The hottest job ticket in town is having a food safety degree. PMA announced its desire to hire a Vice President of Produce Science and Safety back in November of 2006 and has found top candidates rather sparse.
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Jim Gorny Executive Director Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center UC Davis |
Now United is losing Jim Gorny, who has held the position of Senior Vice President for Food Safety and Technology to academia — as he has accepted an exceedingly important position as the Executive Director of the Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center at UC Davis.
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David Gombas Senior Vice President Food Safety and Technology United Fresh |
Fortunately, one of the things United acquired in its merger with IFPA was an expanded food safety team, including David Gombas, who had been the Vice President of Technical Services for IFPA. So United has something it never had on food safety — a top quality bench — and so United was in a position to quickly announce the promotion of David Gombas to Senior Vice President for Food Safety and Technology.
Both Dr. Gorny and Dr. Gombas were awarded, along with WGA’s Hank Giclas, The Perishable Pundit’s Unsung Heroes Award for their exceptional service to the trade.
We are fortunate that Jim Gorney will continue to work with the produce industry in his new position, and we are doubly fortunate that David Gombas was ready to step into the position.
United expects to hire another person for its food safety team, but with research opportunities expanding and corporate demand insatiable it is not going to be an easy hire.
Best of luck to both Jim and David in their new positions.
And to PMA and United in filling their vacancies.
