Jim Dean
Jim Dean serves as CEO of Versova Management and Center Fresh Group. With more than 50 years of experience in egg production, Jim has led the construction and operation of numerous integrated animal agriculture operations in Iowa.
Jim founded Center Fresh Egg Farm in 1978 and while expanding it to nearly four million egg-laying hens, he also built an inline feed mill and egg-breaking plant in 2003. In 2011, as part of a new partnership with several egg farming families, Jim oversaw the acquisition of additional major egg production assets in Iowa and Ohio. This acquisition led to the formation of Centrum Valley Farms in Iowa and Trillium Farm Holdings in Ohio. For the next four years, these two farms operated independently, along with the continued operations of Center Fresh Group. Versova Holdings and Versova Management were founded in 2015 – comprised of Centrum Valley Farms in Iowa and Trillium Farms.
Jim is a recognized leader in the egg farming community and has held several roles in state and national agriculture and commodity organizations. He served for two years as chairman of United Egg Producers and is a past board member of the Iowa Poultry Association, U.S. Egg Marketers and Midwest United Egg Producers. He was inducted in the Iowa Poultry Association Hall of Fame in 2009, and in 2014, Jim was honored as United Egg Producers’ Egg Producer of the Year.