Executive Seminar
"Developing and Managing People"
The School of Management Studies is pleased to announce the upcoming Executive Seminar on October 3rd, 2009 at 8am in the McInnis Auditorium located on Eastern University's St. Davids campus. The speaker will be James M. Herr (J.M.)President and C.E.O., of Herr's . The topic of the presentation is: "Developing and Managing People."
Just as Detroit is synonymous with the auto industry and Hollywood is known as the capital of movie-making, the small Chester County community of Nottingham, PA is recognized as a center of the snack food industry. Herr Foods is chiefly responsible for this distinction. And, James M. Herr has played a major role in the company's growth to prominence over the past decades.
Mr. Herr was born in 1951, attended local schools, and joined the family business as Assistant to the President. In his career Mr. Herr has advanced steadily through numerous positions and responsibilities at the company, recently rising to the post of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. In this role he oversees more than 1,000 employees who produce and distribute 340 quality products throughout the Eastern United States. Mr. Herr guides the company's adherence to sound business principles while encouraging innovation in product development, packaging and distribution.
Under Mr. Herr's leadership, the company has been keenly aware of its responsibilities to the environment and has been a pioneer in saving energy, reducing waste and recycling. Their plastic packaging takes up little space in landfills and is a superior fuel in waste-to-steam facilities. Many contented cows can be seen munching on potato peelings at the Herr Angus Farm.
The company maintains the philosophy of "health through continued growth." While keeping his father's conservative approach to business, J.M. Herr stresses the desire of the company's leadership to solidify existing markets and break into new ones.
Mr. Herr has been active in business affairs as Board Chairman of the Snack Food Association. Â He has also served as a board member of the former International Bible Society (now known as Biblica) and the Pennsylvania Family Institute. Mr. Herr is very active in his church and is also a dedicated supporter of local and regional charities including the Lighthouse Youth Center in Oxford, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Junior Achievement, the Salvation Army and the YMCA of Brandywine Valley.
 From meager beginnings, through many challenges and difficulties, Herr Foods has survived and prospered. The legacy that Mr. Herr's father passed on to this next generation of leadership has become the solid foundation for the future.
