Alan Gunderson was recently named chairman-elect of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA). The organization is the world’s largest trade group devoted exclusively to representing the business, legislative and regulatory interests of the U.S. animal feed industry and its suppliers. Gunderson, who serves on the executive committee, will assume the top role starting in May 2012.
His duties during his tenure as chair will focus on providing leadership to the 50-plus member board, speaking out for the feed industry with elected officials on Capitol Hill and working with the AFIA staff. Key issues for the organization over the course of the next year include food and energy security, commodity trading regulations, free trade agreements, food and feed safety regulations, and the 2012 farm bill.
Gunderson is an employee owner and vice president of VP Holdings, the parent company of Vita Plus Corporation. Gunderson has been the general sales manager of Vita Plus since 1987, adding purchasing to his responsibilities in 1999. He plays a leadership role in setting strategy, supporting culture and strengthening values for all subsidiary managers and supervisors in the VP Holdings family of companies. Gunderson joined Vita Plus in 1979 as the swine product manager after graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a bachelor’s degree in meat and animal sciences and a master’s degree in ag business management. He is a member of the American Registry of Professional Animal Sciences (ARPAS) and the American Society of Animal Sciences (ASAS). Gunderson is currently chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER). PD
—From Vita Plus news release
PHOTO:
Alan Gunderson, chairman-elect, American Feed Industry Association.
Photo courtesy of Vita Plus.
