Key facts
- Meyer was honored at the NAMA annual meeting, which ran Oct. 1-4.
- Meyer previously served as president of Italgrani USA, acquired by Richardson International in 2021.
- Meyer served as NAMA chairman and interim president in 2012.
- Meyer estimated the milling industry feeds approximately 40 million people daily.
James Meyer, a retired vice president of Richardson International, was honored as an honorary member of the North American Millers Association (NAMA) on Oct. 2. He addressed millers at their annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, emphasizing the profound impact of their work in feeding millions daily.
Meyer, who previously led Italgrani USA before its acquisition by Richardson in 2021, recounted how an encounter with former NAMA president Elizabeth Faga in the 1990s led Italgrani to join the association. He also shared his experience serving as NAMA's interim president in 2012, highlighting the support he received from colleagues like Dan Dye and Mark Kolkhorst.
Reflecting on the industry's significance, Meyer shared an anecdote about his grandson's surprise upon learning that millers' work helps feed millions. He concluded by characterizing the milling industry as a noble calling and urged attendees to consider their own impact.