OTA names new executive director
OTA names new executive director
The board of directors of the Organic Trade Association in Greenfield, MA, announced Feb. 1 that it has selected Caren Wilcox as its new executive director.
Ms. Wilcox, who will begin work at the association in March, will succeed Katherine DiMatteo, the association's original executive director, who served in that role since 1990.
"The Organic Trade Association is delighted to welcome Caren. Under her leadership, the OTA board expects that OTA will continue to grow as an organization and as the primary source for information on the organic business community, building on the strong foundation established by Katherine DiMatteo, who has served outstandingly in her 16 years as our first executive director," OTA board President Phil Margolis said in a statement.
Ms. DiMatteo is expected to remain at the association through June to work with Ms. Wilcox to ensure a smooth transition. During Ms. DiMatteos tenure, the OTA was instrumental in shaping national organic standards and has promoted organic agriculture and organically produced goods in North America.
Ms. Wilcox brings a wealth of experience in the world of agriculture to the OTA. She is experienced at managing domestic and international programs, and has served in both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. Attentive to the needs of consumers, Ms. Wilcox has skills in a number of areas important to the association, including developing effective communications and public policy programs for government, business and academia; association membership development; and strategic planning. She has handled food-safety and quality issues, rural development matters, and environmental issues throughout her career. Ms. Wilcox has worked with a diverse cross-section of individuals from the agriculture, business and academic sectors, as well as with local, state and federal elected and appointed officials.
Ms. Wilcox was the first director of government relations for Hershey Foods Corp. in Hershey, PA, and was the first deputy under-secretary for food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She also led the National Association of Women Business Owners and served as Region III advocate for small business for the Small Business Administration covering Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
While operating her own firm, Caren Wilcox & Associates LLC, she and her colleagues provided advice on various strategic issues to several land grant universities and the World Health Organizations Codex Alimentarius officials. Among her other international experiences, she led the U.S. food delegations to meetings of the Trans-Atlantic Consumer Dialogue, and was head of delegations to discussions on food issues among the quad countries: Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
Ms. Wilcox is a graduate of Wellesley College, and holds a master of arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
The Organic Trade Associations principal office is in Greenfield, and it also has an office in Ottawa, Canada. Ms. Wilcox will divide her time between the OTA offices and Washington, DC.
Ms. Wilcox, who will begin work at the association in March, will succeed Katherine DiMatteo, the association's original executive director, who served in that role since 1990.
"The Organic Trade Association is delighted to welcome Caren. Under her leadership, the OTA board expects that OTA will continue to grow as an organization and as the primary source for information on the organic business community, building on the strong foundation established by Katherine DiMatteo, who has served outstandingly in her 16 years as our first executive director," OTA board President Phil Margolis said in a statement.
Ms. DiMatteo is expected to remain at the association through June to work with Ms. Wilcox to ensure a smooth transition. During Ms. DiMatteos tenure, the OTA was instrumental in shaping national organic standards and has promoted organic agriculture and organically produced goods in North America.
Ms. Wilcox brings a wealth of experience in the world of agriculture to the OTA. She is experienced at managing domestic and international programs, and has served in both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. Attentive to the needs of consumers, Ms. Wilcox has skills in a number of areas important to the association, including developing effective communications and public policy programs for government, business and academia; association membership development; and strategic planning. She has handled food-safety and quality issues, rural development matters, and environmental issues throughout her career. Ms. Wilcox has worked with a diverse cross-section of individuals from the agriculture, business and academic sectors, as well as with local, state and federal elected and appointed officials.
Ms. Wilcox was the first director of government relations for Hershey Foods Corp. in Hershey, PA, and was the first deputy under-secretary for food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She also led the National Association of Women Business Owners and served as Region III advocate for small business for the Small Business Administration covering Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
While operating her own firm, Caren Wilcox & Associates LLC, she and her colleagues provided advice on various strategic issues to several land grant universities and the World Health Organizations Codex Alimentarius officials. Among her other international experiences, she led the U.S. food delegations to meetings of the Trans-Atlantic Consumer Dialogue, and was head of delegations to discussions on food issues among the quad countries: Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
Ms. Wilcox is a graduate of Wellesley College, and holds a master of arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
The Organic Trade Associations principal office is in Greenfield, and it also has an office in Ottawa, Canada. Ms. Wilcox will divide her time between the OTA offices and Washington, DC.
