Cindy Seel returns to PMA to head new education foundation
Cindy Seel returns to PMA to head new education foundation
As the head of the Produce Marketing Association's newly formed education foundation, Cindy Seel will be looking at ways to lure new talent into the produce industry.
The new foundation will have two goals. One is to make the produce industry more of an employment choice for young people, said Ms. Seel, who officially started her new job Aug. 14. The other is to service people already working in the industry. Ms. Seel said that PMA has "broken ground" on the first goal, but has yet to tackle workforce development issues.
"I do know that as students choose careers, the produce industry is still not on the radar screen," said Ms. Seel, who wants to introduce students studying culinary and marketing classes to the variety of opportunities in the produce industry.
Created in 2005, the foundation's new board of directors -- who have yet to be named -- will take office for the first time at the Fresh Summit meeting in October. Ms. Seel called the prospective board members a "powerhouse" who together will be influential on education.
The education foundation already has two student scholarship programs: the Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund, which enables produce marketing students to participate in PMA's annual Fresh Summit, and the Nucci Scholarship for Culinary Innovation, which gives future chefs the opportunity to become familiar with the variety of ways fresh fruits and vegetables can be used in foodservice through their participation in PMA's annual foodservice conference.
The Pack/PMA Fund is bringing students to Fresh Summit in San Diego for its third year, while the Nucci Scholarship was just launched at PMA's most recent foodservice conference in July. When Ms. Seel first worked for PMA years ago, she was shocked to learn of the wide range of opportunities in the produce industry. Now, she has returned with more than 20 years of experience in association management, marketing and strategic planning, all of which she will use in the new job. She has worked for the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and most recently was at TAPPI, a professional association based in Atlanta that serves the pulp, paper, converting and packaging industries.
"It's great to be back in the produce industry," said Ms. Seel at the foundation's interim board meeting in Delaware. "I will enjoy reconnecting with old friends and building new relationships that will help advance the education goals of the foundation. I'm very excited about our mission and am already so impressed by the energy and enthusiasm PMA members have shown in launching this commendable and critical effort to build the industry's future."
"PMA is elated to have such an experienced leader oversee the new education foundation," said PMA President Bryan Silbermann. "This opportunity demonstrates PMA's commitment as a leader of the produce industry and our commitment to building the industry's future, a task that is surely among the most important for any organization looking beyond the horizon."
"The PMA board feels that the education foundation will provide an excellent opportunity for professionals to become familiar and adapt to such an ever-changing industry," said PMA Chair Janet Erickson. "We recognized the need for a recognized and reliable source for education and training for fresh produce and floral."
Ms. Seel said that at the first board meeting in October, the newly appointed members will play a key role in helping to draft a strategic plan for the foundation, which she hopes to finish in April. Ms. Seel will work from Atlanta, where she lives with her husband and two children.
The new foundation will have two goals. One is to make the produce industry more of an employment choice for young people, said Ms. Seel, who officially started her new job Aug. 14. The other is to service people already working in the industry. Ms. Seel said that PMA has "broken ground" on the first goal, but has yet to tackle workforce development issues.
"I do know that as students choose careers, the produce industry is still not on the radar screen," said Ms. Seel, who wants to introduce students studying culinary and marketing classes to the variety of opportunities in the produce industry.
Created in 2005, the foundation's new board of directors -- who have yet to be named -- will take office for the first time at the Fresh Summit meeting in October. Ms. Seel called the prospective board members a "powerhouse" who together will be influential on education.
The education foundation already has two student scholarship programs: the Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund, which enables produce marketing students to participate in PMA's annual Fresh Summit, and the Nucci Scholarship for Culinary Innovation, which gives future chefs the opportunity to become familiar with the variety of ways fresh fruits and vegetables can be used in foodservice through their participation in PMA's annual foodservice conference.
The Pack/PMA Fund is bringing students to Fresh Summit in San Diego for its third year, while the Nucci Scholarship was just launched at PMA's most recent foodservice conference in July. When Ms. Seel first worked for PMA years ago, she was shocked to learn of the wide range of opportunities in the produce industry. Now, she has returned with more than 20 years of experience in association management, marketing and strategic planning, all of which she will use in the new job. She has worked for the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and most recently was at TAPPI, a professional association based in Atlanta that serves the pulp, paper, converting and packaging industries.
"It's great to be back in the produce industry," said Ms. Seel at the foundation's interim board meeting in Delaware. "I will enjoy reconnecting with old friends and building new relationships that will help advance the education goals of the foundation. I'm very excited about our mission and am already so impressed by the energy and enthusiasm PMA members have shown in launching this commendable and critical effort to build the industry's future."
"PMA is elated to have such an experienced leader oversee the new education foundation," said PMA President Bryan Silbermann. "This opportunity demonstrates PMA's commitment as a leader of the produce industry and our commitment to building the industry's future, a task that is surely among the most important for any organization looking beyond the horizon."
"The PMA board feels that the education foundation will provide an excellent opportunity for professionals to become familiar and adapt to such an ever-changing industry," said PMA Chair Janet Erickson. "We recognized the need for a recognized and reliable source for education and training for fresh produce and floral."
Ms. Seel said that at the first board meeting in October, the newly appointed members will play a key role in helping to draft a strategic plan for the foundation, which she hopes to finish in April. Ms. Seel will work from Atlanta, where she lives with her husband and two children.
