ATLANTA — U.S. Poultry & Egg Association presented the organization’s annual Lamplighter Award to four individuals at the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2018 International Production & Processing Expo. The award pays tribute to individuals for “sustained and exemplary service” to the poultry and egg industry. This year’s honorees are:
Fred Cespedes, retired, American Proteins. Cespedes worked with Florida Processing and Amarillo By-Products before he joined American Proteins. He retired as group vice president and division manager of the Hanceville operation after 33 years with the company. Cespedes served as USPOULTRY’s Poultry Protein & Fat Council chairman from 1996 to 1998 and again from 2004 through 2006. In 2012, he was honored as Poultry Protein & Fat Council chairman emeritus. He also served on the USPOULTRY board of directors in 2008 and 2009.
Mike Donohue, Agri Stats. Donohue has been with Agri Stats since 1997 and is currently vice president, working with U.S., Canadian and international broiler companies to use confidential, comparative benchmarking data to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs. Before joining Agri Stats, he was employed with Arbor Acre Farms for 17 years, the last three of which he served as vice president of marketing.
Dr. Don McIntyre, Diamond V. McIntyre is the director of global research and technical services for Diamond V. His experience has included research and development positions at Hybrid Turkeys and Oscar Meyer. He also worked as a live production manager for Louis Rich and Pilgrim’s Pride, was president of British United Turkeys of America and Colorado Quality Research, and traveled in technical service for Hendrix Genetics and for Adisseo North America before joining Diamond V in 2012. He is certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization as an animal welfare auditor and trainer, specializing in poultry. McIntyre is a past president of the Southern Poultry Science Society. He has served three terms on the Foundation Research Advisory Committee of USPOULTRY. He has also served on the board of directors for USPOULTRY, the Poultry Science Association, North Carolina Poultry Association, South Carolina Poultry Association and the National Turkey Federation.
Dr. Brian Kiepper, University of Georgia. Kiepper is an associate professor and Extension specialist in the University of Georgia’s Department of Poultry Science. Prior to his faculty appointment in 2008, he spent 10 years as a research engineer in UGA’s Engineering Outreach Service. He also worked as an industrial pretreatment program manager and assistant director of water resources with the City of Conyers, Ga. Kiepper has served on the USPOULTRY Environmental Management Seminar planning committee for many years, as well as presented at various USPOULTRY seminars. He also serves on the selection committees for USPOULTRY’s Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award and Clean Water Award, and helps teach USPOULTRY’s Poultry Wastewater Operators Training class across the country.
“We value the commitment and support of this year’s Lamplighter Award recipients,” said Jerry Moye, Hendrix Genetics, Ontario, Canada, and outgoing USPOULTRY chairman. “They have enthusiastically dedicated themselves to contributing to the poultry industry, and we sincerely appreciate their service to the industry.”
