The Meat Institute selected 20 participants for its 2024 Emerging Leaders Program, which promotes and develops future leaders in the meat and poultry industry.

“The Emerging Leader Class of 2024 is a well-rounded, talented group of individuals serving our member companies in a variety of roles from human resources to food safety to operations and more,” said NAMI President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “This is a valuable program for the industry’s next generation but also for our membership at large. Past participants have formed strong relationships with leading industry experts while also expanding their understanding of other aspects of meat processing beyond their field of expertise."

This program — sponsored by SEE — will provide emerging leaders with networking events, an industry mentor to guide them on their leadership journey, exclusive leadership programming and access to NAMI board meetings for better understanding of broad industry initiatives and priorities. Participants also gain knowledge at both the industry level and operational level of goals for continuous improvement as determined by the Protein PACT.

Throughout the length of the program, participants will receive complimentary registration for the Protein PACT conferences, NAMI annual conferences and webinars.

Participants were nominated by their coworkers and selected based on their commitment to continuous improvement in the industry, their leadership potential, and the individual initiative they’ve demonstrated.

The class of 2024 includes:

  • Alex Brandt, Certified Group
  • Amber Larson, American Foods Group
  • Caitlin Hamstra, Birchwood Foods
  • Chloe Carson, Smithfield Foods
  • Chris Johnson, Kent Quality Foods
  • Daniel Guadian, Caviness Beef Packers
  • Elizabeth Walls, Fulton Market Group
  • Grace Houston, Triumph Foods
  • Jeffrey Saxon, FPL Foods, LLC
  • John Marihugh, United Producers Inc.
  • Joshua Cassar, HACCP Assurance Services
  • Molly Miller, Tyson Foods
  • Neil Corbin, IQ Foods
  • Nick Lahm, Greate Plains Beef LLC
  • Oliver Hoad, APPI Energy
  • Pernesia Nellum, OSI LLC
  • Raven Kropf, Teys USA
  • Rob Ames, Corbion
  • Sid Cunningham, Seaboard Triumph Foods
  • Travis Arp, JBS USA

This annual program will accept applications for the 2025 class next fall. Contact Megan McCullough with questions or for further details.

Source: NAMI