WASHINGTON — The National Chicken Council announced on Oct. 29 that Clint Rivers, president and chief executive officer of Wayne Farms LLC, would serve a second term as chairman of the trade association.

Rivers started working at Wayne Farms in October 2012 as vice president and general manager of the Fresh Business Unit. Then in 2014, he was promoted to chief operating officer and eventually his current position in 2017.

Before joining Wayne Farms, Rivers was president of foodservice and supply chain at Perdue Farms where he worked for six years.

Rivers also held leadership roles at Pilgrim’s Pride, where he worked for 21 years. He began his career in the poultry industry at Golden West Foods in Bedford, Va., as a microbiologist and Quality Assurance foreman. 

Mark Kaminsky, chief operation officer of Park Ridge, Ill.-based Koch Foods will serve as NCC vice chairman. Kaminsky has worked at Koch Foods in various roles since 1990 on both the financial and operations sides. He helped Koch Foods expand into one of the largest poultry companies in the United States.

Lastly, Kevin Garland, CEO of Millsboro, Del.-based Mountaire Farms was named Secretary Treasurer of the NCC. Along with working at Mountaire, Garland spent time as a managing partner at The Sterling Group, a private equity firm in Houston, for 17 years. He also worked at Enron in mergers and acquisitions.

Kevin Garland, CEO of Mountaire Farms

In addition to the three new officers, Mike Brown was elected to a tenth term as president of NCC. The group met virtually during the last week of October for the NCC’s Fall Board of Directors meeting. 

“While 2020 has been a challenge for the industry and for everyone, chicken companies stepped up by enhancing workplace safety measures, shifting product lines to meet fluctuating demand, and providing food to those most in need,” Brown said. “2021 will be an important year for NCC, and I will rely on the collective expertise of Clint, Mark and Kevin to shape our priorities and provide direction for NCC and the industry.”