October 28, 1999 - Riemann named executive director of Certified Angus Beef

by Bryan Salvage

Jim Riemann, former director of beef research and development for Wichita, Kan.-based Excel Corp., is the new executive director of the Certified Angus Beef Program.

Riemann replaces Louis 'Mick' Colvin, who has been CAB's first and only executive director since 1978. Colvin will now serve as a special advisor.

'I couldn't be more pleased than to have Jim Riemann with his eminent qualifications, sound character and management philosophy to guide the CAB program to the next level of success,' said Colvin.

Riemann will oversee 70 staff members who market Certified Angus Beef brand through licensed restaurants and grocery stores. CAB is the No. 1 branded-beef label in the United States, with sales of nearly 500 million pounds in 1998, according to a CAB news release.

While at Excel, Riemann's supervised development of prepared and fresh beef products and worked extensively with food-safety technologies. He is considered one of the industry's leading authorities on steam pasteurization.

Riemann was also an associate professor in the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Food Technology and Science Department and involved in a livestock and grain farm partnership in New Buffalo, Mich.

Riemann graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor's degree in agricultural education, master's degree in animal science and doctoral degree in food science.

'We need to build greater commitment to the [CAB] brand within the production segment of the industry,' Riemann said, 'continue to focus on quality and integrity and never let the bar drop.'

Reimann said he believes there is tremendous potential for growth of the CAB Program, and noted an increased demand for registered Angus cattle among beef producers.

As an original founder of the CAB program, Colvin leaves a mark on the beef industry. Under his direction, the CAB brand grew from taking 22 months to sell 1 million pounds to selling more than 1 million pounds every working day.

On Sept. 25, more than 240 family members, friends, licensees and industry leaders attended Colvin's retirement celebration. The Colvin Scholarship Fund for tomorrow's leaders has been in his name, and the fund has accumulated more than $8,000. Next fall, a junior or senior college student exhibiting beef industry leadership and marketing skills will receive the first scholarship.

Colvin was one of 26 'Industry Influentials' featured in the March 1999 issue of MM&T.

This article reprinted with permission from Meat Marketing & Technology.

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