NAMI Approves New Officers, Board Members-and-Announces Merging of Research & Scholarship Foundations

Following a successful Protein PACT Summit focused on the continuous improvement and sustainability of the meat and poultry industry, the Meat Institute elected key new officers, Executive Board members and full Board of Directors members for 2024

The Board was also briefed on critical changes to the Meat Institute’s research and scholarship foundations to best align these resources to the continuous improvement focus areas of the Protein PACT.

“The members elected a slate of leaders who will continue to serve the industry and guide Meat Institute resources to addressing important challenges in workforce safety, sustainability, animal welfare, food security and food safety,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute.

 

 

 “Our industry faces many important and unique challenges, but in the few years I have served as an officer, the Meat Institute has looked inward and made bold, impactful changes to its structure to better drive continuous improvement and serve members”

 

“With Protein PACT, we have a clear vision for 2030 and we are also excited to announce the merger of our research and scholarship foundations so that we can expand and direct their focus to help achieve this vision.”

The Meat Institute Board was also briefed on the merging of the Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education and the NAMI Scholarship Foundation. The boards of each of the two foundations agreed to merge to better align the resources and missions of each organization. Changes are effective January 1, 2024.

 

Officers

Eric R. Gustafson, Chairman and CEO of Coast Packing Company (Coast) was elected to serve as incoming Chairman in January of 2024.

“Our industry faces many important and unique challenges, but in the few years I have served as an officer, the Meat Institute has looked inward and made bold, impactful changes to its structure to better drive continuous improvement and serve members,” said Gustafson. “I am proud of these accomplishments and look forward to continuing this work and serving as Chairman in an exciting time for the industry.”

At Coast, a supplier of animal fat shortenings, Gustafson is the fourth generation of his family to own and operate the company, has been a member of Coast’s Board of Directors since 2009, and was named CEO in 2010. Gustafson is responsible for guiding the company’s strategic initiatives and vision, and leads business development, client relationships, and procurement. He is proud to have helped Coast achieve its 101^st year in business, as of February 2023. Prior to being named CEO, Gustafson was Vice President of Operations and has held various Sales and Marketing positions since December 2002. 

Gustafson has previously served as Meat Institute Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary and is a long-time member of the Executive Board. Eric was also Meat Institute Political Action Committee Chairman and Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Labor and Employment Committee. Gustafson is an outspoken member of the Strategic Vision and Nominating Committees.

Dr. Randall Huffman (Randy), Chief Food Safety and Sustainability Officer at Maple Leaf Foods was elected to Secretary and will serve his first term as an officer.

 

The 2024 Slate of Officers includes:

Eric R. Gustafson
Chairman
Coast Packing Company

James Snee
Vice-Chairman
Hormel Foods Corporation

Peter Bozzo
Treasurer
Michael’s Finer Meats & Seafoods

Randy Huffman
Secretary
Maple Leave Foods

Steve Van Lannen
Immediate Past-Chairman
American Foods Group, LLC

Julie Anna Potts
President and CEO
North American Meat Institute

The Executive Board, the Full Board of Directors and the Foundation for Meat & Poultry Research & Education Board of Directors for 2024 can be found here.