ASSOCIATION PEOPLE.

Stephen R. Kerr, executive secretary and CEO of the Holstein Association USA, Brattleboro, Vt., has resigned. "Steve has led us well for nearly 10 years, and although we're disappointed, we understand his desire to pursue new opportunities," says president Bud Leckie.

Kerr is credited with developing a comprehensive strategic plan for the association's dairy business to lessen its reliance on traditional markets and increase opportunities in other dairy markets. He also inaugurated an e-commerce subsidiary (Insinc USA) to diversify the association's business operations and develop new, higher-margin opportunities.

Kerr has agreed to be available through April 2001 while the board begins its search for a new CEO.

Melissa D. Marek has been promoted to communications manager of the Cotton Board, Memphis. Marek previously was communications specialist.

Joe Cornely has been named director of corporate communications for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF). In this newly created position, he will coordinate the organization's delivery of information to Farm Bureau members and the public, and he will publish Buckeye Farm News. Cornely has served as director of media relations for the Farm Bureau since 1998. Prior to joining the Farm Bureau he was farm director for WRFD Radio and before that held a similar position with WLW Radio.

Kurt Lawton, editorial director for Internet services company Rooster.com, Bloomington, Minn., has been accepted as a member of the Online News Association. ONA was formed in 1999 by members of the online press and is open to journalists around the world who produce news on the Internet and other digital platforms.