The American Meat Institute is a membership trade association governed by elected leaders and staffed by 32 professionals. AMI elected leaders include five officers plus the President and CEO, as well as a 70-person Board of Directors and a 25-person Executive Committee. Representatives on both of these bodies include leaders in both the supplier and packer/processor segments of the industry. AMI has also created operating groups, called policy committees and advisory committees, within its membership to allow member companies to recommend AMI policies in their primary areas of interest. Policy committees focus on broad functional and operational areas and develop policy recommendations for specific issues within these areas. Advisory committees provide specialized advice to policy committees.