Bio
Jacque Matsen is the Vice President, Strategic Communications for the National Pork Board. She joined the organization in December 2019 to lead communication efforts for the Pork Checkoff, a commodity marketing program funded by America’s 60,000-plus pig farmers. In this role, she is responsible for reaching consumers with information about how pork is raised and pig farmers with resources to help them improve their operations. She oversees a team of communication professionals who implement public relations, issues management and thought leadership programs on behalf of the U.S. pork industry and develop and distribute content through traditional, social and digital media as well as the Pork Board’s own publications.
Jacque joined the Pork Board from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) where she served as administrator of the Marketing & Communications Division, including the Iowa Tourism Office. At IEDA, she was responsible for developing and leading programs to build awareness of Iowa’s key industries, business friendly environment and tourism destinations and attractions.
Jacque has nearly two decades of experience conducting effective communication programs. Before joining IEDA, Jacque was a senior vice president in the Kansas City office of a leading global PR firm. She counseled clients on building markets for new products, crisis response and media engagement. Prior to her agency experience, Jacque oversaw global public affairs for DuPont Pioneer, now Corteva Agriscience. While there, she was responsible for biotech acceptance, executive communications, thought leadership and traditional/social media efforts. Jacque joined Pioneer from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in Denver, where she led the organization’s Beef Checkoff-funded Issues and Reputation Management program.
Jacque credits mentors for helping her find her career path and passion. That is why she developed a mentoring program while serving on the board of directors for the Public Relations Society of America Colorado chapter, has led student internship programs and supports organizations that help build-up youth, such as Girls on the Run. Jacque also is a proud graduate of Leadership Iowa, a long-standing and prestigious program run by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation.
Jacque grew up in Ames, where her dad is a small business owner and she earned her degrees in Journalism and Political Science from Iowa State University. Jacque now lives in West Des Moines with her husband, who also is an Iowa native, and their two energetic dogs.