WASHINGTON – The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) elected six new officers during the organization’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Julie Anna Potts was officially elected NAMI president to succeed Barry Carpenter who is retiring.

Other officers include Joe Maas, vice president of manufacturing and production at JTM Food Group, who will serve as chairman, while Warren Panico, president and CEO of Bar-S Foods Co., will serve as vice chairman.  

Brad McDowell, president of AB Foods LLC, Agri Beef Co., was elected treasurer, and Steve Van Lannen, president and COO, American Foods Group LLC, will serve as secretary. John Vatri, vice president of operations at Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd., will serve as immediate past chairman.

“I look forward to working with the new officers, the Board of Directors and the Meat Institute membership to respond to key industry priorities in the year ahead,” Potts said. “Their collective expertise will provide guidance to the Meat Institute and to the entire industry to ensure that we work together to advance our common interests and to achieve our shared goals.”