The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) is pleased to announce that Donnie Smith, Former Chief Executive Officer with Tyson Foods Inc., will be the opening keynote speaker at the AMSA 70th Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC), on Monday, June 19th. With Smith’s passion for leadership and his focus on feeding the world, he will engage RMC attendees as he discusses “Doing What’s Right,” and the positive influence it can have not only on meat science and the meat industry, but also on positively affecting the lives of people around the world.

Throughout his 36-year career in the food business, Smith worked to learn every aspect of Tyson Foods’ business. He joined the company in 1980, working in poultry operations for seven years in Tennessee before moving to the company’s headquarters in Springdale, Ark., where he started as a commodity buyer. He was named director of commodity purchasing in 1991 and during the next several years added complementary responsibilities to his management portfolio: logistics, purchasing and information systems in 2006; and engineering, food safety and quality assurance, and environmental health and safety in 2007. Smith moved into the company’s consumer products division in 2008 and was named senior group vice president of poultry and prepared foods in early 2009; the same year he was appointed president and CEO.