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.
