MBG Marketing honors retiring CEO Kirk McCreary
MBG Marketing honors retiring CEO Kirk McCreary
Grand Junction, MI-based Michigan Blueberry Growers Association members, employees and special industry friends gathered Nov. 2 in Holland, MI, to honor E. Kirk McCreary, the cooperative's retiring chief executive officer. A special reception and surprise banquet roast followed the company's annual business meeting, with the day's events scheduled to coincide with the celebration of MBG's 70th birthday.
Mr. McCreary has served as MBG's CEO for the past 12 years. In addition, he served as assistant general manager of the association from 1963 to 1973. He has led MBG through an exciting period of substantial growth and change in the blueberry industry, positioning the cooperative to continue as the industry leader in the years ahead.
Among the initiatives driven by Mr. McCreary were:
" A renewed commitment to strategic business evaluation, with several producer and management committees formed to examine issues affecting the cooperative.
" Process 2001, a program implemented to upgrade the quality and consistency of MBG's frozen fruit with a focus on meeting customer expectations in terms of quality and food safety and security.
" A mandatory food-safety program for all producers encompassing their farm, harvest and packing operations as well as MBG's warehouse facilities, which has successfully upgraded all aspects of MBG's production, distribution and marketing chains through independent as well as internal auditing.
" The formation of Global Berry Farms, now known as Naturipe Farms LLC, a unique fresh berry marketing company designed to offer the produce trade a year-round supply of all berries through an unprecedented partnership between MBG, Hortifrut S.A. in Santiago, Chile, and Naturipe Berry Growers in Salinas, CA, which has been a resounding success.
" The establishment of a strong and successful frozen fruit marketing relationship with Peterson Farms Inc. in Shelby, MI.
" The formation of Berry Blue LLC, a partnership between MBG and Hortifrut S.A. for the purpose of developing proprietary blueberry varieties for exclusive use by MBG and Hortifrut producers.
" The expansion and construction of MBG's state-of-the-art fruit distribution facilities in Alma, GA, and Grand Junction.
Mr. McCreary has also played a significant role in the blueberry industry at large, serving as chairman for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council's promotion committee, working with other industry leaders in deciding how to allocate over $1 million annually to promotional endeavors.
Mr. McCreary has served as MBG's CEO for the past 12 years. In addition, he served as assistant general manager of the association from 1963 to 1973. He has led MBG through an exciting period of substantial growth and change in the blueberry industry, positioning the cooperative to continue as the industry leader in the years ahead.
Among the initiatives driven by Mr. McCreary were:
" A renewed commitment to strategic business evaluation, with several producer and management committees formed to examine issues affecting the cooperative.
" Process 2001, a program implemented to upgrade the quality and consistency of MBG's frozen fruit with a focus on meeting customer expectations in terms of quality and food safety and security.
" A mandatory food-safety program for all producers encompassing their farm, harvest and packing operations as well as MBG's warehouse facilities, which has successfully upgraded all aspects of MBG's production, distribution and marketing chains through independent as well as internal auditing.
" The formation of Global Berry Farms, now known as Naturipe Farms LLC, a unique fresh berry marketing company designed to offer the produce trade a year-round supply of all berries through an unprecedented partnership between MBG, Hortifrut S.A. in Santiago, Chile, and Naturipe Berry Growers in Salinas, CA, which has been a resounding success.
" The establishment of a strong and successful frozen fruit marketing relationship with Peterson Farms Inc. in Shelby, MI.
" The formation of Berry Blue LLC, a partnership between MBG and Hortifrut S.A. for the purpose of developing proprietary blueberry varieties for exclusive use by MBG and Hortifrut producers.
" The expansion and construction of MBG's state-of-the-art fruit distribution facilities in Alma, GA, and Grand Junction.
Mr. McCreary has also played a significant role in the blueberry industry at large, serving as chairman for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council's promotion committee, working with other industry leaders in deciding how to allocate over $1 million annually to promotional endeavors.
