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ISEF Names Five to
Board
New board members represent major beef and food
interests in U.S. and Canada. |
(Houston, TX) - The International Stockmen's
Educational Foundation (ISEF) named five influential members of the agriculture
industry to its board recently, announced Chairman Dan Gattis, general manager
of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.
"As the ISEF works to increase its influence in agriculture, specifically
the beef industry, we are working to add people to our board who bring that
influence and are willing to bring about positive change to improve the
industry," he said.
Added to the board was Marshall Copithorne, president of CL Ranches Inc.,
Calgary, Alberta; John J. Josserand, president of AZTX Cattle Inc. of Hereford,
Texas; Russell Laird, Director of Agricultural Relations, Philip Morris
Management Corporation, Washington, D.C., Norm Luba, Executive Director of the
North American Equine Ranching Information Council, Louisville, Kentucky, and
John Sykes, Assistant General Manager of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo,
Houston, Texas.
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Copithorne is the President of
CL Ranches Ltd., a private company managing cattle ranching operations that
include the development of a composite strain of seed stock beef cattle called
CL Supercross. Mr. Copithorne is currently establishing a corporate cattle
ranching, feeding, and marketing operation, Lanir S en C, in Uruguay and
Argentina. He is the Corporate Secretary and Director of Western Feedlots Ltd.,
a large Alberta cattle feeding company, and is also a Founding Director of
Research Management Systems, Inc., a technical carcass evaluation,
optimization, and tracking system for meat producers, processors, wholesalers,
and retailers. |
Josserand manages AZTX Cattle Company, a feeding
operation that markets more than 300,000 beef cattle annually and includes five
feed yards in three states. As president, Josserand oversees the day-to-day
operations of the cattle company that was founded by his father, Robert D.
Josserand in 1983. AZTX is also a strategic partner in the retail beef
production system of Future Beef, which produces beef for a major retail
supermarket chain. Josserand also serves on the Board of Directors of the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association, as well as the Texas Cattle Feeders
Association, and is a 1984 graduate of West Texas A&M University with a
degree in marketing.
Laird, who joined Phillip Morris in 1999, heads the Philip Morris Shared
Solutions Agricultural Initiative. Shared Solutions is an effort on the part of
the Philip Morris Family of Companies to work together with farmers and
ranchers on issues of mutual concern. At approximately $5 billion per year, the
Philip Morris Companies are one of the largest purchasers of agricultural
commodities. Prior to joining Philip Morris, Laird served on the professional
staff of the House Agriculture Committee, working as a consultant on
agricultural policy issues for the committee chairman, Rep. Larry Combest
(R-Texas). He holds a degree in agriculture economics from Texas Tech
University.
In his capacity as NAERIC Executive Director, Norm Luba has served as the
worldwide spokesperson for the organization, which unites more than 425 ranches
throughout North America. In addition, he serves on the American Horse
Councils Horse Welfare Committee, on the Canadian Animal Health Consultative
Committee, is a board member and Treasurer of the Animal Welfare Council and a
board member of the National Police Horse Academy. He holds an undergraduate
degree in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut, and a graduate
degree in Reproductive Physiology from the University of Maryland.
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John Sykes is the Assistant
General Manager for Agricultural Exhibits and Competition at the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo. He is responsible for all phases of the livestock and
horse shows plus the world renowned Calf Scramble. Sykes is currently the 2nd
vice president of the Texas Association of Fairs and Events Board of Directors
and is International Committee Chairman of the International Association of
Fairs and Expositions (IAFE). He has served as the IAFE Agriculture Committee
Chairman and has presented numerous programs for the association. He holds a
degree in animal science from Texas A&M University. |
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