Joe Swedberg

CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joe Swedberg is vice president of legislative affairs for Hormel Foods. In this capacity, Swedberg oversees all state and federal legislative affairs.

Swedberg has been with Hormel Foods for 28 years, starting his career with the company as a sales representative in 1981. He advanced to associate product manager in the meat products group in 1984 and was promoted to product manager of consumer hams the following year. In 1988, he was named group product manager of meat products. He then continued to advance through positions in the meat products group, being named to regional sales manager in 1990, director of marketing in 1993, and vice president of marketing in 1999. He assumed his current position in 2003.

An Iowa native, Swedberg grew up on a cattle and grain farm. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa.

Swedberg serves as a board member and past chairman of the board of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the board of Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, board member of the Minnesota Zoo, board member of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), member of the Advisory Leadership Circle for the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Farm Foundation Roundtable member, Develop Corporation Austin board member, and former president of the Austin YMCA board of directors. He served on Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s Livestock and Siting Task Force from 2004-2005 and appointed by Governor Pawlenty to the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission in 2006. In 2007, he was named to Governor Pawlenty’s Commission on New Americans. Joe and his wife Amy have two children; Brody, Tampa, Fla., and Lindy, Boulder, Colorado.