Our Staff
Dr. Joe Harris
President/CEO
SMA’s President/CEO since 1997, Dr. Joe Harris holds a Ph.D. in Meat Science from Texas A&M University and was recognized as one of the “Rising Stars” of the industry by Meat Processing magazine. He has served three terms on the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture’s National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection, and he is an approved lead instructor by the International HACCP Alliance. He also serves as Executive Director of the Southwest Meat Foundation, which funds scholarships for deserving students at universities across the region. Dr. Harris has led SMA members through many significant changes in the industry’s structure and regulatory environment. Under his leadership, SMA has become known as a leader in education, regulatory support, and member advocacy.
Lacy Bates
Membership Development Manager
Lacy Bates joined the SMA staff as the Membership Development Manager in April 2018. Lacy graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in animal science in 2012. Later in 2014, Lacy graduated from Sam Houston University with her M.S. in Agriculture. Her job duties include recruiting new memberships, current member outreach, planning SMA outreach events, and assisting with SMA Convention planning.
Have questions about joining SMA? Email Lacy@southwestmeat.org
Tori Curry
Communications & Operations Manager
A central Texas native, Tori received her Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Services and Development with a minor in Communications in 2015 and her Master of Science in Agriculture & Consumer Resources in 2018 from Tarleton State University. Tori joined the SMA team July 2022. Tori’s responsibilities include managing SMA’s social media pages, advertising, invoicing, and publishing SMA’s weekly newsletter, InfoMeat.
Dr. Dawn Sprouls
SMA Regulatory Support
Dr. Dawn Sprouls graduated from Wayne State College with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. After graduation she worked in the food industry and on the family dairy farm. She attended Iowa State University School of Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduation, Dr. Sprouls took a MIS (Multi-Inspection) position at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. She later took a Circuit Supervisor position that led her into becoming the Frontline Supervisor in northeast Nebraska. In 2003, Dr. Sprouls was promoted to Deputy District Manager in Des Moines, which covered both Iowa and Nebraska. In 2007, Dr. Sprouls had an opportunity to head to Washington DC where she was able to work with leaders in the Agency and Dr. Richard Raymond, Undersecretary for Food Safety. In 2008, she returned to the Des Moines District resuming her District Manager position that she held until retirement. Today, Dr. Sprouls assists SMA member companies with regulatory and technical assistance as well as formulating HACCP and SSOP plans.
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