Michael Roberts, president of the Food Products Group of Perdue Farms, Inc., Salisbury, Maryland, took office as Vice Chairman, and O.B. Goolsby, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, Pittsburg, Texas, became Secretary- Treasurer.

The new officers were installed during the NCC Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C., and attended by members of the industry from across the country. Officers serve one-year terms.

Welch moved up to chairman from vice chairman. He has been a member of the NCC board since 2002 and has served on the NCC Executive Committee.

Welch has been in the industry since 1967 and has held various management positions at several major poultry companies. He has been president and CEO of Harrison Poultry for 16 years. Welch serves on the boards of several industry organizations, including the Georgia Poultry Federation, the Georgia Poultry Improvement Association, and the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) International Poultry Development Program. He is also active in many local and civic organizations.

Roberts has been head of the Food Products Group at Perdue Farms since 2005 and was previously president and general manager of the Retail Division. He joined Perdue in 2002 after serving in senior positions at several other poultry companies. He has been in the poultry industry since 1972. Roberts has served on the NCC Board of Directors for two years as a Perdue representative and served from 1996 to 1998 as a representative of Foster Farms, Livingston, California. He is a member of the board of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, based in Tucker, Ga.