NARA has named Tina Caparella the recipient of the 2025 Don Franco Distinguished Service Award, the organization’s highest honor recognizing outstanding leadership and long-term contributions to the rendering and meat industries. Read the press release here.
Tina’s career in the industry spans decades, beginning with her family’s legacy at Render magazine. The magazine was founded in 1972 by her grandfather, Frank Burnham, as a newsletter for West Coast rendering organizations, eventually becoming a national publication under NARA’s ownership in 1979. Tina started contributing to Render in the early 1980s with her “People, Places” column, advanced to associate editor in 1990, and became editor and publisher in 1996.
Under her leadership, Render expanded internationally, covering rendering markets across Australia, Europe, and beyond. In 2011, the magazine was recognized as “the International Magazine of Rendering.” Tina’s influence extended beyond editorial oversight: she served as graphic designer, advertising manager, and one of the magazine’s most prominent advocates, attending conferences worldwide and sharing industry insights at every opportunity.
Since retiring in 2021, Tina has embraced full-time RV travel with her husband, exploring the U.S., visiting family and friends, and even crewing for hot air balloon pilots at events like the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival.
Tina was presented with the Don Franco Award at the 2025 Annual Convention. Her decades-long commitment to the industry, combined with her dedication to storytelling and advocacy, make this honor a well-deserved recognition of her lasting impact.
