Arthur Neal, Mandy Kordsmeier Named Bumpers College's 2019 Outstanding Alumni

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Arthur Neal (left), a 1999 agricultural economics master's degree graduate, is deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Federal Grain Inspection Service; and Mandy Kordsmeier, a 2008 apparel merchandising and product development graduate, is vice president of business development for national accounts for Orian Rugs.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arthur Neal and Mandy Kordsmeier have been named 2018-19 outstanding alumni by the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

Neal is the Outstanding Alumnus and will present the commencement address to Bumpers College graduates on Saturday, May 11, in Barnhill Arena. Kordsmeier is the Bumpers College Alumni Society's Outstanding Young Alumna and is also speaking at commencement.

Neal and Kordsmeier will be honored at a luncheon on May 10.

Arthur Neal

Neal serves as deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Federal Grain Inspection Service, which is under the Agricultural Marketing Service.

To help accomplish the agency's mission of facilitating competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products, he provides leadership and direction for developing U.S. standards for a variety of agricultural products and standardization of analytical methods for measuring grain and oilseed quality. He oversees and manages USDA's national inspection program for grains and pulse crops, which engages a network of federal, state and private laboratories throughout the United States.

Before joining GIPSA, Neal was deputy administrator of the AMS Transportation and Marketing Program, leading a team responsible for providing economic and insightful analysis on the transportation of bulk agricultural products via rail, barge, truck and ocean vessel. He managed more than $120 million in federal grants and cooperative partnerships supporting the development and growth of specialty crop markets, and local and regional food systems. In 2017-18, Neal led the USDA team that developed and published the country's first National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, which regulates how manufacturers must disclose bioengineered food information to retail consumers. 

Neal spent more than 10 years with USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) where he was associate deputy administrator and played a leading role in the development and enforcement of regulations for the organic industry. He also fostered international relationships that helped open doors for foreign trade of organic products. In addition, he served several years with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, strengthening relationships between Historically Black Land-Grant Universities and USDA, and resolving cases related to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. 

Neal, the son of a farmer and a native of Louisiana, graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in agriculture economics from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and earned his master's degree in agricultural economics from U of A's Bumpers College in 1999.

Mandy Kordsmeier

Kordsmeier is vice president of business development for national accounts for U.S. manufacturer Orian Rugs based in South Carolina. She manages accounts, including with Walmart, in an industry associated with the textile field. Before that, she was national account manager for Mohawk Home, a flooring company, for two years.

From 2010-16, Kordsmeier was with Sam's Club in merchandising as assistant buyer, associate buyer and buyer. She worked in seasonal décor and gifting foods, and was involved in the full buying process, developing supplier relationships and managing profit and loss statements.

Kordsmeier has attended the Walmart Leadership Academy, traveled internationally and been scheduled as a public speaker.

She graduated from Bentonville High School in 2004 and earned her bachelor's degree in apparel merchandising and product development in 2008. She worked with Estee Lauder and Coach before joining Sam's Club.

Still active with Bumpers College, Kordsmeier serves on the Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Board and is a member of the Dean's Executive Advisory Board.

"I am honored to receive this award from Bumper's College," said Kordsmeier. "I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the school that has invested so much in me from the time I was student to well into my career. It is a privilege to be surrounded by such wonderful staff while able to serve our community and the university. I could not be more proud to be a Bumper's College alumna." 

Kordsmeier and Justin have been married 10 years, and have two daughters, Mabry, nine, and Macie Kay, five. She is also an active Zeta Tau Alpha alumna, and participates in community service efforts through the Children's Miracle Network and the American Heart Association.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.