Michael Strauss was co-founder and president of AEW North America Ltd. from 1979 to 1999, a manufacturer of high speed band saws, high-tech slicing and other portioning equipment for the meat, poultry and seafood industries around the world. Strauss and his partners sold the company in 1999 and Strauss remained in an executive position until 2002, including being named the American Meat Institute Supplier of the Year in 2001. Strauss also serves as Vice President of Sonoran Inc., a company involved with pharmaceutical raw materials, by-products and meat industry brokerage. Since 2002, Strauss has been associated with various other meat industry companies including Colorado Boxed Beef, Central Florida Foodservice and Old World Provisions. Strauss served as President of the North American Meat Processors Association in 2009 and currently serves as Chairman of the Association.