NAMI elects new officers

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) elected the five new officers who will guide the organization in the next year. The election occurred during NAMI’s annual meeting held Nov. 3, in Washington, DC.

Brian Coelho, president of Central Valley Meat Co., will serve as chairman of the Board of Directors, while Mike Townsley, president of Bob Evans Farms, will serve as vice chairman.

Cardinal Meat Specialists Vice President of Operations John Vatri will serve as treasurer, and Sara Lilygren, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Tyson Foods, will serve as secretary. Dave McDonald, president and CEO of OSI Group, will serve as immediate past chairman.

The Institute elected Suzanne Strassburger, CEO of Strassburger Meats/Suzy Sirloin, as its newest board member. She will serve through December 2017.

Mike Satzow, president and CEO of North Country Smokehouse, and Steve Maxey, owner and general manager of Certified Meat Products, were selected to serve on the executive board.

“I look forward to working with the new officers and the entire board to respond to key industry priorities in the year ahead,” said NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter. “Their collective expertise will provide guidance to the Meat Institute and to the entire industry to ensure that we work together to advance our common interests and achieve our shared goals.”

The Meat Institute membership also adopted a new vision, mission and core values statement during the meeting. The NAMI Board of Directors is comprised of industry leaders representing the organization’s packer, processor and supplier member companies.

North American Meat Institute elects first board of directors

The newly formed North American Meat Institute (NAMI) announced the eight officers who will guide the organization in the next year during its first-ever board of directors meeting at the 2015 International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dave McDonald, president and chief operating officer of OSI Group, will serve as the first chairman of the board, while Brian Coelho, president of Central Valley Meat Co., will serve as vice chairman. The board’s treasurer is Mike Townsley, president and interim CEO of Bob Evans Farms. Cardinal Meat Specialists, Ltd. Vice President of Operations John Vatri assumed the position of secretary.
American Foods Group President and chief operating officer Greg Benedict, Beef Products Inc. Director of Sales Mike Hesse and Gahn Meat Company President Tony Gahn, Jr. will jointly serve as immediate past chairmen.
“I look forward to working with the new officers and the entire Board to respond to key industry priorities in the year ahead,” said NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter. “Their collective expertise will provide guidance to NAMI and to the entire industry to ensure that we work together to advance our common interests and achieve our shared goals.”
The NAMI board of directors is comprised of industry leaders representing the organization’s packer, processor and supplier member companies.
NAMI formed after board members for the American Meat Institute and North American Meat Association voted to merge the two organizations.