The National Pork Board has added two new vice presidents, Bill Winkelman and Jill Criss, to the Pork Checkoff management team. Winkelman is the new vice president of producer and industry relations. Criss becomes vice president of operations and human resources. 

Winkelman will lead the Checkoff staff members who connect directly with producers and with others in the pork industry. He and his group work to deliver to U.S. pork producers the services and programs they support through the Pork Checkoff. Those include research results, educational, training and certification programs.

Winkelman grew up in north-central Iowa on a diversified farm and is a graduate of Iowa State University. After working in public accounting for three years, he joined Pioneer Hi-bred, where he spent 15 years in various roles with international finance. He lived in Europe for three years while serving as the finance director for European operations. 

He spent three years as chief financial officer for the National Pork Board before joining the western operation of Murphy-Brown in 2004 as the director of analysis and reporting. 

"I enjoy working with the industry and look forward to creating ways to help pork producers and their employees develop professionally," Winkelman said.  "Not only building their technical skills, but helping them to grow professionally within their leadership skills within their organizations."

Criss has been the National Pork Board's director of human resources the past eight years. She will continue to oversee day-to-day organizational operations including legal issues, records retention, National Pork Board contract oversight, Freedom of Information Act requests, and internal organizational structure.  Additionally, she directs all human resource and organizational effectiveness initiatives in support of the strategic plan.

 A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Criss has worked in human resources for Bridgestone/Firestone and Iowa State University.  She also has owned her own human resources consulting firm. 

"The pork industry is filled with so many great, interesting people as well as some challenges," Criss said. "I look forward to being involved on a much broader level to help shape the future of the industry."

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-7675 or check the Internet at www.pork.org.