NRA and the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation are in the same office working together, and Render magazine is now recognized internaƟonally for its excellence. It is dangerous to start thanking individuals and perhaps miss someone. However, I do want to recognize the past chairmen who I have served with. Each of them brought their own style of leadership to the position and all were very supporƟve in helping to keep me on track in meeting the wishes of NRA members. They were: Mike Koewler, David Evans, Mike Langenhorst, Humphry Koch, Doug Anderson, David Kaluzny II, Michael Koewler, Kevin Golding, and J.J. Smith. I want to thank them for their support and friendship. All of the above was accomplished because of strong member and leadership support, and a hardworking and dedicated staff and consultants. My wife Judy and I do not know exactly what we will do in our reƟrement, but we will keep busy and hope to see our renderer friends in our travels. I am leaving NRA proud to have been associated with so many wonderful people that I will always consider best friends. Thank you very much. R Cook Retires After 16 Years at NRA NaƟonal Renderers AssociaƟon (NRA) President and Chief ExecuƟve Officer Tom Cook will step down at the end of 2013 aŌer more than 16 years leading the oldest and only trade associaƟon serving the North American rendering industry. He joined NRA in 1997 aŌer serving as vice president of governmental affairs for the NaƟonal CaƩlemen’s AssociaƟon. “The NRA wishes Tom a long and healthy reƟrement and thanks him for his strong leadership during the past 16 years,” said NRA Chairman J.J. Smith, president of Valley Proteins. “Tom has done so much to help move the rendering industry forward by uƟlizing his many connecƟons with other agricultural groups. We consider him a close friend and appreciate his dedicaƟon to our industry and the associaƟon’s members.” During Cook’s tenure, the rendering industry faced some major challenges, such as the feed ban during the bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis. He also worked through a number of major trade challenges and spent many years represenƟng the industry on Capitol Hill, serving as a member of the United States (US) Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Policy Advisory CommiƩee for Trade, a posiƟon appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and US Trade RepresentaƟve. Cook also oversaw the merging of management between NRA and the Fats and Proteins Research FoundaƟon (FPRF), a move that streamlined efforts for both groups. The merge also added the posiƟon of FPRF president to Cook’s responsibiliƟes. “During Tom’s tenure as NRA president, he has led the associaƟon through a number of major structural changes, overseen countless industry responses to regulatory challenges, and served the diverse membership well,” said David Kirstein, FPRF chair and director of technical services at Darling InternaƟonal. “It has been a pleasure collaboraƟng with Tom on industry issues and I wish him the best.” Nancy Foster, former president and chief execuƟve officer of the United States Apple AssociaƟon, has been selected as the next president of NRA and FPRF. R www.rendermagazine.com Render October 2013 25
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