Monitoring disease risk in the swine industry is not only important, it’s critical for the future success of the industry. That’s one reason why Kent Bang of Bang Ag Consulting, LLC, said yes to serving on the Swine Health Information Center’s (SHIC) board of directors.
“I’ve long been involved in this industry and having been on the NPPC board when SHIC was put together, I’ve been very, very supportive of their efforts,” Bang said in a SHIC release. “What SHIC does is very important realizing one of the industry’s biggest risks is emerging disease, trade interrupting disease. I know what kind of challenge it is for us to get the right kind of monitoring in place, pig movement tracking, and just how monumental a task that is.”
Bang, along with Paul Ruen, DVM, partner in Fairmont (MN) Veterinary Clinic, began serving on the SHIC Board of Directors during SHIC’s annual meeting held on June 29. Founding board members Matt Anderson, DVM, an owner of Suidae Health and Production, Algona, Iowa, and Mark Greenwood, formerly with Compeer Financial, Mankato, Minnesota, concluded their service.
“SHIC has done a great job with such a big task and there’s still work to do,” Bang said. “I hope to contribute to SHIC’s mission. There are a lot of people with a lot of veterinary talent on the Board. I have strong contacts in the industry across the country and good working relationships with players in the business, understanding its structure I can offer.”
After retiring from Compeer Financial in April after a distinguished career in banking with an emphasis on swine industry lending, Bang established a consulting company to serve large clients in the U.S. Read more about Kent Bang in our exclusive PORK Perspectives.
A Unique Way to Serve
Paul Ruen said he intentionally sought out work in a veterinary practice with a focus on swine involvement after graduating from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Being in an industry that’s constantly evolving, with great people across the industry, has been a fun and rewarding career,” Ruen said in a SHIC release.
He believes it’s important to be involved and give back. That’s why he’s stepping onto the SHIC board and why he has also given his time to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) as a volunteer leader, serving on their board for four years, one of those as president of the organization.
As the AASV-appointed member of the SHIC Board of Directors, he anticipates growing his service to the industry.
“It’s interesting how that board is set up,” he said. “It promotes good dialogue with representatives from across the industry. I’m excited to be part of that, have some part of the exchange, as SHIC continues to monitor what’s going on in the world, being prepared and forward-thinking for protecting the U.S. swine herd.”
While serving as president of the AASV Board of Directors, Ruen visited the Miami Port of Entry, seeing firsthand how that process works to screen passengers and container ships as they come in.
“I am keen to figure out how we can promote and do a better job for the industry to be collaborative with our government, and other governments, to have integrity in that process and continue to be as thorough as we can protecting our food supply and livestock in the US,” Ruen added. “I’m also interested in understanding at a deeper level the highest priorities for SHIC, how we balance funds we have and types of resources we can leverage with where the greatest needs are.”
New Officers Elected
The new SHIC Board of Directors held election of officers as well.
- Daryl Olsen, DVM, AMVC, was chosen to continue leading the SHIC Board as its chair.
- Howard Hill, DVM, Ames, Iowa, will again be the vice chair for the organization.
- Kent Bang will serve as secretary/treasurer.
Other board members include Russ Nugent, PhD; Gene Noem; Jeremy Pittman, DVM; Mark Schwartz, and Matthew Turner, DVM.
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