A native of Fort Atkinson, John M. Meyer, has joined PremierBank’s Board of Directors, according to information released by the bank.

The bank operates a branch office in Whitewater, 200 S. Fremont St.

Meyer serves as chief executive officer of the Holstein Association USA, Inc. (HAUSA), which, according to the release, is “the world’s largest dairy breed organization.” The association is headquartered in Brattleboro, Vt.

As stated in the release, “born and raised in Fort Atkinson, Meyer graduated from Fort Atkinson High School, earned a business/communications degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and then began his career in sales and marketing for Nasco. For the last three decades, he has held leadership roles with breed associations, first as the CEO of Beloit-based Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders’ Association starting in 1996. Then, in 2001, Meyer was hired as HAUSA’s CEO.”

With the job in Vermont came a relocation to that state, where, the release continued, Meyer was active in the community, serving as board member for both the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and the Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce.

The release noted that “throughout Meyer’s career, he has actively contributed to a variety of industry boards and committees including serving as president of the National Pedigreed Livestock Council; chairman of the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding; president of Dairy Shrine; member of the National Mastitis Council Board of Directors; member of the Animal ID Task Force of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture; councilor for the World Holstein Friesian Federation, and member of the World Dairy Expo’s Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Committee.” 

Additionally, Meyer received the National Pedigreed Livestock Council’s “Continuous Service” award in 2010 and the National Dairy Shrine’s “Guest of Honor” award in 2021, which is the highest recognition of a contemporary dairy industry leader awarded by the Dairy Shrine, the release read.

Further, according to the release, Meyer’s late father, Eugene C. Meyer, former editor of “Hoard’s Dairyman,” received the Dairy Shrine Guest of Honor award in 1986, making the Meyers the first father-and-son coupling to have received the award.

PremierBank’s Chairman, President and CEO, Russ Turk, within the release, said, “We are thrilled to welcome John as the newest director to our board of directors. As a Fort Atkinson native, John’s deep understanding of our area coupled with decades of executive experience leading a global organization will help to guide our strategic initiatives as we continue our growth trajectory as one of this region’s leading community banks.”

PremierBank is a locally-owned community bank based in Fort Atkinson, the release noted.

Meyer and his wife, Vicki, reside in Jefferson County, Wis. Meyer works in downtown Fort Atkinson where he is establishing HAUSA’s Wisconsin office, which, when operational, will be the Association’s third location, according to the release.