American Meat Institute Elects 2006-2007 Officers

HOLLYWOOD, FLThe American Meat Institute (AMI) has elected the six officers that will guide the organization through the next year. The announcement came during AMI's annual business meeting, which was held during the AMI's Innovation Showcase, Oct. 4 to 6, in Hollywood, FL.

Elected to the chairmanship was Richard L. Bond, president and chief executive officer of Tyson Foods, Inc. Bond joined IBP in 1980 as an administrative assistant and has since held management positions including president of IBP's Fresh Meats Division, vice president of boxed beef sales and group vice president of beef sales and marketing. He was appointed an IBP president and named a director in 1995 and became chief operating officer in 1997. Upon the acquisition of IBP by Tyson Foods in 2001, Bond became co-chief operating officer of Tyson Foods and was named president and COO in 2003. A native of New Jersey, Bond holds a degree in business administration from Elizabethtown College of Pennsylvania. He worked for several other food companies, including Pet, Inc., before coming to the former IBP, Inc.

David Miniat, president of Ed Miniat, Inc, will serve as vice chairman. Previously, Miniat held positions in purchasing, operations and sales of the Cooked Meat Division for Ed Miniat. He is on the Board of Directors for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Ed Miniat and South Chicago Packing Company. Miniat received his B.S. in Animal Science from Colorado State University in 1982 and his M.B.A. from Keller Graduate School of Management in 1991.

Rod Brenneman, president and chief executive officer of Seaboard Foods, will serve as treasurer for 2006-2007. Brenneman began his career at Seaboard Corporation in 1989 after having spent several years at Arthur Andersen & Company. He has served the company in various financial and management capacities. In 1994, he was named vice president, finance and administration of Seaboard Foods. Prior to attaining the position he now holds, Brenneman was senior vice president and chief financial officer of Seaboard Farms. He is a certified public accountant and graduated magna cum laude from Wichita State University.

Serving as the 2006-2007 secretary is Jeffrey Ettinger, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods Corporation. He began his career with Hormel Foods in 1989 as a corporate attorney in the company's Law Department. He was named assistant treasurer in 1997 and was promoted to treasurer in 1998. In 1999, he became a Hormel Foods vice president and Jennie-O Foods president. He was named president and chief operating officer of Jennie-O Turkey Store when Hormel Foods acquired The Turkey Store Company in 2001, and was named a Hormel Foods group vice president later that year. In March 2003, he assumed the additional title of chief executive officer of Jennie-O Turkey Store. In May of 2004, Ettinger was elected president and chief operating officer for the Hormel Foods Corporation.

Robert "Bo" Manly, executive vice president of Smithfield Foods, Inc. becomes the immediate past chairman. J. Patrick Boyle was reelected by the AMI membership to serve an 18th year as the Institute's president and CEO.

"The upcoming year will present our industry with continuing challenges and opportunities. Overcoming protectionistic trade barriers, working to continually improve food safety and reforming our nation's immigration policies will be among the numerous issues for our new leadership team," Boyle said. "Thankfully, the collective experience and skills of these new officers will help set a solid course of direction for both AMI and the industry."

About the American Meat Institute
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% of the beef, pork, lamb and veal products and 70% of the turkey products in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Institute provides legislative, regulatory, public relations, technical, scientific and educational services to the industry. Its affiliate, the AMI Foundation, is a separate 501(c)3 organization that conducts research, education and information projects for the industry.