New and returning board members take the helm of WMIN. ARLINGTON, VA. - The Women's Meat Industry Network (WMIN) announced its new board of directors on Feb. 3. "Our new board of directors includes returning leaders, continuing members and new members bringing different perspectives to WMIN's mission to make achieving the powerful benefits of gender diversity a shared goal in the meat and poultry industries," said Sharon Beals, executive director of WMIN. "We are already hard at work on programming and networking opportunities to empower women across the meat and poultry industry." Leading the board as chair is Natosha Walsh, president of retail sales at Hormel Foods. Also elected in leadership positions are Jennifer Dibbern, executive vice president of marketing and communication at American Foods Group, as vice chair; Angie Krieger, general counsel for Landus, as past chair; KatieRose McCullough, senior director of science and public health at the Meat Institute, as treasurer; and Kerri Boling McGee, senior attorney at Hormel Foods, as secretary. Natosha Walsh, president of retail sales at Hormel Foods, was elected chair of the Women's Meat Industry Network. | Source: Women's Meat Industry Network and Hormel Foods Corp. * Amanda Gipe McKeith, associate professor of animal science/meat, Fresno State. * Kaitlyn Cocks, regional sales manager, North East - Cargill Foodservice, Cargill. * Drea Starch, VP of retail sales, Niman Ranch. * Collette Kaster, chief executive officer, American Meat Science Association. * Sandra Sage, senior VP of sales, marketing and innovation, Clemens Food Group. * Kim Fleming, principal program lead of supplier quality, Chick-fil-A. * Sharon Birkett, VP of food safety and quality, OSI. * Drea Starch, senior director of sales, Niman Ranch. * Sammy Bredar, associate group editor, The National Provisioner. * Chelsie Romberger, VP food safety and quality, Bell & Evans. * Becky Faudree, VP of procurement, ButcherBox. * Jacque Matsen, owner, Relate Strategies. * Sybil Hika, marketing director, Teys. Additionally, those serving in ex-officio and board counsel positions include: * Cathy East, VP of national merchandising for meat and seafood, Albertsons Co. (ex-officio). * Jody Swaim, principal, Olsson Frank Weeda (board counsel). * Kyla Kaplan, attorney, Olsson Frank Weeda (board counsel). * Sharon Beals, executive director, WMIN. Since its formation in 2022, WMIN has grown into a network of 2,200 members representing a variety of roles and experiences across the meat and poultry industries. | Enhance your industry IQ Sign up for its free newsletters to stay informed on each day's news and trends | Subscribe |

From early concept through design and construction, Gray partnered closely with AFG to bring this vision to life, aligning sustainability goals with the facility and market needs.

Valante Capital, part of IDC Network with $2.2 billion in assets, has acquired a significant stake in American Foods, a U.S. consumer goods distributor. This strategic investment, through Ascend Fund II, aims to expand American Foods' reach across the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean. A partnership with Vitali Alimentos will enhance its brand presence in Central America and the Caribbean, marking a key milestone for Valante Capital's growth strategy in the consumer goods sector.