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News
Barnard to lead 2006-2007 PMA Education Foundation Board of Directors
Newark, Del. – The first official Board of Directors for the Produce Marketing Association Education Foundation (PMAEF) takes office at the Foundation's inaugural meeting in October during Fresh Summit. Chairman Stephen Barnard, president, Mission Produce, Inc, Oxnard, CA is joined by two officers and 13 directors.
"We realize that people are our most valuable and unique assets in the produce industry," said Chairman Stephen Barnard. "Attracting and retaining the best and brightest to work in the produce industry is an investment in our future and one that the Foundation takes seriously. This board is committed to highlighting career opportunities for students and creating awareness of the breadth of fulfilling careers available. In addition, we will work to ensure that employees of this industry have the education they need to excel and succeed in a produce industry career."
The officers include Vice Chairman William M. Schuler, president and chief executive officer, Castellini Company, Wilder, Kentucky and Secretary/Treasurer Jay Pack, chief executive officer, The Pack Group, Dallas, Texas and Immediate Past Chair, Janet Erickson, executive vice president, purchasing and quality assurance, Del Taco, Inc., Lake Forest, California. Other representatives of the Education Foundation Board include:
- John Anderson, chairman, president and chief executive officer, The Oppenheimer Group, Coquitlam, BC, Canada
- Roberta Cook, cooperative extension specialist, University of California, Davis, California
- Margaret D'Arrigo-Martin, executive vice president of sales and marketing, D'Arrigo Brothers of California, Salinas, California
- Duane Eaton, senior vice president of association services, Produce Marketing Association, Newark, Delaware
- Bud Floyd, vice president, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- Don Harris, vice president of produce and floral, Wild Oats Markets, Inc., Boulder, Colorado
- Gene Harris, senior purchasing manager, Denny's Corporation, Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Peter Goulet, president, Pinnacle Sales & Marketing, Inc., Saco, Maine
- Robert Gray, chief executive officer, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc., Salinas, California
- Edward W. McLaughlin, educator, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
- Lisa McNeece, vice president, foodservice and industrial sales, Grimmway Farms, Bakersfield, California
- Bryan Silbermann, president, Produce Marketing Association, Newark, Delaware
- Bruce Taylor, chief executive officer, Taylor Farms California, Inc., Salinas, California
"I am personally impressed by the powerhouse Board we've been able to put in place for the Foundation. The interest, excitement and commitment to our goals are just what we need to move our ideas to the next level," said PMAEF executive director, Cindy Seel. "With leaders like these, we'll be able to maximize our education efforts to ensure that the produce industry is recognized as an employer of choice not only by students, but also by employees already working in the industry."
Founded by PMA in 2005, the Produce Marketing Association Education Foundation is an independent non-profit corporation organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes. PMAEF's mission is to increase the visibility and enhance the desirability of the produce industry as an employer of choice for individuals still in school; and to retain and improve the knowledge, skills, career opportunities, and abilities of individuals already working in the produce industry.
Contact: Debra Mitchell, dmitchell@pma.com, +1 (302) 738-7100, ext. 3008
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