Elmhurst, IL – The American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI) is pleased to announce Jerry Kozak as the 2014 Recipient of the Award of Merit. The Award of Merit was established in 1991 to recognize individuals who have made a significant difference in the processed dairy products industry.
Jerry has had an active 41 year professional career ranging from the New Jersey State Health Department to over sixteen years with the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), where he retired as President & Chief Executive Officer on December 31, 2013.
At NMPF, Kozak was responsible for providing the strategic management of NMPF's initiatives in the areas of federal dairy policy, product safety, animal health and well-being, envir
onmental regulations, domestic and international standards, immigration and labor, and international trade policy. Most significantly, he led NMPF's communications efforts to educate not only government officials, but also the food industry and consumers about the critical importance of dairy farming and dairy cooperatives. Since 2003, Kozak and NMPF also managed and administered the producer self-help program Cooperatives Working Together (CWT).
In addition to his leadership at NMPF, Kozak served until October 2013 as the Executive Director of the American Butter Institute, a position he held for 22 years. He also served as the President of the International Dairy Federation (IDF), based in Brussels, Belgium from 1996-2000 — the first (and thus far, only) American to serve in that capacity. His service to IDF also included serving as Chairman of the U.S. National Committee of the IDF from 1994 to 1996. Prior to his tenure at NMPF, Kozak served as Senior Vice President of the International Dairy Foods Association from 1989 to 1997.
Before beginning his service in private industry, Kozak was an official with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; first, as Chief of the Milk Safety Branch from 1984 to 1988, and then as Director of the Division of Cooperative Programs from 1988 to 1989. At the Milk Safety Branch, he was responsible for management of FDA's national program on milk and dairy safety. As Director of the Cooperative Programs Division, Kozak oversaw not only the federal government's Milk Safety function, but also the Retail Food and Shellfish branches of FDA.
His professional career began in 1972, when he joined the New Jersey State Health Department in Trenton, N.J. He served in various capacities during his 12-year tenure there, including Chief of Staff to the Commissioner of Health.
Kozak received a Bachelor's of Science degree from Rutgers University in 1972 and a Master's of Public Health degree from the University of Michigan in 1975.
He and his wife Gail have been married for 41 years and have two daughters and six grandchildren.
"Unleashing the Power of Dairy Ingredients"
ADPI – The American Dairy Products Institute is the leading national trade association representing manufacturers and marketers of dairy-based ingredients. ADPI's sole mission is to increase the worldwide use of dairy ingredients by marshaling the technical, manufacturing, and marketing resources of its members and others. For more information, visit our website at www.adpi.org.
Source: ADPI – The American Dairy Products Institute