CHICAGO – The new North American Meat Association (NAMA), born through the merger of the North American Meat Processors Association and the National Meat Association, begins operations on July 1. The announcement was made March 17 during the 2012 Meat Industry Management Conference.

NAMA, which will include more than 700 member companies in the United States, Canada, Mexico and other countries as well, will maintain offices in Reston, Va., and Oakland, Calif.

NAMA senior executive staff will include Barry Carpenter, NMA chief executive officer, as NAMA CEO. Phillip Kimball, CAE, NAMP executive director, will continue as executive director. Co-chairs of the board will be Larry Vad, Ideal Meat & Provision, and Jeff Saval, Deli Brands of America. Co-presidents will be Mike Satzow, North Country Snokehouse, and Marty Evanson, Jobbers Meat Packing. Co. vice presidents are Mike Hesse, BPI Products, and Tony Gahn Jr., Gahn Meat Co. Inc.

Co-treasurers are John Vatri, Cardinal Meat Specialists Inc., and Brian Coelho, Central Valley Meat. Co-secretaries include Don Clift, Preferred Beef Group, and Joe Maas, JTM Provisions.

Upcoming events for NAMA include the NAMA Outlook Conference, Oct. 24-27, J.W. Marriott Hill Country, San Antonio, Texas; Meat Industry Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner, Oct. 27, also at the J.W. Marriott Hill Country; and NAMA MEATEXPO ’13, Suppliers Expo and Annual Convention, Feb. 10-13, The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev.

Known for decades as the NAMP Management Conference, this event was the last to be held under NAMP’s management. When MEATPOULTRY.com made note of this to Kimball at the start of the program, he said to look for something “bigger and better” in the future.

More details will be issued on the new NAMA after the combined NMA/NAMP board meeting in two weeks, a NAMP insider told MEATPOULTRY.com.