American Meat Institute Elects New Officers

The American Meat Institute (AMI) has elected the six officers that will guide the organization through the next year. The election was held during AMI’s Annual Business Meeting in Chicago.

Elected to the chairmanship is David Miniat, president of Ed Miniat, Inc. Miniat has served on AMI’s Board since 1999. Miniat has grown up through his family’s business, working in all facets from operations, to sales, to executive management. He serves on the Board of Directors for both Ed Miniat, Inc. and South Chicago Packing Company. Miniat is very involved in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation where he once served on their Board of Directors.

Rod Brenneman, president and chief executive officer of Seaboard Foods, will serve as vice-chairman for 2007-2008. Prior to being named president and CEO in June 2001, he served in various Seaboard management positions in both operations and finance, including senior vice president and chief financial officer.

Serving as 2007-2008 treasurer is Jeffrey Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods Corporation. He began his career with Hormel Foods in 1989 as a corporate attorney. In 1999, Ettinger became Hormel Foods vice president and Jennie-O Foods president. In 2001, following the acquisition of The Turkey Store Company, he was appointed president and chief operating officer of Jennie-O Turkey Store. He was named a Hormel Foods group vice president later that year. In 2003, he assumed the additional title of chief executive officer of Jennie-O Turkey Store. Ettinger was named president and chief operating officer of Hormel Foods in 2004 and was elected chief executive officer in 2005. He was elected chairman of the board for Hormel Foods in November 2006.

Dennis Vignieri, president and chief executive officer of Kenosha Beef International, Ltd., will serve as secretary. Vignieri has served with the company since November 14, 1978. Prior to his current position he served as the Director of Transportation for 14 years. He has been a member of the Kenosha Beef International Board of Directors since 1984. He is also a member of the Advisory Board for the M&I Bank, Kenosha group, and is on the Board of Directors, as well as the Executive Committee, and is currently serving as the co-chair for the American Meat Institute’s Political Action Committee. He is also serving on the Board of Directors for the Kenosha Business Area Alliance.

Richard L. Bond, president and chief executive officer of Tyson Foods, Inc., becomes immediate past chairman. J. Patrick Boyle was reelected by the AMI membership to serve a nineteenth year as the Institute’s president and CEO.

“The upcoming year will again present both challenges and opportunities, as we continue to work to improve food safety, overcome trade barriers, balance our food and fuel policies and reform our nation’s immigration policies,” Boyle said. “The leadership and experience of these new AMI officers will be critical in our efforts to chart a solid course for both AMI and the industry and I look forward to working with them to achieve our common goals.”

AMI represents the interests of packers and processors of beef, pork, lamb, veal and turkey products and their suppliers throughout North America. Together, AMI’s members produce 95 percent of the beef, pork, lamb and veal products and 70 percent of the turkey products in the United States. The Institute provides legislative, regulatory, public relations, technical, scientific and educational services to the meat and poultry packing and processing industry.