Claxton Poultry Farms has named Statesboro High School and Georgia Southern graduate Mikell Fries its new president.
        Mikell Fries, the grandson of company founder Norman W. Fries, succeeds long time president Jerry Lane. Jerry will remain with Claxton Poultry as a member of the board and as senior advisor to Mikell Fries and Doris Fries, Claxton's CEO and chairman of the Board.
        "This succession plan has been in the works for several years," Doris Fries said.
        Along with her late husband Norman W. Fries, she founded Claxton Poultry Farms in 1958.
        "For the past 27, years Mikell has worked in every area of the company's operations, ultimately being mentored by Jerry over the last six years to assume the presidency," Doris Fries said.
        Claxton Poultry is one of the largest family-owned egg-to-market poultry producers in the nation and is ranked in the top 100 of all poultry operations worldwide.
        "I am very honored," Mikell Fries said. "These are big shoes to fill that come with many expectations and I look forward to the challenges and responsibilities that go with the job. My grandfather and grandmother taught me more than I can say, as did Jerry Lane whose considerable skills helped groom me for this role. I'm taking over the presidency of a thriving company with a great management team in place and outstanding prospects for continued growth in the years ahead."
        The scope of Claxton's operations include more than 1,800 employees working throughout the main processing plant and the various supporting entities, processing more than 2.1 million birds a week, or more than 435 million pounds of poultry each year. In the process, more than 200 varieties of fresh and frozen products are made available to millions of consumers; and a fleet of more than 150 tractor-trailers, other vehicles and drivers transport a globally recognized brand to regional markets around the world.
        Their clients consist of nationally recognized fast food and quick serve restaurants chains which include Chick-fil-A, KFC, Popeye's and Bojangles. Claxton Poultry services four Walmart distribution warehouses with their tray pack and deli rotisserie chickens in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. In addition, distributors from New Jersey to Miami distribute a full line of products to large grocery store chains and local "mom and pop" stores.
        Claxton Poultry is known for its civic commitments to the communities they serve. From funding scholarships to area high school students who have distinguished themselves as the best and brightest in their graduating class, to providing salaries for English as a second language teachers for Hispanics, contributing monthly to food banks in Savannah, Statesboro and Claxton and providing meals for needy families during the holidays, they are focused on giving back.
        Mikell Fries has been married for 14 years to Wendy Franklin Fries of Metter and they have two sons, Jackson, 11 and Jonathan, 7.
        Before assuming the company's head operational role, he spent the past 10 years in senior positions overseeing sales and marketing. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the U. S. Poultry and Egg Association, the Georgia Poultry Federation and Norman W. Fries, Inc.
        "(I) know my grandmother is very proud but I wish my grandfather, Norman W. Fries and father, Norman W. Fries, Jr. could have been here to see this day. Going forward I see business as usual, continuing to grow in a measured, responsible way, serving our customers, our employees, our growers and our community."