Carissa Mace to lead FPFC
Carissa Mace to lead FPFC
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council has welcomed back a former staffer to lead the organization upon the retirement of its long-time president at the end of the year.
Carissa Mace will return as president of the Southern California-based council starting Dec. 10. She will replace Linda Stine, who announced her retirement earlier this year after 13 years at the helm.
A search committee, headed by FPFC Chairman of the Board Raul Gallegos of Bristol Farms Supermarkets, conducted a six-month nationwide search before settling on this industry veteran.
"The FPFC search committee is proud to bring such a highly qualified candidate to the position of FPFC president," Mr. Gallegos said. "Carissa will bring solid industry experience and management expertise to the council. We are looking forward to her leadership in the organization."
Ms. Mace began her working career in the non-profit world after graduating from New York University in the 1980s. She worked for 10 years in New York City with the New York City Opera and the United Cerebral Palsy organization before returning to her native Southern California in the mid-1990s.
In 1996, she joined the City of Hope, which is a cancer research hospital in Duarte, CA. The City of Hope has long been a favorite charity of the Southern California food industry, and Ms. Mace became the director of development for the Food Industries Circle of that organization. In that position, she worked with all segments of the Southern California food industry, but the produce and floral division has always been one of the more active donor groups.
"That's when I fell in love with the produce industry," she said.
A year later, Ms. Mace was hired by the FPFC as event coordinator and membership director. She stayed with the council for five years before joining the Produce Marketing Association as director of business development in 2001. In that position, she was involved in PMA expo sales and sponsorships working throughout the United States from her home office in Southern California. She will resign her position with PMA effective Nov. 30.
"I loved working with the council the first time around, and I look forward to joining the organization again as we together try to take it to the next realm," she said.
Based in La Mirada, CA, the council is an association comprised of companies involved in and having an interest in dealing with the fresh produce and floral industries, primarily with their roots in California and Arizona. The organization recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and regularly holds social and educational events for the industry throughout California and Arizona.
Ms. Mace and her husband, Don Ward, live in San Clemente, CA, with their son, Christian, who just turned 2.
Carissa Mace will return as president of the Southern California-based council starting Dec. 10. She will replace Linda Stine, who announced her retirement earlier this year after 13 years at the helm.
A search committee, headed by FPFC Chairman of the Board Raul Gallegos of Bristol Farms Supermarkets, conducted a six-month nationwide search before settling on this industry veteran.
"The FPFC search committee is proud to bring such a highly qualified candidate to the position of FPFC president," Mr. Gallegos said. "Carissa will bring solid industry experience and management expertise to the council. We are looking forward to her leadership in the organization."
Ms. Mace began her working career in the non-profit world after graduating from New York University in the 1980s. She worked for 10 years in New York City with the New York City Opera and the United Cerebral Palsy organization before returning to her native Southern California in the mid-1990s.
In 1996, she joined the City of Hope, which is a cancer research hospital in Duarte, CA. The City of Hope has long been a favorite charity of the Southern California food industry, and Ms. Mace became the director of development for the Food Industries Circle of that organization. In that position, she worked with all segments of the Southern California food industry, but the produce and floral division has always been one of the more active donor groups.
"That's when I fell in love with the produce industry," she said.
A year later, Ms. Mace was hired by the FPFC as event coordinator and membership director. She stayed with the council for five years before joining the Produce Marketing Association as director of business development in 2001. In that position, she was involved in PMA expo sales and sponsorships working throughout the United States from her home office in Southern California. She will resign her position with PMA effective Nov. 30.
"I loved working with the council the first time around, and I look forward to joining the organization again as we together try to take it to the next realm," she said.
Based in La Mirada, CA, the council is an association comprised of companies involved in and having an interest in dealing with the fresh produce and floral industries, primarily with their roots in California and Arizona. The organization recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and regularly holds social and educational events for the industry throughout California and Arizona.
Ms. Mace and her husband, Don Ward, live in San Clemente, CA, with their son, Christian, who just turned 2.
