The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) was held this week at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. NCC’s winter Board of Directors meeting was held Thursday in conjunction with the show. Click through for news, notes and photos from the event!
Griffith Elected 2026 U.S. Poultry & Egg Association Chair
Bill Griffith, chief operations officer for Peco Foods, and NCC immediate past chair, was elected chair of the board of directors of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). Kevin McDaniel, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, was named treasurer, and John Wright, Fieldale Farms, Gainesville, Ga., was named secretary.
Bill Griffith (right) was presented with the traditional “working man’s gavel” by Immediate Past Chair Jonathan Cade (left), president, Hy-Line International
Six Poultry Facilities Recognized with Frank Cruice Innovation in Safety & Health Award
The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council recognized six poultry facilities with the Frank Cruice Innovation in Safety & Health Award. The facilities earned recognition for demonstrating meaningful progress in operational excellence through innovative safety and/or health initiatives.
- Koch Foods, Ashland, Ala.
- Tyson Foods, Seguin, Texas
- Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Pendergrass, Ga.
- Simmons Prepared Foods, Benton County, Ark., Processing Plant
- Butterball LLC, Carthage, Mo.
- Mar-Jac Poultry MS LLC, Hattiesburg, Miss.
The Frank Cruice Innovation in Safety & Health Award is named in honor of Frank Cruice, retired senior director of corporate safety and security for Perdue, and a longtime member of the Joint Industry Safety and Health Council. Award applications were entered in the industry categories of Poultry Processing (NAICS 311615), Poultry & Egg Production (NAICS 1123), Animal Feed Manufacturing (NAICS 311119), Animal Support Services (NAICS 115210) and Rendering (NAICS 311613). Awards were issued for both a process-based innovation and an equipment-based innovation.
USPOULTRY Recognizes Mike Levengood as Industry Workhorse of the Year
From left: Jonathan Cade, president of Hy-Line International Inc., and outgoing USPOULTRY chair, presenting the Workhorse of the Year plaque and collar to Mike Levengood, vice president, chief animal care officer and farmer relationship advocate for Perdue Farms
Six Industry Leaders Receive USPOULTRY Lamplighter Award
USPOULTRY presented the organization’s annual Lamplighter Award to six individuals. The award pays tribute to individuals for “sustained and exemplary service” to the poultry and egg industry.
This year’s honorees are:
- Joel Brandenberger — Joel Brandenberger retired as president and CEO of the National Turkey Federation (NTF) in July 2024, after serving the organization for more than 33 years.
- Bill Kinross — Bill Kinross is a 40-year veteran of the publishing industry with extensive leadership experience in both print and digital media. He served as publisher of Food Processing for five years and has led Meatingplace for the past two decades.
- Kim Rice — Kim Rice is a food safety and quality leader with more than 30 years of experience across the food and protein industries. She currently serves as vice president of Food Safety & Quality at Rose Acre Farms, where she oversees food safety, regulatory compliance, quality systems and laboratory operations across a nationwide network.
- Angie Siemens –Dr. Angie Siemens is a nationally recognized food safety expert with more than 30 years of experience in the meat and poultry industry. She leads Angie Siemens Consulting, providing regulatory and technical advisory services, and also serves as senior regulatory and technical advisor at OFW Law.
- Gwen Venable — Gwen Venable is executive vice president of Expo & Communication Services for USPOULTRY. She oversees the International Poultry Expo and the overall management of the International Production & Processing Expo. She also leads strategic communications, marketing and public relations for USPOULTRY’s services and events.
- Jeanna Wilson — Dr. Jeanna Wilson is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in broiler breeder management with the UGA Department of Poultry Science. Since joining the faculty in 1988, her extension and applied research programs have focused on solving industry challenges in breeder and hatchery management.
NCC Booth on the Show Floor
Phouth Gonzalez (L), NCC Asst. to the President and Staff Accountant, and Polina Burko, NCC Dir. of Meetings and Member Services, greeted hundreds of guests at NCC’s show floor booth
Judge Stephen Alexander Vaden, USDA Deputy Under Secretary, addresses the NCC Board of Directors
Dr. Mindy Brashears, Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA, presents to the NCC Board of Directors
