NAMA has made many improvements to the NAMA website, including updating the Members Only Section. We want to make sure everyone has access to these updates, so make sure you clear out your cache and your old bookmarks and update them to the new and improved site www.nama.org.

If you haven’t done so already, make sure you go online and create a username and password to gain access to the Members Only Section. If you run into any issues, don’t hesitate to call the National office at (913) 491-6500 or email laureng@nama.org.

You are invited to a joint cocktail reception hosted by AAEA and the National Agri-Marketing Association at Commodity Classic.

When: Friday, February 27, 2015

Where: Phoenix Convention Center, North Room 127 A

Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Stop by after the trade show closes but before you head out to dinner!

No cost or registration necessary.

Click for more information on Commodity Classic.

Thanks to BASF, Great Plains NAMA and Rocky Mountain NAMA. 

New Member List:
Welcome our new members for January 2015:

CHICAGO
Samantha Koon
Mary Pawlowski

CORNHUSKER
Megan O’Hare

IOWA
Jocelyn Shaffer
Brad Snyder
Ashley Stewart

MISSOURI-KANSAS
Preston Lagemann

NORTH CENTRAL
Naomi Mortensen

NORTHERN PRAIRIE
Elizabeth Bird

OHIO
Abigail Anderson

ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Michele Murray

NAMA will be hosting a reception at the Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, TX—Members and Guests are welcome!

Date: Wednesday, February 4

Time: 8:00-9:30 p.m.

Location: Grand Hyatt San Antonio
Bowie B Meeting Room
600 East Market Street
San Antonio, TX 78205

Sponsored by Great Plains, Rocky Mountain
and Southwest NAMA Chapters

Click for more info on the NCBA Trade Show

Introducing the 2015 Executive Committee Members

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) has introduced the 2015 Executive Committee members. Please welcome the officers below:

PRESIDENT
Marvin Kokes, Rocky Mountain Chapter/NCBA

Marvin Kokes is the Senior Vice President of Industry and Member Services for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. His responsibilities include NCBA policy division revenues including membership, sponsorships, NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen sales, advertising sales, corporate membership, special projects, producer education, Beef Quality Assurance program and Conventions and Meetings.

Prior to joining NCBA in 1992, Marvin was a loan officer and field representative at the Production Credit Association in Monte Vista, CO and also at the Greeley, Colorado Farm Credit Services. Marvin grew up in northeastern Colorado on a cow-calf and dryland wheat operation, near the town of Crook. Marvin has a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Colorado State University. He has two brothers who run the fourth generation commercial cow-calf operation and brothers-in-law who are farmer/feeders and commercial feedyard managers.

PRESIDENT-ELECT
Matt Coniglio, Chesapeake Chapter/Penton Farm Progress

Matt Coniglio is National Account Manager for Penton Farm Progress.

In this role he works with companies and agencies in the eastern half of the U.S. Together, they develop marketing strategies for campaigns utilizing the company’s suite of media options: print, digital, broadcast and events.

SECRETARY/TREASURER
Amy Bradford, Heartland Chapter/GROWMARK, Inc.

Amy Bradford is corporate relations manager for GROWMARK, responsible for the development and implementation of the cooperative’s corporate communications strategy including employee, member and external communications; proactive corporate media relations and public relations; cooperative education and awareness; and the cooperative’s annual meeting. She also oversees GROWMARK’s philanthropic efforts, and manages The GROWMARK Foundation.

VICE PRESIDENTS

-Gary Sakin 
 Gateway Chapter
 Monsanto

-Sara Steever
 Northern Prairie Chapter
 Paulsen

-Amy Bugg
 Missouri-Kansas Chapter
 Verdesian Life Sciences

-Sheri Seger
 Chicago Chapter
 DTN/The Progressive Farmer

-Amber Harrison
 Iowa Chapter
 United Suppliers, Inc.

-Scott McClure
 Gateway Chapter
 Brighton Agency

Robert Vaughn Miller, age 68, passed away January 11, 2015 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester Mayo. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1969 with a B.S. in AG-Journalism. He was a member of the University Singers and had a great friendship with the director, Tom Mills. While earning his degree, he wrote for the Missourian and Missouri Ruralist. After graduating, he moved to Lincoln, IL, where he wrote for the Lincoln Courier. In 1971, he moved the family to Wisconsin and wrote for Farm Industry News at Webb Publishing Co. in St. Paul.

He worked briefly for Peterson-Morris Ad Agency before starting his own agency in 1975. It was later known as Miller-Meester Advertising, Inc. and at one time became the largest Ag agency in the nation, winning numerous awards including Telly, Clio, Oliver, and Gold Saber. His career spanned nearly four decades and he employed over 1500 people throughout the years.

For more information about Bob; visit this website.

NAMA Regions and Chapters are making plans for their individual Best of NAMA Awards events.

We know you won’t want to miss these fun events, so we’re providing the various dates so you can add as many as you’d like to your calendar.  These will be updated on our site as additional information becomes available.

Region III Best of NAMA Awards Banquet
January 22, 2015 – Click to view the invitation.
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
6:00 p.m.
Des Moines, IA
Click here to register for this event.

Southeastern Chapter Best of NAMA Awards Banquet
January 22, 2015
Cinco’s
5:45 p.m.
Suwanee, GA
Click here to register for this event.

Carolinas/Virginia Best of NAMA Awards Reception
January 27, 2015 – Click to view the invitation.
Bee Care Center
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Raleigh, NC
Email Kayla Bullerman to RSVP

Region IV Best of NAMA Awards Banquet
January 29, 2015 - Click to view the invitation.
Harley-Davidson Museum
6:00 p.m.
Milwaukee, WI
Click here to register for this event.
If you are traveling from out of town, you can reserve a room at one of the following hotels: The Iron Horse Hotel (888) 543-4766, Hilton Milwaukee City Center (414) 271-7250 or DoubleTree by Hilton Milwaukee Downtown (414) 273-2950.

Visit the NAMA calendar frequently for updated information and links.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at (913) 491-6500.