Naczi earned the award, which is named for former US Department of Agriculture Secretary Lyng, for his significant contributions and service to promoting dairy.
During his career, Naczi played a key role in combining three Northeast regional dairy promotion organizations into ADANE, a move which the dairy industry credits with consolidating farmers’ checkoff investments and improving efficiencies in the region.
He first joined American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc. (ADADC) as vice president of operations in 1990, before becoming the organization’s CEO. Additionally, Naczi took on senior management roles at Dairy Management Inc. (DMI). Leaders at the checkoff shared that he played a pivotal role in helping the checkoff partner with national organizations and companies, such as McDonald’s, Domino’s, Taco Bell and the NFL.