Kansas City, Missouri – The American International Charolais Association (AICA) announced recently that the association’s board of directors has appointed Brett Spader as executive vice president, effective May 12^th. Most recently, Spader served as co-founder and CEO of Livestock Launch, a digital and data agency serving the beef and ag industry. 

With over 20 years of experience in association management, technology, marketing, and business development, Spader brings a wealth of experience and a dynamic leadership style to the AICA.

“The board believes Spader is the ideal executive vice president to lead AICA’s next chapter of growth and success.” said Michael Sturgess, chairman of AICA’s Board. “We have been impressed with his strong track record of innovation, execution, and developing teams and strategies that drive results.”

Marked by a commitment to effective communication, strategic planning, and fostering high-performance teams, his extensive background includes leading innovative ventures, driving significant business growth, and developing cutting-edge technologies tailored to the agricultural industry. As the founder and CEO of Livestock Launch, Spader successfully created a digital marketing business uniquely focused on the beef industry, showcasing his entrepreneurial vision and adeptness at integrating technology and communication strategies.

Spader’s diverse experience also includes serving as executive director of the National Center for Beef Excellence, where he launched a non-profit business tailored to providing software and on-demand staffing resources to six breed associations. Further experience as president of Angus Media, director of operations at DVAuction, and positions with the Kansas Livestock Association generated experience in implementing new technologies and strategies for growth, marketing and member engagement. 

His commitment to data-driven decision-making, industry trend analysis, and adaptive problem-solving aligns perfectly with the AICA’s goals of advancing the Charolais breed and supporting its members.

“I am honored to join AICA in this leadership role and am grateful for the opportunity to work with staff and membership to continue to advance the Charolais breed.” said Spader. “In my previous experience with the organization, I developed a deep appreciation for what makes AICA so special. Charolais’s success has always been anchored in creating genetics that serve all phases of the beef industry. I believe this organization and the breed it serves have tremendous opportunities as we move into the future of the beef production industry.”