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STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT

USDA Rural Development Announces New Leadership Appointments

 WASHINGTON, April 30, 2019 – Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley today 

announced some key leadership changes and appointments for the National Office.

Misty Ann Giles has been appointed Chief of Staff of USDA Rural Development. Misty has been with USDA 

since 2017, most recently serving as Rural Development’s acting chief of staff. She has more than 10 years of 

public policy experience and recently received her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. 

Stephanie Holderfield has been appointed Chief of Staff for USDA Rural Development’s Rural BusinessCooperative Service. Stephanie has served as a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 

Development since 2017, where she focused on a broad range of issues and policy areas, including Native 

American programs and policies. Prior to coming to Washington, D.C., Stephanie owned 413 Consulting Group 

in Mahomet, Ill., which specialized in consultancy of political campaigns, marketing, advertising, public 

relations and advocacy at the local, state and national levels. She has been a tireless advocate for her hometown 

community, serving as a Champaign County Board Member, member of the Champaign County Farm Bureau 

Legislative Committee and member of the Board of Directors for Family Services of Champaign County. 

Justin Domer has been appointed Chief of Staff for USDA Rural Development’s Rural Housing Service. Justin 

has 10 years of public administration and management experience. Most recently, Justin was the president and 

general manager of Domer’s Inc., a family-owned, small business specializing in residential and water 

infrastructure services. Prior to this, he was a regional representative for former Florida Gov. Rick Scott, 

serving as a liaison for the governor’s office to all residents and local elected officials in Florida’s Southeast 

Region. 

Curtis Anderson has been appointed Chief of Staff for USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service. 

Curtis has served as chief of staff for USDA Rural Development’s Rural Housing Service since 2017. Curtis 

previously served as deputy administrator for Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service in the George W. 

Bush Administration, and held positions at Farm Credit, the National Association of State Departments of 

Agriculture and at telecommunications companies.

Angilla Denton has been named USDA Rural Development’s Chief Operating Officer. Angilla has more than

20 years of management experience in both the public and private sector. Prior to this appointment, Angilla 

served as the civil rights director, with responsibility and oversight of Rural Development’s nationwide civil 

rights programs and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) programs. Since her arrival in 2002, Angilla has led 

multiple special initiatives, including training under StrikeForce, Cultural Transformation activities and EEO 

Special Emphasis Programs, as well as served on several committees, such as Chair, Affordable Housing 

Committee of the Rural Development Council. Prior to joining USDA, Angilla held a Nevada Real Estate 
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License and Property Management Permit. Angilla worked extensively in the affordable housing field, where 

she provided oversight and leadership in the management of multifaceted federally financed apartments. 

Scott Williams has been named USDA Rural Development’s Deputy Chief Finance Officer. Scott started his 

career at USDA in 2003 and has served in many capacities, including: electric program loan specialist, lead 

program analyst on policy and program matters related to Rural Development, senior program and policy 

analyst with Rural Development’s chief financial officer, acting chief of staff, and acting deputy chief financial 

officer. 

Dr. Sharese C. Paylor has been promoted to Civil Rights Director. Dr. Paylor is an accomplished and 

celebrated executive with more than 25 years in state and federal government public policy. Prior to serving as 

the acting civil rights director, Dr. Paylor served as the program compliance branch chief for the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Rural Development-Civil Rights. Prior to that, Dr. Paylor was a senior equal 

opportunity specialist with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Fair 

Housing and Equal Opportunity. Before working at HUD, she was the supervisor for the state of Delaware 

Division of Human Relations. Dr. Paylor received a Certificate of Mastery for successfully completing the 

Democratic Society Leadership Program from Federal Executive Institute, as well as a Federal Fair Housing 

Investigator certification from HUD, National Fair Housing Training Academy. Dr. Paylor holds a Doctor of 

Education Innovation and Leadership Degree from Wilmington University.

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