Meat Institute Emerging Leaders Program


 

Class of 2024

Participants

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 Food, LLC

John Marihugh

United Producers, Inc.

Joshua Cassar

HACCP Assurance Services

Molly Miller

Tyson Foods

Neil Corbin

IQ Foods

Nick Lahm

Great 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 Food Company


About

The Meat Institute is committed to cultivating the next generation of leaders for the meat industry. Leadership is an essential component of our industry, and the Emerging Leaders Program provides a select group of leaders with year-long programming designed to empower and elevate their leadership skills, build connections and community within the industry, and learn how to advocate on the issues important for the Meat Institute


Program Goals and Details

This program prepares participants to be leaders in our industry with the knowledge and understanding they need, at both the industry level and operational level, to champion continuous improvement within their own organizations and the industry at large.

Selected individuals will participate in a year-long curated experience, focusing on three major goals:

  • Develop and enhance leadership skills
  • Network and build relationships
  • Advocate for the industry

Members of the Emerging Leaders Program will learn to become leaders of their business and champions of Protein PACT and the meat industry. Participants will have unique opportunities to reach the outlined program goals with a full year of exclusive programming designed around the following pillars:

Empower and Elevate Leadership Skills

  • Participants will come to Washington, DC and for high-level leadership training with the George Washington Leadership Institute at Mount Vernon
  • Develop and elevate their leadership skills and create their own paths for achievement
  • Enhance Leadership capacity and effectiveness.
  • Maximize productivity, overall wellbeing, greater awareness of strengths of self

Build Relationships and Leverage Network

  • Partner with an industry leader mentor to provide coaching, guidance and support.
  • Opportunities to connect with leaders throughout the year at industry events

Advocate for the Industry

  • Learn to advocate on behalf of the meat industry with specialized training
  • Put the training to practice with trip to Washington, D.C. and meetings wtih Congressional Members and staff to speak directly to lawmakers.

A Future Vision…

The Meat Institute and leaders across animal protein are uniting in the largest-ever effort to strengthen animal protein’s contributions to healthy people, healthy animals, healthy communities, and a healthy environment through the Protein PACT for People, Animals and the Climate of Tomorrow. Our vision is to better align the industry with consumer, customer and investor expectations and drive future success of our member businesses.

The Emerging Leaders Program, introduced in 2022, applies this vision to future industry executives, and is designed to guide and prepare mid to senior level meat industry professionals ready to take the next step in their leadership journey. This unique program convenes classes of Meat Institute members for a multi-faceted, year-long curriculum centered around elevating leadership skills, building relationships, and advocating for the core pillars of Meat Institute’s Protein PACT, which are, animal welfare, environmental impact, food safety, health and wellness, and labor and human rights.

Empowering and Elevating Diversity

This program is also an opportunity to strengthen our commitment to empowering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the meat industry by expanding access to development opportunities and elevating diverse perspectives and backgrounds – ensuring our industry is well-positioned for a successful future.


Staff Liaison

Megan McCullough

Megan McCullough, Director of Membership Engagement  
mmccullough@meatinstitute.org