Meet the Cogent Team
Our team combines decades of experience working with agriculture and food production clients, successfully providing media relations and outreach, government and member relations services, and strategic public affairs consulting, with a strong focus on environmental and sustainability issues, including water quality, air quality, climate change, food safety, pesticide use and animal well-being.
J.P. Cativiela | President
Cativiela has more than 30 years of experience in agricultural communications, environmental sustainability and industry relations, with a focus on California agriculture. Since 2001, he has served as director of environmental regulatory affairs for Dairy Cares, supporting the long-term environmental and economic sustainability of California’s dairy industry. He also serves as director of government, member and stakeholder affairs for the Central Valley Dairy Representative Monitoring Program, which represents more than 1,100 dairy and cattle families and supports groundwater monitoring and rural drinking water replacement programs while evaluating and making recommendations for improved dairy farm practices. Cativiela currently serves as co-chair of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Manure Recycling and Innovative Products Task Force, and as member of the Board of Directors of the Central Valley Salinity Coalition and CV-SALTS Executive Committee. His experience also includes government and member relations with the California Rice Industry Association and California Rice Commission, as well as grower communications for the Almond Board of California.
A former newspaper reporter and editor, he received multiple awards for coverage of agricultural and environmental issues, including recognition from the California Newspaper Publishers Association, California Farm Bureau Federation and Columbia School of Journalism. He studied history at UCLA, where he also served as news editor of the Daily Bruin.
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James Garner | Vice President & Managing Partner
For more than a decade, James Garner has worked with California farmers, trade organizations, processing cooperatives and companies on issues related to sustainability, such as water quality, animal well-being and greenhouse gases. Garner oversees Cogent’s communications services to ensure successful execution of client projects. He manages creative development, video production, social media, copy writing, media relations and research, and has worked extensively with California dairy and almond clients. Garner also provides communications support for Cogent’s regulatory activities, which provide clients representation before regional and state agencies.
Garner is a past member of the Center for Food Integrity Board of Directors, an organization comprised of stakeholders from across the food community dedicated to building consumer trust and confidence in today’s food system. A native of Hanford, California, he is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he earned a B.S. in Agricultural Science and Education, with a minor in Agribusiness. Garner is a past National FFA Officer and California State FFA President.
Tim Hammerich | Senior Director of Strategic Communications
Tim Hammerich is a communications consultant and the creator of the Future of Agriculture weekly podcast which has received over 3 million downloads. He is also a speaker and writer about topics related to agricultural innovation, technology, and sustainability.
Before joining Cogent Consulting in 2020, Hammerich was the founder of AgGrad, which provided career resources and recruitment services to agribusinesses. Prior to that, he spent the first eight years of his career as a commodities merchant and grain elevator manager.
Hammerich is a graduate of the University of California, Davis with a degree in Crop Science and Management. He also completed the Masters of Agribusiness program at Kansas State University, and he still vows that someday he will complete his thesis. Tim resides in Eagle, Idaho with his wife Jaime and their three children. He enjoys performing improv comedy, coaching little league and spending as much time in the mountains as possible.
Jaime Hammerich, DVM | Communications Specialist
For the past six years, Hammerich has been responsible for managing social media campaigns and developing content for veterinary clinics and agricultural companies. Her experience has included podcast production, presentation development, video editing, and content design. More recently she has also been helping to organize continuing education conferences for veterinarians and veterinary technicians creating learning opportunities in destination locations with specialist speakers.
Hammerich studied biology at the University of California Davis, and then went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M in 2010. She practiced veterinary medicine for seven years where she had the privilege of working in both large and small animal clinics as well as in both urban and rural settings.
After starting a family, she decided to shift her career focus away from veterinary practice to allow for more flexibility at home. Outside of work, her hobbies include horseback riding, hiking, quilting and chasing after her three wonderful kids.
Mandi Bottoms | Communications Developer
Mandi has spent the past 17 years working alongside leaders in the agriculture industry to create educational content that informs, inspires, and connects with diverse audiences. With a B.S. in Agricultural Science and Education and an M.S. in Agricultural Science, she is passionate about helping people appreciate the stories and science behind agriculture. Through her work with the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, Mandi has contributed to projects for a wide range of industry trade groups, including the California Beef Council, National Auctioneers Association, U.S. Poultry Association, Dairy Council of California, Plant California Alliance, and the California Table Grape Commission.
At Cogent, Mandi writes articles and media releases that keep the agriculture industry informed while also working closely with industry leaders to share their personal stories through video. She enjoys helping these voices connect with audiences in a way that highlights both the people and the passion behind the industry.
Mandi and her husband, Tom, spent four years managing a nonprofit school and farm in Eswatini, Southern Africa. Today, with their three daughters, they farm almonds, walnuts, processing tomatoes, sunflowers, melons, and sweet corn just outside Davis, California.
Adriana Toste | Account Executive
Adriana Toste is a passionate and goal-oriented agricultural communications professional with over six years of experience in storytelling through strategic social media, writing, media relations, and video production. Raised on her family’s dairy farm in the Central Valley, she developed a deep understanding of agriculture and a strong work ethic that continues to guide her career today. At Cogent Consulting & Communications, she brings her creativity and expertise to life by developing engaging campaigns, crafting curated and resourceful content for farmers, and amplifying the messaging of the agricultural organizations that she works with.
Adriana graduated from Oklahoma State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Communications. Beyond her professional work, she has contributed as a freelance writer for a variety of agricultural publications, including Progressive Dairy, California Dairy Magazine, Pacific Nut Producer Magazine, and American Vineyard Magazine. She is also serving her third term as chairman of the Sacramento County Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R), a group of young professionals involved in or working in agriculture through the California Farm Bureau. In her free time, Adriana enjoys being active, cooking flavorful homemade meals, and spending time with her family and friends.
Lauren Spellman | Account Assistant
Lauren earned her degree in Environmental Science and Management with an emphasis in hydrology from the University of California, Davis, in June 2025. Her studies focused on water policy, groundwater hydrology, and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. During college, she gained experience in environmental compliance and agricultural policy through internships with the J.G. Boswell Company, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, and the Agricultural Council of California.
At Cogent, Lauren works with the dairy industry on environmental and water regulatory issues, helping the industry navigate evolving regulations, and advocate for effective and practical policies. Lauren is a Central Valley native and brings a longstanding familiarity with the region's agricultural communities and environmental issues.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys coaching high school tennis, painting and hiking.