ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US — US Wheat Associates (USW) on Aug. 29 announced several personnel changes in its financial management team.

Norman Karlson has been hired as fiscal officer for the organization, which specializes in export market development for the US wheat industry. Kurt Coppens has been promoted from fiscal officer to director of finance, and senior staff accountant Adam Kiely has been promoted to comptroller.

“We are very pleased to have Norman Karlson join the finance team in Arlington,” said Kevin McGarry, vice president of finance for USW. “With strong experience in non-profit financial management, Norman will bring a new perspective to our efforts. His ability to earn a master’s degree in accountancy at a young age shows his initiative and determination. We’re confident that he’ll begin his career at US Wheat Associates with diligence and enthusiasm.”

Karlson most recently was a project accountant with Reading is Fundamental, or RIF, the nation’s largest children’s literacy non-profit organization based in Washington, DC. While earning his bachelor’s degree in accountancy and master’s degree in 2022 at The George Washington University (GWU), Karlson was a billing assistant in the university’s events and venues finance department.

Before joining USW as fiscal officer in July 2016, Coppens was an accounting manager at Agora, Inc., and Bridgestreet Corporate Housing Worldwide. Coppens received a business administration degree in finance and international business from GWU. Originally from Belgium, Coppens became a US citizen in 2018.