Dale Liefer honored by FPFC
Dale Liefer honored by FPFC
Dale Liefer, who joined Westlake Distributors in 1982, became a partner in 1984 and has been instrumental in growing the company from Westlake Distributors to Westlake-Miller-Brooks & Sims to now Westlake Produce Co., received the Norman H (Buz) Bolstad Produce Award Tuesday, July 11.
Given annually by the Fresh Produce & Floral Council at the FPFC Expo, a list of previous winners reads like a who's who of the Southern California produce scene. Previous winners of the prestigious award include Roger Schroeder, Frieda Kaplan, Dick Spezzano and Jan DeLyser.
Presenter Marty Craner of B&C Produce Sales said, "I am extremely excited to have the honor of presenting this year's recipient with this very special produce award. This person has been an influential member of the produce industry through contributions, innovations and above all else forward thinking. This person is a great example of someone that has given back and supported the industry in so many ways."
Mr. Liefer graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in ag business management with an emphasis on food distribution. He began his produce career at Vons Grocery Co. working his way up to produce buying before moving to the supply side of the business.
Ms. Craner continued, "Through Dale's leadership. [Westlake] has grown from an L.A.-based company to an international and national company. & He has grown the company from four employees to approximately 50 employees making Westlake a full-line produce distributor."
He has also served the industry well. In 1995, he served on the Produce Marketing Association board of directors. He has also served and continues to serve on the City of Hope leadership committee. Most notably, he is the 1992 past president of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council.
The event also featured the presentation of the 2006 Fresh Produce & Floral Council Floral Achievement Award to Gary Gelzer of JayGee Sales, a family ceramics business that specializes in floral accessories.
Mr. Gelzer, who is on the board of directors of the FPFC, was honored as an innovator of sales events who "helped bring the ordinary little plant bars into the 21st century with unique product for the talented floral designers to entice the mass market customer."
With JayGee sales, he introduced antiques, colored glass, unusual ceramics, potpourri and many other floral accessories to the marketplace.
Given annually by the Fresh Produce & Floral Council at the FPFC Expo, a list of previous winners reads like a who's who of the Southern California produce scene. Previous winners of the prestigious award include Roger Schroeder, Frieda Kaplan, Dick Spezzano and Jan DeLyser.
Presenter Marty Craner of B&C Produce Sales said, "I am extremely excited to have the honor of presenting this year's recipient with this very special produce award. This person has been an influential member of the produce industry through contributions, innovations and above all else forward thinking. This person is a great example of someone that has given back and supported the industry in so many ways."
Mr. Liefer graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in ag business management with an emphasis on food distribution. He began his produce career at Vons Grocery Co. working his way up to produce buying before moving to the supply side of the business.
Ms. Craner continued, "Through Dale's leadership. [Westlake] has grown from an L.A.-based company to an international and national company. & He has grown the company from four employees to approximately 50 employees making Westlake a full-line produce distributor."
He has also served the industry well. In 1995, he served on the Produce Marketing Association board of directors. He has also served and continues to serve on the City of Hope leadership committee. Most notably, he is the 1992 past president of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council.
The event also featured the presentation of the 2006 Fresh Produce & Floral Council Floral Achievement Award to Gary Gelzer of JayGee Sales, a family ceramics business that specializes in floral accessories.
Mr. Gelzer, who is on the board of directors of the FPFC, was honored as an innovator of sales events who "helped bring the ordinary little plant bars into the 21st century with unique product for the talented floral designers to entice the mass market customer."
With JayGee sales, he introduced antiques, colored glass, unusual ceramics, potpourri and many other floral accessories to the marketplace.
