Charles von der Heyde, president of Pilgrim's of Mexico, was elected chairman of the board of the United States Poultry and Egg Export Council for 2013-14.
Von der Heyde succeeds outgoing Chaz Wilson, vice president of Grove Services, an international poultry trading company with offices in Atlanta, Ga. His election came Thursday during the council's annual meeting in Williamsburg, Va.
Until January, von der Heyde was vice president of international sales at Pilgrim's headquarters in Greeley, Colo., when he was promoted to head up the company's operations in Mexico. Pilgrim is second-largest poultry producer in the world.
"Although USAPEEC has always been an international organization, this will make it even more so," said U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council president, Jim Sumner, of von der Heyde's election. "It should serve the interests of both the U.S. and Mexican industries well and should also enhance the relationship that has developed over years with our Mexican counterparts."
As chairman, von der Heyde will head the eight-member Executive Committee, which sets policy and gives direction to the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council, an organization whose mission is to promote and increase exports of U.S. chicken, turkey, duck, and egg products worldwide.
Also elected to the executive committee were Mike Little, director of export sales at Mountaire Farms in Selbyville, Del., as first vice chairman, and Jim Wayt of Intervision Foods in Atlanta, Ga. as second vice chairman. Joel Coleman, vice president and general manager of international sales at Butterball in Mt. Olive, N.C., was re-elected secretary-treasurer of the organization.
Neil Carey of Simmons Prepared Foods in Siloam Springs, Ark., was re-elected chairman of the Marketing Committee. The chairman of this committee also serves on the board and has a seat on the Executive Committee.
Rounding out the executive committee as at-large members are Steve Monroe of Sanderson Farms in Laurel, Miss., and Steve Lykken of Jennie-O Turkey Store in Wilmar, Minn. Wilson will remain on the committee as past-chairman.
New members elected to three-year terms on the council board are Sher Marshall of Interra International in Atlanta; Bobby Wilburn of Peco Foods in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Dean Hughson of Henningson Foods in Omaha, Neb.; and Scott Chapman of Lineage Logistics in Richmond, Va.
