassee.  He is a graduate of Florida State University.  Prior to joining U.S. Sugar, he served as Chief Legislative Aide to Florida Senate President Don Gaetz.