The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) named UEP President and CEO Chad Gregory as the 2021 Ag Association Leader of the Year. This award, which is one of NAMA’s highest honors, recognizes outstanding leadership, achievement and excellence among senior executives who have made significant contributions to the agriculture industry in their roles with associations or commodity organizations.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Chad, recognizing his extraordinary leadership during this past year and in previous years, guiding the industry through difficult times,” said Tom Hertzfeld, Jr., UEP’s Chairman of the Board. “This award also reflects the work of UEP members who exemplify ‘Leadership by Egg Farmers for Egg Farmers,’ the accomplished UEP staff and consultants, and contributions from industry stakeholders.”
In 2020 Gregory initiated and began implementing UEP’s 2020-2025 strategic priorities, developed under the leadership of a diverse group of egg production stakeholders. These priorities position egg producers to increase trust, reduce risk, and provide stability through changes in the industry.
Gregory played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic, when farmers nationwide were faced with pivoting their production to meet changing consumer and customer demands. He led efforts to shift egg production and distribution from foodservice markets to retail locations and to secure regulatory approval to do so as customer markets changed due to the pandemic.
Gregory also provided steadfast leadership in the 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak, when he helped guide egg farmers through the most devastating avian disease outbreak the nation had ever seen.
His compassion and sincere concern for the greater egg industry clearly distinguish him from other leaders. Gregory is a committed founding member of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs, the U.S. representative to the International Egg Commission, and sits on the Board of the Animal Agriculture Alliance.
As past Chair of the Board, member, and philanthropic supporter, Gregory has played an essential role in Heart for Africa, a faith-based humanitarian organization focused on supporting orphans in the African Kingdom of Eswatini. He also serves as an active and passionate volunteer with No Longer Bound, a recovery and support program for men who are struggling with addiction.
