Dr. Ashley Peterson Joins NCC as Vice President of Science and Technology

Mary Colville Promoted to Vice President of Government Affairs

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Ashley Peterson has joined the National Chicken Council staff as Vice President of Science and Technology, succeeding Steve Pretanik, who retired, NCC President Mike Brown announced today. Previously she served as Vice President of Government Relations for the United Egg Producers (UEP).

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"Dr. Peterson has forged a record of excellence in scientific, technical, and governmental matters, and we are pleased she is bringing her talents and energy to NCC," Brown said. "Her responsibilities will include food safety, poultry inspection, and animal welfare as well as keeping her finger on the pulse of initiatives within the regulatory agencies," he said.

Brown also announced that Mary Colville has been promoted from Director of Government Relations to Vice President of Government Affairs.

"Mary Colville has helped navigate many tough issues on Capitol Hill this year and over her 24 years with NCC," Brown said. "She is relied upon and viewed as a seasoned veteran by policymakers and our members."

At UEP, Dr. Peterson worked with Congress and the regulatory agencies on a variety of issues including organic egg production and food safety. She has also served both as the Director of Legislative Affairs and Director of Regulatory Affairs at the American Meat Institute, where her responsibilities included environmental and sustainability issues, animal welfare, and lobbying Congress.

Dr. Peterson came to Washington, DC, as a Congressional Science Fellow in the U.S. House of Representatives, working on agriculture, energy, and environment issues. She earned her Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Maryland, her Master of Science in Animal Science from Michigan State University, and her Bachelor of Science from the University of Kentucky.

The National Chicken Council represents integrated chicken producer-processors, the companies that produce, process and market chickens and chicken products. Member companies of NCC account for more than 95 percent of the chicken sold in the United States.

SOURCE National Chicken Council