Seals Burdell has retired as controller of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), effective April 17. Burdell is a Certified Public Accountant with 41 years of finance and accounting experience in the poultry industry.
Burdell began his poultry industry career in accounting with Gold Kist in 1976, ultimately advancing to controller of poultry operations. He was responsible for the development and direction of accounting systems, budgets and projections of poultry operations. Following the purchase of Gold Kist by Pilgrim’s Pride in January 2007, he worked with Pilgrim’s as controller for their distribution company and fresh foodservice plants. Burdell joined USPOULTRY as controller in October 2010. He is a 2015 recipient of USPOULTRY’s Lamplighter Award.
Burdell has been happily married to his wife, Pamela, for 38 years; and they have two children, Alexandra and Parker, and two grandchildren. He is retiring to Big Canoe, Georgia.
“Seals was impactful throughout his career, and that was certainly the case at USPOULTRY. He streamlined our accounting systems, making us more efficient in the process. Further, in the 35 years that I have known Seals, he has always been a model of integrity and teamwork for all of those who worked with him. USPOULTRY is a better organization today because of the seven years he spent with us,” remarked John Starkey, president of USPOULTRY.
Steve Herring joined USPOULTRY in January as Burdell’s replacement. Herring is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 30 years of financial and accounting experience in various industries, including the poultry industry.
