David Lattan, vice president of engineering for Prairie Farms Dairy, was named to the National Conference of Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) Hall of Fame during the group’s biennial conference earlier this month. During the past three decades, Lattan has shared his technical engineering expertise with the industry, while fostering consensus and finding solutions through his leadership roles on NCIMS councils, committees and the Executive Board.

NCIMS members, who represent the many facets of the dairy industry in both the public and private sectors, are dedicated to maintaining the ongoing safety of the U.S. milk supply. The NCIMS Hall of Fame was created in 2013 to recognize individuals who have devoted significant time, resources and leadership skills to enhance the mission of NCIMS, its documents and programming.

Lattan, who has attended 16 NCIMS meetings over the years, started his career in dairy 40 years ago at the New Era Dairy milk plant in Carlinville, Illinois, owned by Prairie Farms.

Time and Talent

“You might say that Dave is the founding father of the NCIMS Technical Engineering Committee, which was instituted at the 1989 NCIMS Conference, because he was the inaugural chairman,” said Cary Frye, IDFA senior vice president of regulatory affairs and NCIMS program chair. “He then held that position for 26 years.”

In addition, Lattan is a member of Council III, which helps to facilitate the functions of the Conference. He served as the Council’s vice chair in 2003 and 2005 and chair in 2007 and 2009. He also was a member of the NCIMS Program Committee for 10 years and the Liaison Committee for six years.

In 2007, Lattan was elected to the Executive Board as the industry representative for the Central States Region. In 2013, he was elected vice chairman of the Executive Board and continues to serve in both roles today.

“Dave’s experience, analytical perspective, service, wisdom and strong ethics have made him a valued member of NCIMS,” said Frye.

Lattan was one of three dairy professionals inducted this year. The others are Thomas Graham, Ph.D., a member of the Food and Drug Administration’s laboratory proficiency and evaluation team, and Frank Barcellos, food safety program manager for the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

For more information, contact Frye at cfrye@idfa.org.