The National Poultry & Food Distributors Association (NPFDA) announced that Eric Joiner, vice chairman of AJC International, was selected as the 2010 NPFDA Poultry Industry Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

In 1991, NPFDA began awarding the Poultry Industry Lifetime Achievement Award each year to a poultry industry leader that has played a major role in the growth of the poultry industry. The candidate may be involved in the processing, distributing, marketing, or retail segments of the poultry industry.

Joiner worked in Aircraft Sales with Lockheed Aircraft Corp. and in Sales Management with United States Lines. Leveraging these experiences, Joiner co-founded AJC International in 1972. Joiner served as president and COO for almost 20 years. During his time as president, Joiner led the company in its rapid expansion into China, South America, and Russia and to its position as the premier international protein provider. In addition to being vice chairman, he is president of AJC International affiliate, Amerifoods, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Joiner is a past chairman and member of the board of directors of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council. He is also a past member of the board of directors of the National Chicken Council and Frosty Acres Brands Inc.

Joiner also serves on the board of councilors for The Carter Center in Atlanta and the board of advisors for Robinson School of Business at Georgia State University. Joiner is a founder and trustee of the Lee Campbell Education Foundation, and past chairman of the board of Senior Citizens of Metro Atlanta.

Joiner received his BBA and MBA from Georgia State University in 1969.

The award will be awarded to Joiner on January 27, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. at the Annual Awards reception during the Annual NPFDA Convention at the Hyatt Regency-Atlanta.