About Leadership
The USRSB is comprised of the following five constituencies: producers, allied industry, packers/processing, retail/food service, and civil society.
The Board of Directors, made up of equal board seats from representation of each constituency, directs the activities of the USRSB. The Board of Directors guides the work of the USRSB through Working Groups, Committees and Task Forces. It is through these working groups that the USRSB’s work is accomplished.
These working groups examine issues and seek solutions to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement in beef sustainability.
To learn more about the efforts of the working groups or if you are interested in signing up as a volunteer, please contact the USRSB Administrator for additional details on how to become more engaged.
Board of Directors
Ben Weinheimer (Chair)
Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Kim Stackhouse-Lawson (Past-Chair)
JBS USA
Scott Anderson (Secretary/Treasurer)
CRI Feeders of Guymon [Ex-Officio]
Wayne Morgan (Chair-Elect)
Golden State Foods
Cameron Bruett
JBS USA
Caitlin Colegrove
Target Corporation
Tom McDonald
Five Rivers Cattle Feeding
Jessica Finck
Merck Animal Health
Bethany Fitzgerald
Target Corporation
Steve Wooten
Colorado Cattlemen's Association
MATTHEW CLEVELAND
ABS USA
Rob Manes
The Nature Conservancy
Clayton Huseman
Kansas Livestock Association
Gurneesh Bhandal
Cargill
Nancy Labbe
World Wildlife Fund
Michelle Calvo-Lorenzo
Elanco Animal Health
Townsend Bailey
McDonald's Corporation
Chad Ellis
Noble Research Institute
Gary Vogel
Elanco Animal Health
Mike Brems
McDonald's Corporation
Myriah Johnson
Noble Research Institute
WORKING GROUPS, COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES
Outreach Working Group
Co-Chairs: Debbie Lyons Blythe (Blythe Family Farms), Josh White (National Cattlemen's Beef Association) and Chad Ellis (Noble Research Institute)
Scope of Work: To increase awareness, uptake and implementation of the U.S. Beef Industry Sustainability Framework across all sectors of the beef value chain by encouraging the incorporation of USRSB indicators, metrics and sustainability assessment guide material into existing programs. Develop self-assessment tools, education and outreach programs, resources or initiatives, where needed, to support uptake of the Framework.
Communications Working Group
Co-Chairs: Jennie Hodgen (Merck Animal Health) and Townsend Bailey (McDonald’s Corporation)
Scope of Work: Assist with the execution and implementation of the communications plan to advance the mission and vision of USRSB, including oversight of the annual report and strategically identifying and utilizing events to deliver key messages.
Recognition Program Committee
Co-Chairs: Michelle Calvo-Lorenzo (Elanco Animal Health) and Rob Manes (The Nature Conservancy)
Scope of Work: While it is not within the scope of USRSB to provide certification or verification for adoption of the U.S. Beef Industry Sustainability Framework, the Recognition Program Committee will establish and oversee a process to evaluate existing and/or new supply-chain programs that include or intend to include parameters that align with the Framework.
Feed Sustainability Task Force
Co-Chairs: Nancy Labbe (World Wildlife Fund) and Damon Palmer (Corteva Agrisciences)
Scope of Work: Increase collaboration to identify areas of engagement around sustainable feed production as well as explore potential feed pilot projects.
Project and Resource Review Committee
Co-Chairs: Clayton Huseman (Kansas Livestock Association) and Sarah Hendren (Culver Franchising System)
Scope of Work: Review and support external projects, field trials, pilot projects, research projects and resources that align with the USRSB vision and mission, including oversight of approved projects, progress reports and results.
General Assembly Planning Task Force
Co-Chairs: Jessica Finck (Merck Animal Health) and Shannon Wharton (Wharton 3C Cattle)
Scope of Work: Assist in guiding the planning and execution of the annual General Assembly meeting, including site selection for the meeting, theme, sponsorship opportunities, promotional material, tour stops, keynote addresses, speakers and panels, as well as other meeting logistics.