The Iowa Cattlemen's Association announced last week the hiring of Duane Gangwish as their new CEO. ICA president Kent Pruismann, a beef producer from Rock Valley says, "Duane joins ICA with a broad knowledge of the cattle industry possessing a deep understanding of environmental issues." Gangwish replaces Bruce Berven who is retiring after four years at the helm.

Gangwish is a native of Nebraska, where for the last five years he was vice president of environmental affairs for Nebraska Cattlemen. Prior to joining Nebraska Cattlemen he worked for an environmental engineering firm specializing in design, construction and  NPDES permitting for the beef industry in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota with direct involvement in over 200 projects.

His duties at Nebraska Cattlemen included significant public policy work on both the state and federal level regarding natural resources, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and conservation programs under the purview of USDA. "I'm truly honored and humbled to be entrusted with the responsibilities of this office. I look forward to continuing the strong traditions of leadership for agriculture; a quality for which ICA is widely known", says Gangwish.

ICA president-elect Ross Havens of Wiota says, "ICA's board of directors developed a comprehensive selection criteria for our new CEO and conducted an exhaustive search for the right candidate to provide competent and balanced leadership for ICA." Gangwish officially begins his duties May 24. ICA is a producer-driven, 10,000 member organization who's focus is on the present and future generations of cattle producers in Iowa.