Submitted article
United Producers, Inc. (UPI) has announced the planned retirement of Dennis Bolling, its President and CEO at the end of 2015.
Bolling joined the company in 1989 as CEO of UPI’s predecessor company, Producers Livestock Association. Immediately prior, Bolling served as an officer with CoBank, serving cooperatives throughout Ohio. Bolling also worked in several capacities with Ralston Purina before joining CoBank.
Craig Adams, Chairman of the Board said, “Dennis successfully led the company through some challenging times but always remained focused on serving farmers and protecting their cooperative. We thank Dennis for his contributions to UPI’s success and wish him well.”
The Board of Directors has named Mike Bumgarner, COO to succeed Bolling.
Bumgarner was previously with UPI from 1990 to June 2009 and held several management roles. In 2009 he left to establish the Center for Food and Animal Issues within Ohio Farm Bureau. He rejoined UPI in September 2013 as its chief operating officer.
Bumgarner holds a Master of Science in Agriculture degree from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from The Ohio State University. He is actively involved with the Global Roundtable of Sustainable Beef, is on the Executive Committee of the Ohio Agricultural Council, and is a board member of the Animals for Life Foundation. Bumgarner previously served on the board of both the National Institute for Animal Agriculture and the Livestock Marketing Association.
In making the announcement, Board Chairman, Craig Adams of Highland County, Ohio, noted, “Mike’s extensive background and leadership in animal agriculture in our region and nationally and his vision for the continuing success of UPI, will provide sound continuity with the leadership change.”
United Producers, Inc. is one of the largest famer-owned livestock marketing cooperatives in the United States. In addition to livestock marketing, United Producers provides financial and risk management services, and serves more than 35,000 livestock producers in the Midwest United States. United Producers was formed in 1934 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information about becoming a UPI member, visit www.uproducers.com.