November 26, 2008

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Schuler to lead 2008-2009 PMA foundation Board of Directors

Newark, Del. – 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, Fla., USA. Chairman of the Board Bill Schuler, president and chief executive officer of Castellini Company, Newport, Ky., 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: Vice Chairman Bud Floyd, vice president of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn.; Secretary/Treasurer Peter Goulet, president of Pinnacle Sales & Marketing, Inc., Saco, Maine; and Immediate Past Chair Stephen Barnard, president of Mission Produce, Inc., Oxnard, Calif. Other PMA FIT board members include:

• John Anderson, chairman, president and chief executive officer, The Oppenheimer Group, Coquitlam, BC, Canada;
• Dave Corsi, vice president of produce and floral operations, Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, N.Y., and PMA 2008-2009 board chairman;
• Jan DeLyser, vice president of marketing, California Avocado Commission, Irvine, Calif.;
• Duane Eaton, senior vice president of association services, PMA, Newark, Del.;
• Robert Gray, chief executive officer, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc., Salinas, Calif.;
• Gene Harris, senior purchasing manager, Denny's Corporation, Spartanburg, S.C.;
• Lorri Koster, co-chairman of board , Mann Packing Company, Inc., Salinas, Calif.;
• Jim Leimkuhler, president, Progressive Produce Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif.;
• Dr. Edward W. McLaughlin, educator, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.;
• Lisa McNeece, vice president, foodservice and industrial sales, Grimmway Farms, Bakersfield, Calif.;
• Jay Pack, chief executive officer, The Pack Group, Dallas, Texas;
• Frank Padilla, assistant vice president, general merchandising manager of fresh foods, Costco Wholesale, Issaquah, Wash.;
• Bryan Silbermann, president, PMA, Newark, Del.;
• Jim Smits, group vice president, merchandising and marketing, Supervalu, Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn.;
• Dick Spezzano, president, Spezzano Consulting Service, Inc., Monrovia, Calif.;
• Geoff White, vice president of produce, Safeway, Inc., Pleasanton, Calif.; and
• Timothy York, president, Markon Cooperative, Salinas, Calif.
• Retiring from the PMA board were Dr. Roberta Cook, University of California, Davis, Calif.; Janet Erickson, Del Taco LLC, Lake Forest, Calif.; Don Harris, Naturipe Farms LLC, Salinas, Calif.; and Bruce Taylor, Taylor Farms, Inc., Salinas, Calif.