Bill Schuler, Chair
Castellini Company LLC, President/CEO

Bill Schuler is president and CEO of the Castellini Group of Companies, which he joined in 1985 as Chief Financial Officer. In 1995 he became President and COO and in 1999 became the President and CEO. Bill was PMA's Fresh Summit Program Chairman in 2002 and has served a three year term on the Retail Division Board. Bill, together with Bud Floyd, co-chaired PMA's Transportation Task Force. Bill serves on the PMA Board of Directors and is currently Chairman-Elect.

Bud Floyd, Vice Chair
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Vice President

Bud Floyd is a vice president in the sourcing division at C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. where he oversees all produce marketing including brand development, packaging, promotions, research, key account support, and perishable transportation services. He joined the company in 1998 after holding various sales and marketing positions at Pillsbury Co., Johnson & Johnson, The Hershey Company, and Green Giant Fresh, where he served as a principal for three years. Bud has served a three year term on the Retail Division Board and a three year term on the PMA board as a director at large. He was the Fresh Summit Program Chairman in Orlando and has recently taken on co-chairing the newly formed PMA Transportation Task Force. Bud has served on multiple boards and committees in the produce and food industry. He received his education from Boston University and the University of Paris. Bud and his wife, Jill, have four children and live in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Peter Goulet, Secretary/Treasurer
Pinnacle Sales & Marketing, Inc., President

Peter Goulet is the president of Pinnacle Sales and Marketing, Inc. Prior to this he was Director of Merchandising Strategy at Hannaford Brothers in Scarborough, Maine, a company he joined at age 15. He has held numerous positions at the retail and corporate level. After serving as a Store Manager at retail, he has been a produce buyer, category manager, merchandising manager and director of produce merchandising. Peter has served for over 10 years on PMA Boards, including Retail Board Chairman, three years on the Main Board, and in the Officer ranks. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Executive Committee and previously served as the PMA Chair. He served as Fresh Summit Chairman in 2001 and was on the founding board of the New England Produce Council. He was presented with The Packer's Produce Marketer of the Year Award in the year 2000. Outside of the industry, Peter has been active with Little League Baseball, his YMCA Board, Boy Scouts of America, as president of local swim clubs and with his local Chamber of Commerce.

Stephen Barnard, Immediate Past Chair
Mission Produce, Inc., President/CEO

Steve Barnard is CEO of Mission Produce, a company he started in 1983. Prior to this he worked as a division manager for Santa Clara Produce Inc. He has served on the board of Western Growers Association since 1994, chaired the Ventura County Taxpayers Association in 1990, and was active throughout the 1990s in the Ventura County Agricultural Association. Steve's involvement with PMA includes two year terms as Chairman of the Foodservice Division and the International Advisory Council as well as service on the PMA Board and Executive Committee. He was also the 2003/2004 Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Executive Committee for 2004/2005.

Margi Prueitt, Executive Director
PMA Foundation for Industry Talent

Margi Prueitt is the executive director of PMA Foundation for Industry Talent (PMA FIT). In this role, she serves as the staff lead to the PMA FIT Board of Directors and is responsible for all program activities and fund development. Prior to joining the Foundation, Margi served as executive director of The Committee of 100 in Wilmington, Del., a nonprofit group that promotes responsible economic development in Delaware. Margi also was chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula in Wilmington, Del., from 1988-2008, where she was responsible for leading Red Cross programs and services for more than 1 million people in nine counties, managing as many as 49 employees and more than 1,500 volunteers with a budget of $3.6 million. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and obtained a Master of Science degree from the University of Louisville, as well as participated in an Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.

John Anderson
The Oppenheimer Group, Chairman, President & CEO

John Anderson has led The Oppenheimer Group since 1992. He joined the company in a sales position in 1976. He has been active in PMA leadership since 1995 when he began serving on the PEIB Board. He also served on and chaired PMA's International Advisory Council; the PMA Retail Board; was on the PMA Board as a division board representative; and on the Executive Committee of the PMA Main Board. John currently serves on the PMA FIT committee. He has served the industry extensively through the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, where he rose to chair the association in 2000. He continues to serve on the CPMA Board and chairs the CPMA North American Trade Task Force. John was also chosen as the Canadian Produce Man of the Year in 2000.

Lorna D. Christie
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Lorna Christie joined PMA in 2002. As Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Christie directs the activities of PMA staff responsible for enhancing member and industry value. This staff team is responsible for membership recruitment and retention, PMA events, product development, government relations, industry technology and standards, public relations, marketing communications volunteer activities and business development.

Ms. Christie is an accomplished spokesperson and marketing and public relations strategist, with proven crisis management and mitigation experience ranging from food safety issues to industry wide ethics.

Ms. Christie's career experience includes senior management roles in corporate, public and government organizations. Prior to joining PMA she served as chief administrative officer for Image Data, LLC, a high-tech firm specializing in identity theft protection. The majority of her career was spent in Washington, D.C., as vice president, consumer affairs for the Direct Marketing Association. She also served under the George Bush Administration in the Office of the Special Advisor to the President, United States Office of Consumer Affairs, where she held the position of associate director for industry and international affairs.

Dave Corsi
Wegmans, Vice President of Produce & Floral Operations

Dave Corsi has been Vice President of Produce for Wegmans since 1999. He joined Wegmans in 1989 and held a number of positions including Store Manager, Produce Category Manager and Store Operations Division Manager. His PMA involvement includes service on the Retail Division Board, Fresh Summit Committee, and the PMA Board. David is now the Chairman of the PMA Board. The most memorable experience of his professional life has been gaining an understanding of the magnitude and dynamics of the vertical chain in the produce industry. David is married to Michelle and has two children, Richele and Nicole. He enjoys golf and water sports.

Jan DeLyser
California Avocado Commission, Vice President of Marketing

Jan is the VP of Marketing for the CA Avocado Commission. Prior to the commission Jan worked for Vance Publishing, FPFC, Sun World and Westlake Produce. Her most memorable experience is having the opportunity to do what she loves to do – work for the produce industry. Jan is also involved with the Diamond Bar AYSO, Girl Scouts, Neil Armstrong PTA and her church. She served on the PMA Retail Board and is active on the PBH Board of Trustees. She is in her second year on the PMA board as an at large member. Jan and her husband Duane have two daughters. She enjoys golf, walking and reading.

Gene Harris
Denny's Corporation, Senior Purchasing Manager

Gene Harris is a Senior Purchasing Manager for Denny's Inc. His responsibilities include purchasing produce from Grower/Shippers as well as value-added Processors. He selects produce distributors for Denny's restaurants and is also responsible for fresh bread, dairy, and egg products. He is past Chairman of the PMA Foodservice Division Board & is currently serving on the PMA Foundation Board of Directors and Campaign Committee. His most memorable professional experience has been working as a member of various PMA boards over the last 10 years.

Lorri Koster
Mann Packing Company, Inc., Vice-President of Marketing and Co-Chairman of the Board

Lorri A. Koster is vice president of marketing and co-chairman of the board for Mann Packing Company. In addition, she is editorial director of Coastal Grower, a quarterly magazine which is produced and distributed in coordination with the Grower Shipper Association of Central California. Lorri is the third generation of her family to work in agriculture, and started her full time career in 1990 at Mann Packing Company, Incorporated. While at Mann, Lorri directed the firm's marketing and communication programs. In 2000 Lorri left Mann to join ProduceOnline.com as vice president of marketing. After their acquisition by World Commerce Online, Lorri resigned to accept an associate publisher position with Produce Business magazine. Lorri has participated on numerous boards and committees for industry organizations including the Produce Marketing Association, United Fresh Produce Association, Western Growers, Grower Shipper Association of Central California, Produce for Better Health Foundation, International Fresh Cut Produce Association and the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. Outside of the industry, Lorri is president of the Washington Union Educational Foundation and is a trustee at the Panetta Institute for Public Policy.

Jim Leimkuhler
Progressive Produce Corporation, President

Jim Leimkuhler is President/Chief Financial Officer and part-owner of Progressive Produce Corporation located in Los Angeles, California. Jim joined Progressive, then a subsidiary of Chiquita Brands International, in 1995 as Chief Financial Officer and was promoted to President in 1996. Before coming to Progressive, Jim had worked for Chiquita in various corporate and subsidiary financial management positions since 1986. In January 2003, Jim led a successful management buy-out of Progressive. Prior to joining Chiquita, Jim was a certified public accountant with Arthur Young & Co in Cincinnati, Ohio. Presently, Jim serves on the United Fresh Wholesaler/Distributor Board, is a member of the executive committee of Raffles Insurance, Ltd., one of the largest heterogeneous captive insurance companies in the world and a Director of a local southern California paper manufacturer.

Dr. Edward W. McLaughlin
Cornell University, Educator

Dr. Ed McLaughlin is the Robert G. Tobin Professor of Marketing, Director of the Food Industry Management Program at Cornell University. He received his master's degree at the University of Vermont and his PhD at Michigan State. Before his academic appointment he had extensive international experience, having spent four years in Africa with the US State Department, United Nations and the World Bank. His research interests include new product introductions, branding commodities, linking customer satisfaction to firm performance, retailing and trade promotions. His research has appeared in numerous journals. He has won numerous national awards for distinguished teaching and research and is also Professor of Retailing at Nyenrode, The Netherlands School of Business. Ed has served on the PMA Retail Board and conducted dozens of studies of the fresh produce industry.

Lisa McNeece
Grimmway Enterprises, Inc., Vice President of Foodservice and Industrial Sales

Lisa McNeece is Vice President of Foodservice and Industrial Sales for Grimmway Enterprises Inc. She was introduced to the Produce Industry while dispatching trucks in the summer months to earn money for college. She joined Grimmway back in 1990 to coordinate the sales and production of a new produce item – peeled baby carrots – and has steadily increased her responsibilities in the company. Lisa served three year terms on both the Foodservice Division Board and the PMA Board. She has served on various industry boards including Produce for Better Health, Western Growers and USDA Advisory committee. Her most memorable experiences include receiving both the Foodservice Achievement Award in 2008 as well as being recognized as one of our Industry's Leaders in the Packer 25. Her hobbies include horseback riding, cooking, photography and reading.

Jay Pack
The Pack Group, CEO

Jay Pack received a B.S.B.A. from Boston University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. Prior to moving to Dallas in 1984, he resided in Kansas City where he was active in the banking industry and served as a director and shareholder of a private bank that was sold to U.S. Bancorp. Jay is the former owner and CEO of Standard Fruit & Vegetable Co., Inc., a $400 million integrated repacker, logistics, and value-added produce company, with distribution in thirty-five states. The company was sold to Del Monte Fresh, a NYSE company, in January 2003. Jay and his wife Ruthie created the Pack Family Foundation with the objective of contributing to both local and non-local organizations. He has been very active with the Produce Marketing Association, and has served in several volunteer positions, including as a past board member. He is currently a board member of Growth Capital Partners, a regional investment bank and involved with several non-profit organizations including the Dallas Museum of Art, the North Texas Food Bank and the Dallas Jewish Federation. Most recently, Jay joined the Board of Trustees of Sarah Lawrence College. Jay is an alumni member of the Lone Star Chapter of the Young President's Organization and is currently a member of the World President's Association.

Frank Padilla
Costco Wholesale, Assistant Vice President, General Merchandise Manager, Produce

Frank Padilla is Assistant Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of Produce at Costco Wholesale. Prior to his present Costco Wholesale role, Frank has also served in the following capacities: GMM, Corporate Frozen Foods and Fresh Produce (2000-2003); Asst GMM, Corporate Foods and Sundries (1997-2000); Corporate Senior Produce Buyer (1992-1996); and Regional Supervisor, Produce Field Buyer (1989-1992). From 1980-1989, Frank served as Wholesale Produce Buyer (sales, transportation and distribution) for Richmond Produce Company, Richmond, CA. Frank currently serves on PMA's Retail Board. He has also served the United Fresh Produce Association in many leadership roles, as well. He is a Board Member of Heritage University, Toppenish, WA (2008); and is involved with the University of California Alumni Association, St. Jude Catholic Church (Redmond, WA), and the Advisory Board to the Downtown Emergency Service Center (homeless shelter in Seattle, WA).

Bryan E. Silbermann
Produce Marketing Association, President & CEO

Bryan Silbermann has been president of PMA since 1996. He joined PMA in 1983 to build PMA's programs of international trade and market research. Prior to that, he worked in international business ventures and completed graduate studies at the University of Chicago and at Oxford University in England. He is a native of South Africa and became a U.S. citizen in 1984. Bryan has served on the board of the American Society of Association Executives, where he was selected as an ASAE Fellow and Chair of the Fellows. Bryan currently serves as Chairman of the Partnership for Food Safety Education. Among his PMA accomplishments, he is most proud of launching the national 5 A Day program in 1991; developing the Produce Electronic Identification Board and its standard PLU and UPC codes; being named PMA president in 1996; and leading the association through Fresh Summit 2001 in the aftermath of 9/11. Bryan and his wife Bonnie, have two sons, Greg and Brian. Recently, they became the proud Grandparents of their first grandchild, Toby.

Dick Spezzano
Spezzano Consulting Service, Inc., President

After growing up in the Boston Area, Spezzano and his wife, Carole, decided to move to Southern California in 1963 where he started his career with the Vons Grocery Company. He worked at various job assignments from produce manager, assistant store manager, produce buyer, produce merchandiser and produce division manager. He was named Vice President of the produce and floral division in 1983 and served in that capacity until he retired from Vons
on Oct. 10, 1997. He went on to open the successful Spezzano Consulting Service, Inc. As President of his consulting firm he advises businesses in the fresh produce and floral industry on strategic planning, organizational issues, management issues, and market plan development and implementation. Spezzano has served in many capacities within produce industry organizations including the L. A. Fresh Produce and Floral Council, Produce Marketing Association (Chairman in 1993), Produce Electronic Identification Board, Food Industry Circle fund raising chapter of the City of Hope, Working Pallet Committee, Produce for Better Health Foundation, Fresh Produce and Floral Council of CA and the Food Institute. In 1990 he was named The Packer's Produce Marketer of the Year. In addition, Spezzano is a member of an advisory committee for both Chapman University and the CA School Garden Project.

Geoff White
Safeway, Inc., Group Vice President, Produce and Floral

Geoff has been with Safeway for more than 25 years. Like most produce industry executives, he has come up through the ranks. He started as a part time general clerk in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the age of 16 and quickly became a Produce Manager in 1989. He successfully managed 4 stores over the next 8 years. From Produce Management, Geoff went on to become a Field Merchandiser. After 18 months, he made the move to corporate in Calgary, Alberta, where he became the Category Manager for all Canadian produce operations. In 2001, Geoff was promoted to Director of Canadian Produce Operations, where he served 3 years. In this capacity, he was responsible for all Produce sales, marketing, and employees, spanning Western Canada with over 200 stores. In December of 2004, Geoff was promoted to Group Director in Pleasanton, and was promoted to VP of Produce in June 2007 and took on the role of GVP for both Produce and Floral in May of 2008. Geoff has served as a CPMA Board Member (2001-2004). Geoff is proudly living his most memorable professional life experience as he continues to build a successful career at Safeway, following in the footsteps of his father who worked for Safeway for forty years. Geoff and his wife Diane are the parents of children, Ryley and Cassidy. His hobbies include family, golf, and sports.

Timothy York
Markon Cooperative, President

Tim joined Markon in 1985 where he began as a purchasing director. In 1990 he was promoted to Executive VP and his title changed to President in 1997. Prior to Markon, Tim worked at H. Hall & Co. as VP and General Manager. His service to PMA has been extensive, starting with a term on the Foodservice Board followed by one on the PMA Board. He then became Chairman of the Foodservice Board before moving up the ranks of officer to the position of the Executive Committee for 2002-2003. He is also active with The Spreckels Union School District Foundation and the First Presbyterian church in Salinas. Tim has been very active in the food safety arena serving as a volunteer for the creation and developing of the Center for Produce Safety. Tim will be serving his first year as a director on the board of the PMA Education Foundation. Tim and his wife Lisa have two children. He enjoys running, boating, skiing and fly fishing. (He also admits to a perverse pleasure watching others play golf badly!)