COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The American Meat Institute (AMI) on Friday elected new officers at the organization’s annual business meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Rod Brenneman, president and CEO of Seaboard Foods, will serve as chairman for the 2008-2009 year. Prior to being named president and CEO in June 2001, he served in various Seaboard management positions in both operations and finance, including senior vice president and chief financial officer. He has been with Seaboard Foods since 1989.

Jeffrey Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and CEO of Hormel Foods Corp., will serve as vice-chairman. Dennis Vignieri, president and CEO of Kenosha Beef International Ltd., will serve as treasurer. Larry Odom, chairman, CEO and president of Odom’s Tennessee Pride Sausage Inc., will serve as secretary.

David Miniat, president of Ed Miniat Inc., reportedly becomes immediate past chairman. J. Patrick Boyle was reelected by the AMI membership to serve a twentieth year as the group’s president and CEO.

“The upcoming year presents our industry with immense opportunity accompanied by serious challenges, as we continue to improve the food safety profile of our products, work for a common sense biofuel policy and overcome trade barriers,” Boyle said. “The leadership and diverse experience of these new AMI officers will be critical in our efforts to continue to advance this industry and I look forward to working with them to achieve our common goals.”

Source: American Meat Institute