MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The Livestock Exporters Association of the USA (LEA), the national trade association representing the U.S. livestock export industry, has elected a new slate of officers and directors, including, Pennsylvania natives, Lauren McCartney and David Lentz.

Lauren McCartney of Dry Run has been named the newly elected Board president. She is a third-generation live animal exporter and currently serves as chief operating officer and vice president of McCartney, Inc., a company founded in 2003 and built upon a family legacy of export work dating back to the 1970s.

McCartney, Inc. has exported cattle, goats, or horses to 36 countries worldwide and is now well known as an industry leader in live cattle exports. The company’s mission has always been to deliver high-quality cattle with the goal of contributing to global food sustainability and agricultural development.

McCartney has been involved in livestock exporting since 2010 and has served on the LEA Board of Directors since 2017. Over the past 16 years, she has played a key role in coordinating animal care, developing operational protocols, and managing inventory tracking for farms and feeding operations across multiple states. She also brings extensive experience in establishing and managing both temporary and permanent isolation and inspection facilities for export, as well as coordinating vessel and aircraft loading operations at ports throughout the continental United States.

“In the U.S., high-quality cattle are the standard. Our genetics are widely considered the best in the world, thanks to decades of data-driven focus on things like productivity and feed efficiency,” said Lauren. “The U.S. is the largest supplier of cattle genetics globally, and we’re proud to play a role in that. At the end of the day, this work is about supporting stronger, more stable food systems—something every country deserves for its people.”

David J. Lentz of New Bloomfield has been appointed to LEA’s Board of Directors. He has years of experience as executive director of the Pennsylvania Holstein Association, where he oversees dairy cattle sales, coordinates quarantine and export projects, and strengthens connections between association members and the broader dairy industry across the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.

Lentz and his wife of 29 years, Michelle, are both Penn State alumni. A dedicated community member, Lentz has served as a 4-H leader for the Perry County Dairy Club for 10 years. He is also actively involved with Incarnation U.C.C., where he serves on the consistory and presents children’s sermons. Additionally, he sits on the board of the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association, which supports numerous dairy industry organizations and youth programs.

Earlier in his career, Lentz worked with Holstein Association USA, covering the southeastern United States from 1994 to 1997. He then returned to Pennsylvania to oversee the Mid-Atlantic region until 2001. He later joined the Pennsylvania Holstein Association as director of sales, managing cattle merchandising through auctions and private treaty sales. In 2020, he was appointed executive director, and over the past six years, he has significantly increased quarantine activity at the PHA Farm.

“While serving on the LEA board, I hope to help move LEA members into new markets and enhance our global presence by building stronger relationships with fellow members and partner organizations,” Lentz said.

Members of the 2026-2027 Livestock Exporters Association Board of Directors Executive Committee are:

• Lauren McCartney (president)
• Dr. Gerardo Quaassdorff (vice president), executive director of TK Agritech, Hinsdale, N.H.
• Jacob Cluver (treasurer), CEO/president of Ag World International, Inc., Bloomington, Ill.
• Brittany Scott (secretary), CEO of SMART Reproduction, Jonesboro, Ark.

Directors:

• Reneé Strickland, owner of Strickland Exports, Myakka, Fla.
• Todd Davis, president of Davis Livestock, Inc., Lewiston, Uah.
• David Stamey, president of Stamey Cattle Company, Statesville, N.C.
• David Lentz
• Robert Bishop, executive director, CEO of Leadfield Commodities, Bandera, Texas.