Jody Horner will leave her position as president of Cargill Meat Solutions to become president of Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska. Horner is expected to leave Cargill at the end of 2014 and will take the helm at Midland University on Feburary 1, 2015.
Horner is credited with facilitating a high-growth strategy through approaches that increased employee engagement at Cargill while dramatically reducing turnover at all levels. Horner also championed the successful launch of the Cargill Innovation Center. A $15 million investment, the project created a world-class destination for collaborative efforts by food scientists, microbiologists, and culinary teams engaged in research and development. As president of Cargill Meat Solutions, Horner oversaw the following businesses: Cargill Pork, Cargill Turkey and Cooked Meats, Cargill Case Ready, Cargill Value Added Meats – Foodservice, Cargill Food Distribution and Cargill Beef.
"We are delighted to have successfully recruited Jody to Midland. Jody quickly rose to the top of an unbelievably qualified pool of applicants, not only for her success leading blue-chip enterprises through impressive growth, but also for her values-based service to her community as a mentor and board member of a Lutheran college," Midland University Board Chairman Gary Perkins said. "When we began this search process we hoped to find a proven leader, capable of sustaining our growth trajectory while enhancing our ability to fulfill our mission of service, and in finding Jody we exceeded expectations on all fronts.”
Horner said: “I am delighted to steward an institution with the proud heritage and bright future of Midland University. I look forward to furthering the momentum that Midland has achieved.”
Horner holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Olaf College and holds a master of business administration from the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management.
