Jay Vroom had a successful “first career” in ag trade association management that spanned 45 years. His last such role was serving CropLife America as the organization’s President and CEO for 30 years. CropLife is the national association for the crop protection and biotech industry and provides advocacy and public outreach for the sector. Earlier in his career he worked in ag trade associations serving the grain, fertilizer and ag input retailer sectors. Now well into his “second career” Vroom is president for his family business, Vroom•Leigh•Agriculture, LLC. He is engaged in a variety of business strategy, marketing and crisis communications, and government affairs consulting assignments. One of Jay’s most important work engagements is with DCLRS as a Strategic Advisor. In his spare time he has provided significant volunteer service on the boards of the Soil Health Institute, National FFA Foundation and Wheat Foundation. He currently serves as Grand President and Board Member for Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. In late 2026 Vroom was named as a founding member of the CAST (Council for Agricultural Science and Technology) Strategic Advisory Committee. He earned a BS in Ag Science from the University of Illinois. He and his wife Jamie live at McLean, Virginia, and both of them maintain active management and ownership interests with their respective family farm operations in Illinois.