CEA Alliance announces updated board of directors
CEA Alliance announces updated board of directors
The Controlled Environment Agriculture Alliance has announced a new chairman, treasurer and directors elected to serve on its board of directors for 2026. Members were announced at the Alliance Annual Meeting, immediately before the Indoor Ag-Con show in Las Vegas.
The new chairman of the board is Skip Hulett, chief legal officer of NatureSweet. Since joining NatureSweet in 2018, Hulett has played a pivotal role in the company’s rapid growth and has led several major initiatives — including guiding NatureSweet to become one of the largest CEA companies in the world to achieve B Corp certification. A former state district court judge and founder of a successful law firm, Hulett brings deep legal expertise and a passion for sustainable practices. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas as well as the Association of Corporate Counsel.
Hulett replaces Steve Campione, CFO and executive vice president of strategy at Bright Farms, who is concluding his board service. Campione has served the CEA Alliance through a period of growth, adding grower members in both the leafy greens and vine crop sectors, as well as a number of business partner supplier members.
Matthew Meisel, chief development officer, Little Leaf Farms, will replace Tim Cunniff, co-founder and executive vice president of sales for Little Leaf, as treasurer. Cunniff has served as treasurer of the alliance since its founding in 2019, helping to bring an idea of industry collaboration into reality.
Members of the 2026 Board of Directors include:
Newly Elected Directors:
- Abby Prior, Cox Farms
- Aaron Fields, Campo Caribe
- Viraj Puri, Gotham Greens
- Dave Stienes, Adept Ag
Directors Continuing Service:
- David Einstandig, Mastronardi Produce/Sunset Grown
- Kyle Freedman, Jiffy Group
- Monica Noble, 80 Acres
- Hema Prado, Plenty
- Tim Reusch, DRAMM Water
- Kathleen Valiasek, Local Bounti
“I want to thank Steve Campione for his exceptional commitment to the CEA Alliance as our chairman, and to our industry overall. I also want to thank Tim Cunniff for his service as Treasurer from the very beginning of the Alliance,” said Executive Director Tom Stenzel. “I look forward to working with Skip Hulett as our new chairman, and all of these industry leaders who are stepping up to serve our membership on the alliance’s board of directors. As companies see the value of our collective efforts, our membership continues to grow among both high-tech greenhouse and indoor vertical farms, their suppliers and business partners, working closely together with their retail and foodservice customers."