The newly named Produce Marketing Association Foundation for Industry Talent has a new board of directors:
SCHULER TO LEAD 2008-2009 PMA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors of the Produce Marketing Association’s Foundation for Industry Talent (PMA FIT) took office at the close of PMA’s 2008 Fresh Summit International Convention and Exposition in Orlando, Florida, USA. Chairman of the Board Bill Schuler, president and chief executive officer of Castellini Company, Newport, Kentucky, is joined on the 2008-2009 board by three other officers and 17 directors to lead next year’s foundation activities.
“We have a dynamic team of leaders in place to ensure the produce industry has strong talent and continued leadership long into the future. Bill Schuler’s passion and commitment to the foundation has been a driving force in our success,” said PMA FIT Executive Director Cindy Seel. “He has worked tirelessly with Immediate Past Chairman Steve Barnard, and will continue to help the foundation grow in the year ahead.”
“I’m honored to serve as chairman of this board, and am thankful to those who have helped the foundation raise nearly $3.5 million toward our $5 million goal. I believe young professionals are an integral part of our industry’s future and we need to invest in their development to ensure continued prosperity for our industry and an ROI for the entire supply chain,” said Schuler. “We have seen many successes in attracting new talent, but we still have many opportunities and much more work to do.”
The officers include:
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William M. Schuler Chairman PMA FIT Board Preident and Chief Executive Officer Castellini Company Newport, Kentucky |
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Bud Floyd Vice Chairman, PMA FIT Board Vice President CH Robinson Worldwide Eden Prairie, Minnesota |
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Peter Goulet Secretary/Treasurer, PMA FIT Board President Pinnacle Sales & Marketing Saco, Maine |
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Steve Barnard Past Chairman, PMA FIT Board President Mission Produce, Inc. Oxnard, California |
Other PMA FIT board members include:
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John Anderson Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer The Oppenheimer Group Coquitlam, BC, Canada |
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Dave Corsi Vice President of Produce & Floral Operations Wegmans Food Markets Rochester, New York |
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Jan DeLyser Vice President of Marketing California Avocado Commission Irvine, California |
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Duane Eaton Senior Vice President of Association Services PMA Newark, Delaware |
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Robert Gray Chief Executive Officer Duda Farm Fresh Foods Salinas, California |
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Gene Harris Senior Purchasing Manager Denny’s Corporation Spartanburg, South Carolina |
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Lorri Koster President Mann Packing Company, Inc. Salinas, California |
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Jim Leimkuhler President Progressive Produce Corp. Los Angeles, California |
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Dr. Edward W. McLaughlin Educator Cornell University Ithaca, New York |
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Lisa McNeece Vice President of Foodservice & Industrial Sales Grimmway Farms Bakersfield, California |
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Jay Pack Chief Executive Officer The Pack Group Dallas, Texas |
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Frank Padilla Assistant Vice President General Merchandising Fresh foods Costco Wholesale Issaquah, Washington |
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Bryan Silbermann President PMA Newark, Delaware |
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Jim Smits Group Vice President Merchandising & Marketing Supervalu, Inc. Eden Prairie, Minnesota |
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Dick Spezzano President Spezzano Consulting Service, Inc. Monrovia, California |
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Geoff White Vice President of Produce Safeway, Inc. Pleasanton, California |
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Tim York President Markon Cooperative Salinas, California |
It is an all-star cast and the very first event of the New Year for the newly named foundation is the annual Leadership Symposium. Yes, after many years under the auspices of PMA, the Leadership Symposium is now being presented by a partnership of Cornell University, Pundit sister publication PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine and the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent.
This makes perfect sense as the trade’s longest running leadership development event belongs as a jewel in the crown of PMA FIT, along with The Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund and the Nucci Scholarship for Culinary Innovation.
The Leadership Symposium, whose curriculum was developed by the much esteemed Professor Edward McLaughlin, the Robert G. Tobin Professor of Marketing and Director, Undergraduate Business Program, Cornell University, is a truly unique event in the annual calendar of the produce industry.
It is the only event at which none of the speakers are selected for their knowledge about the produce industry. As such, it is the only event that solely is devoted to bringing new ideas into the trade.
Conveniently located in Dallas, Texas, the program has won wide acclaim not only for program content but as a first-class networking opportunity — with many attendees coming back time and time again, explaining they make the acquaintance of both new ideas and new people with each visit. Typically the attendance includes representatives of the retail, foodservice operator, wholesaler, grower/shipper and ancillary industry segments.
The speakers are terrific. The schedule jam-packed. The story compelling.
The Leadership Symposium will be held January 14-16, 2009, at the Omni Dallas Park West in Dallas, Texas. You can find out more information here.
And you can register right here.
Good luck to the new PMA FIT board, we look forward to seeing everybody in Dallas.
