The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates hired Brittany Mountjoy, previously an international government affairs program specialist at DuPont, as manager of government relations, said the trade group in a new release (here). Mountjoy will focus on international trade issues for SOCMA, it said.

The Spectrum Group hired Evelyn Suarez as a member, the firm said (here). Suarez, who started her own law firm in 2014, is the president-elect Association of Women in International Trade and worked as a lawyer with CBP earlier in her career.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association announced recently elected and re-elected board members, who will serve from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2019, AAFA said (here). Additionally, AAFA has named the following officers for the 2016-2017 one-year officer terms:

The National Foreign Trade Council named Rufus Yerxa as its next president, said the NFTC in a news release. Yerxa, who will take over for current President Bill Reinsch on May 9, is an independent consultant and visiting professor at Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said the NFTC (here). He also worked as deputy director general of the World Trade Organization from 2002-2013.

A.N. Deringer hired Shawn McManigal, previously a director at National Stores, as director of distribution, the company said in a news release (here). McManigal will be based out of Deringer's Los Angeles facility, it said.

Target hired Arthur Valdez, previously vice president of operations at Amazon, as executive vice president-chief supply chain and logistics officer, effective March 28, Target said in a news release (here).

Cindy Miller, previously president of UPS Europe Region, will be president of UPS Global Freight Forwarding, the company said in a news release (here). Nando Cesarone, previously president of UPS Asia Pacific Region, will take over for Miller in Europe, UPS said. Ross McCullough, previously vice president for Corporate Strategy, was named president of UPS Asia Pacific Region, the company said.

International trade attorney Kerry Scarlott has joined law firm BakerHostetler after serving nearly six years as a partner for Goulston & Storrs, BakerHostetler said (here). Scarlott has experience advising companies on cross-border transactions, focusing on aerospace, defense and satellite technologies; optics, photonics and electronics, and drone manufacturers, BakerHostetler said.

Simon Gluck & Kane promoted Mariana del Rio Kostenwein to partner at the law firm, the firm said in a news release.

Akin Gump hired Devry Boughner Vorwerk, previously vice president of corporate affairs at Cargill, as senior advisor in the public law and policy practice, the law firm said (here). "Vorwerk will work closely with members of the firm’s trade policy and Cuba policy teams to assist clients who currently have business dealings in, or who are considering expansion into, Cuba and the broader Latin American market," said Akin Gump.