Mark Swanson

Mark Swanson is the former Chief Executive Officer of Birko, a supplier of integrated food safety chemistry, equipment and technology. Under his leadership, Birko helps food and beverage companies deliver safe, high-quality products, and protect their brands.

Mark has extensive experience in the protein industry, with earlier roles at Iowa Beef Processors, Con Agra Foods and Swift & Company. He is a former member of the NAMI board of directors, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and BIFSCo. He’s also the current Immediate Past Chairman of the US Meat Export Federation.

He routinely presents on food safety topics to industry groups, government agencies and graduate degree programs including Colorado State University’s (CSU) College of Business and College of Agriculture Sciences.

Mark is a 2-time Titan 100 CEO (2021 & 2022) for Colorado which recognizes the top 100 CEO’s in Colorado each year, recognized as a Who’s Who in Colorado Agriculture in 2019, the Colorado State University Distinguished Alumni in Agricultural Sciences in 2019, Supplier of the Year to NAMI in 2017, and many other awards and recognitions during his tenure as CEO of Birko Corporation

Mark earned a Bachelor of Science in agriculture business and an executive MBA, both from Colorado State University.