If the fresh produce industry and the stock market have anything in common, it’s Drew Billmeyer, part of the third generation of family members spearheading operations at Ben B. Schwartz & Sons Inc. in Detroit.

After more than a century in the fresh produce business, the work environment at the company has just the right balance of a work-hard, play-hard philosophy to keep things interesting. Ben B. Schwartz is located in the Detroit Produce Terminal and moves a vast array of globally sourced fresh produce to its customers throughout the Detroit metropolitan area and into Canada.Drew Billmeyer and his fiancée, Renee Wrasse, are planning a Nov. 29 wedding. (Photo courtesy of Drew Billmeyer)

Billmeyer, 29, who grew up in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham, graduated from the University of Michigan business school in 2007 with a degree in finance. He parlayed his expertise into a position as a Standard & Poor’s (S&P) options trader for more than seven years in Chicago.

When he made the decision to return to the family fold in Detroit, it wasn’t such a stretch. “I always knew, at some point, I would come back to the company,” he told The Produce News.

His experience as a floor trader served him well. According to Billmeyer, the environments in the world of stock trading and fresh produce aren’t too dissimilar.

“They’re both male-dominated, and both are casual,” he said. “Both can be stressful. I handle stress pretty well.”

Billmeyer described himself as laid-back and easy-going, with a real appreciation for fast-paced work environments and the pressure-cooker challenges that come with them. He thrives on a challenge.

His father, company President Chris Billmeyer, and younger brother, Jake Billmeyer, round out the Billmeyer triad at Ben B. Schwartz.

“The three of us work together very well,” said Billmeyer. “We have a lot of similarities, but we also have a lot of differences.”

Is there any sibling rivalry? The answer is no. “Jake is my best friend,” Billmeyer said of his brother.

The Billmeyer boys, both of whom work as jacks-of-all-trades to learn all aspects of the company business, are analytically and mathematically oriented. They don’t hesitate to jump in and contribute their youthful perspective about company operations and ways in which business can be energized. Billmeyer said he appreciates his father’s open-mindedness and confidence.

“Dad is always willing to make adjustments and improvements,” Billmeyer said.

Billmeyer returned to Detroit at just the time that the city is bustling. “Detroit is making a comeback. When I lived here, no one would ever go to Detroit,” he said, adding that the social scene is hopping nowadays, and the number of restaurants continues to grow.

Billmeyer is ready for the next big step in his life, as he is preparing to wed fiancée Renee Wrasse on Nov. 29.

“We went to the University of Michigan together, but didn’t know each other,” he said. “We’re both University of Michigan sports fans and met watching a game.”

Both Billmeyer and his future wife have an adventurous streak, and their high-energy honeymoon will be spent in Australia and New Zealand, where they plan to sky dive, scuba dive, surf and go whitewater rafting.

The couple just bought a house in Birmingham and plans to start a family in the future.

“The neighborhood is really nice,” he said, adding that it’s close to the downtown area and all the amenities a young family could want.