WASHINGTON – Todd Simmons, CEO of Simmons Foods, Siloam Springs, Ark., was installed as 2015-2016 chairman of the National Chicken Council during the organization’s annual conference in Washington. NCC also announced several other officer positions, including the re-election of Mike Brown to a fourth term as president of the council. 

Todd Simmons, CEO, Simmons Foods

Simmons is a third-generation leader of Simmons Foods, where he started his career in 1994 following his graduation from Georgetown Univ. Before his promotion to CEO and vice chairman in 2012, Simmons spent six years serving as the company’s COO of both the Poultry and Pet Food divisions. Most recently, he was named “Industry Leader of the Year” by the Poultry Federation.

Mike Popowycz was named vice chairman of the council. Popowycz is vice chairman and CFO of Troutman, NC-based Case Foods. 

Mike Popowycz, CFO, Case Foods

Popowycz started at Case Foods in 1987 as corporate controller. He later was promoted to corporate treasure of the company in 1990. He was named CFO in 1992 and added the title of vice chairman in February 2012. Popowycz was elected to the Case Foods board of directors in 2005 and to the National Chicken Council board in June 2012. Popowycz spent two years with Bell Atlantic Corporation and seven years with Perdue Farms Inc. serving in various accounting and tax positions. He received a B.A. in accounting from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa. 

Ben Harrison, president and CEO, Amick Farms

Ben Harrison, president and CEO of Amick Farms LLC in Batesburg, SC, and Hurlock, Md., will serve as secretary-treasurer of NCC. Harrison has worked for Amick Farms since 1991. He worked in various roles in the company before his promotion to president in 2004. Harrison is active in the poultry industry and he currently serves on the NCC board of directors and the US Poultry & Egg Association board. He earned a degree in financial management from Clemson Univ.