Two Butterball LLC employees were recognized as leaders through the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) “30 Under 30” program, Wednesday, January 31. Adam Grant, digital community coordinator and assistant brand manager, and Molly Parker, director of food safety and animal care, were recognized for their professional leadership qualities within the meat and poultry manufacturing industry.

Grant joined Butterball in 2015 as part of the inaugural class of Butterball’s Management Development Program. Over the course of two years, he completed management rotations in supply chain, production, live operations and marketing. Upon graduation from the program, he assumed the role of digital community coordinator and assistant brand manager, where he supports the development and execution of the core business strategies and plans for two strategically important categories – seasonal and fresh raw turkey – and directs the digital marketing activities of Butterball's consumer community. Grant is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Cameron School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing and operations management.

Parker joined Butterball in 2012 as an animal care and well-being assistant where she played an integral role in securing American Humane certification for all live operations divisions and processing plants. In 2015, she was promoted to director of food safety and animal care and manages all live aspects of organic turkey production; manages, updates, and implements all company animal care & well-being programs; trains employees and contract associates throughout the company on animal welfare; manages third-party audits for animal welfare, food safety, biosecurity, and no antibiotics ever (NAE) production and the internal audit schedule and audit team. Parker has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from East Carolina University, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Avian Health and Medicine from the University of Georgia.

“Attracting and retaining top young talent is critical to Butterball’s success, but also critical to the future of the meat and poultry processing industry. We feel incredibly fortunate to have two of our team members recognized for their leadership among their industry peer group,” said Ron Tomaszewski, vice president of human resources. “We know they will apply the education they receive at IPPE in 2018 to advance their knowledge of the business and bring cutting-edge ideas to the forefront.”

With a goal of investing in and engaging young professionals involved in the production and processing of poultry and meat, the IPPE 30 Under 30 program is a joint effort of The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). The program is designed to recognize professional leadership qualities and to provide exposure to the world’s largest annual trade show involving the production and processing of meat and poultry products and the manufacture of feed and pet food products. The program provides education to further industry training and offers visibility into the latest technology used in the industry.

Source: Butterball