During the CBB Update Session at the Cattle Industry Convention Tom Ramey, CEO, gave his management report. He started out by saying that as a new year begins with new members coming onto the board, he can’t imagine any that will work any harder than those he’s had the honor to serve this past year. Tom says that some CEO’s are drivers of change in their organization and forces to be reckoned with. He, however, sees himself as a servant leader, serving all beef producers across the country. He believes he’s put together a professional staff that he’s extremely proud of and thinks producers should be too.

Tom details a number of major projects that have been worked on in the past year and says that the Office of Inspector General has selected the Beef Checkoff for an audit this year. To date though the staff have not received any requests for information or a time frame on when auditors would begin their work.

Tom says that in the last six months he thinks “the biggest challenge we have faced is our own anxiety, of our future, of change, of the unknown.” He says the industry is under siege on many fronts and the future is unclear and this is frightening. But he says that by embracing change and looking to the future confidently while trusting each other and working for the good of the whole amazing things happen.

You can listen to Tom’s report here: CBB Management Report

You can find a lot more reports on Beef Board activities at MyBeefCheckoffMeeting.com, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Blog!

2011 Cattle Industry Convention Photos