United announces 2008 board leadership
United announces 2008 board leadership
WASHINGTON -- Nick Tompkins of Apio Inc. and chairman of United Fresh Produce Association's board development committee has announced the slate of new officers and directors nominated to serve on United's board of directors, effective at its May 3 meeting.
Ascending to chairman of the board is Tom Lovelace, executive vice president of McEntire Produce, a fresh-cut processor, tomato re-packer and vegetable wholesaler in in Columbia, SC.
Mr. Lovelace has over 30 years experience in the fresh-cut produce and quick service restaurant industries. He previously served as senior vice president of Performance Food Group as well as Chairman and chief executive officer of Fresh Express from 1995 to 2004. During that time of rapid consolidation, PFG acquired Dixon Tom-a-toe, Redi-Cut Foods and Fresh Express. Prior to joining PFG in 1995, Mr. Lovelace spent nine years with Coronet Foods in both its fresh-cut processing operations and its bulk iceberg growing-shipping business in Salinas, CA. He began his career with McDonald's Corp., spending 16 years with the company in operations and supply chain management capacities.
Nominated as chairman-elect is Jim Lemke, senior vice president of C. H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. in Eden Prairie, MN.
Mr. Lemke oversees C.H. Robinson's produce sales and marketing operations as well as refrigerated transportation services. He previously served as vice president of produce and as manager of C.H. Robinson's Corporate Procurement & Distribution Services Division.
He joined the company in 1989 after earning a bachelor of arts degree in international relations from the University of Minnesota. He has experience working in transportation, logistics, produce commodity sales and account management for the company's retail, wholesale and foodservice customers. He currently serves on the board of the Produce for Better Health Foundation and is heavily involved with industry initiatives such as the Produce Traceability Initiative.
In addition, Michael Cavallero, president of North America Tropical Fresh Fruit at Dole Food Co. is nominated to a two-year term serving as secretary- treasurer. He previously served on the United Fresh board from 1996 to 2000.
Current United Chairman Emanuel Lazopoulos, senior vice president of North American sales and product management for Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. in Coral Gables, FL, will move into the office of immediate past chairman, and will remain on the board and the executive committee.
As also announced, the association's board of directors has voted to implement a new organizational structure for its volunteer leadership. The new structure will consist of four horizontal boards representing different market segments of the produce supply chain and four expert councils in cross-cutting issue areas. Leaders of these boards and councils will join together with at-large directors chosen proportionally to represent United Fresh's overall membership in forming a consolidated overall board of directors.
The following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as the chairmen and vice chairmen of the new supply Chain boards, beginning in May:
Grower-Shipper board: Al Vangelos of Sun World International LLC in Bakersfield, CA, as chairman and Fred Williamson of Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce in San Diego, CA, as vice chairman.
Fresh-Cut Processor board: Steffanie Smith of River Point Farms LLC in Hermiston, OR, as chairman and Ron Midyett of Apio Inc. in Guadalupe, CA, as , vice chairman.
Wholesale-Distributor board: Matthew D'Arrigo of D'Arrigo Bros. Company of New York in the Bronx, NY, as chairman and Brendan Comito of Capital City Fruit Co. Inc. in Norwalk, IA, as vice chairman.
Retail-Foodservice board: Reggie Griffin of The Kroger Co. in Cincinnati as chairman and Mitch Smith of McDonald's Corp. in Nampa, ID, as vice chairman.
The following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as the chairmen of the United Fresh councils, beginning in May:
David Barney of Bakkavor in Peterborough, United Kingdom, for the Global Advisory Council; Mike Wootton of Sunkist Growers in Sherman Oaks, CA, for the Government Relations Council; David Dever of Pandol Bros. Inc. in Delano, CA, for the Transportation & Logistics Council; and Barry Eisenberg of River Ranch Fresh Food LLC in Salinas, CA, for the Food Safety & Technology Council.
The following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as new at-large members of the United Fresh board for a two-year term beginning in May:
Mike Celani, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ready Pac Produce in Irwindale, CA; Tony DiMare, vice president at the DiMare Co. in Ruskin, FL; Roger Harkrider, director of produce at H.E. Butt Grocery Co. in San Antonio, TX; Brent Harrison, president of Al Harrison Co. Distributors in Nogales, AZ; Michael Martin, vice president of sales at Rio Queen Inc. in Mission, TX; Phillip Muir, president and CEO at Muir Copper Canyon Farms in Salt Lake City; Mark Murai, president of the California Strawberry Commission in Watsonville, CA; Doug Riley, assistant vice president of produce operations at Hy-Vee Inc. in West Des Moines, IA; and Geoff White, vice president of corporate produce at Safeway Inc. in Pleasanton, CA.
The following current board members will continue service on the board: Nelia Alamo of Gills Onions, Ron Anderson of Spartan Stores Inc., Barry Bedwell of the California Grape & Tree Fruit League, Matthew Caito of Imagination Farms, Peter John Condakes of Peter Condakes Co. Inc., Pete Donlon of Earthbound Farm, Charles Hall of the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, Brian Kocher of Chiquita Brands International, Robin Poynton of One Harvest, Ashley Rawl of Walter P. Rawl & Sons Inc., John Shelford of Shelford Consulting, Vic Smith of Fresh Innovations LLC, Alan Temple of B&W Quality Growers Inc., Alessandro Turatti of Turatti Srl, Rick Urschel of Urschel Laboratories and Timothy Vaux of Vaux Group Inc.
"In total, the slate of nominees for our new boards, councils and at-large seats, together with our returning board members and new officers, makes this a tremendously diverse and skilled set of leaders to represent our entire industry and guide our association in the year ahead," Nominating Committee Chairman Tompkins said in an April 28 statement.
Board members who will complete their terms of service at the May convention are Rick Antle of Tanimura & Antle, Charles Ciruli of Ciruli Brothers/Amex Distributing Co. Inc., Alan Heinzen of Heinzen Manufacturing International, Mark Hilton of Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Diane Huntsinger- Carson of Crunch Pak LLC, Bruce Knobeloch of River Ranch Fresh Foods LLC, Lawrence Kern of Kern Associates, Maureen Marshall of Torrey Farms Inc., Mark Miller of Fresh From Texas/Energy Sprouts Inc., Walter Strickland of Strickland Produce Inc., Jay Taylor of Taylor & Fulton Inc., Nick Tompkins of Apio Inc., Mike Kemp of Save-A-Lot and chairman of the Business Development Council, and Walter Ram of The Giumarra Cos. and co-chairman of the Food Safety & Technology Council.
"I'd like to personally thank Nick Tompkins and the board development committee for their work this year in nominating an outstanding individual in Jim Lemke to serve as chairman-elect, as well as a slate of great new board members and council and supply chain board chairmen," United Fresh President Tom Stenzel said in the statement. "We recognize that the strength of our association comes from strong representation of our membership across the total supply chain, bringing together an exceptional group of industry leaders to serve our industry. I'd also like to thank those leaders who are concluding their service at this meeting. We greatly appreciate the time and resources they have given to serve our industry."
Ascending to chairman of the board is Tom Lovelace, executive vice president of McEntire Produce, a fresh-cut processor, tomato re-packer and vegetable wholesaler in in Columbia, SC.
Mr. Lovelace has over 30 years experience in the fresh-cut produce and quick service restaurant industries. He previously served as senior vice president of Performance Food Group as well as Chairman and chief executive officer of Fresh Express from 1995 to 2004. During that time of rapid consolidation, PFG acquired Dixon Tom-a-toe, Redi-Cut Foods and Fresh Express. Prior to joining PFG in 1995, Mr. Lovelace spent nine years with Coronet Foods in both its fresh-cut processing operations and its bulk iceberg growing-shipping business in Salinas, CA. He began his career with McDonald's Corp., spending 16 years with the company in operations and supply chain management capacities.
Nominated as chairman-elect is Jim Lemke, senior vice president of C. H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. in Eden Prairie, MN.
Mr. Lemke oversees C.H. Robinson's produce sales and marketing operations as well as refrigerated transportation services. He previously served as vice president of produce and as manager of C.H. Robinson's Corporate Procurement & Distribution Services Division.
He joined the company in 1989 after earning a bachelor of arts degree in international relations from the University of Minnesota. He has experience working in transportation, logistics, produce commodity sales and account management for the company's retail, wholesale and foodservice customers. He currently serves on the board of the Produce for Better Health Foundation and is heavily involved with industry initiatives such as the Produce Traceability Initiative.
In addition, Michael Cavallero, president of North America Tropical Fresh Fruit at Dole Food Co. is nominated to a two-year term serving as secretary- treasurer. He previously served on the United Fresh board from 1996 to 2000.
Current United Chairman Emanuel Lazopoulos, senior vice president of North American sales and product management for Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. in Coral Gables, FL, will move into the office of immediate past chairman, and will remain on the board and the executive committee.
As also announced, the association's board of directors has voted to implement a new organizational structure for its volunteer leadership. The new structure will consist of four horizontal boards representing different market segments of the produce supply chain and four expert councils in cross-cutting issue areas. Leaders of these boards and councils will join together with at-large directors chosen proportionally to represent United Fresh's overall membership in forming a consolidated overall board of directors.
The following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as the chairmen and vice chairmen of the new supply Chain boards, beginning in May:
Grower-Shipper board: Al Vangelos of Sun World International LLC in Bakersfield, CA, as chairman and Fred Williamson of Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce in San Diego, CA, as vice chairman.
Fresh-Cut Processor board: Steffanie Smith of River Point Farms LLC in Hermiston, OR, as chairman and Ron Midyett of Apio Inc. in Guadalupe, CA, as , vice chairman.
Wholesale-Distributor board: Matthew D'Arrigo of D'Arrigo Bros. Company of New York in the Bronx, NY, as chairman and Brendan Comito of Capital City Fruit Co. Inc. in Norwalk, IA, as vice chairman.
Retail-Foodservice board: Reggie Griffin of The Kroger Co. in Cincinnati as chairman and Mitch Smith of McDonald's Corp. in Nampa, ID, as vice chairman.
The following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as the chairmen of the United Fresh councils, beginning in May:
David Barney of Bakkavor in Peterborough, United Kingdom, for the Global Advisory Council; Mike Wootton of Sunkist Growers in Sherman Oaks, CA, for the Government Relations Council; David Dever of Pandol Bros. Inc. in Delano, CA, for the Transportation & Logistics Council; and Barry Eisenberg of River Ranch Fresh Food LLC in Salinas, CA, for the Food Safety & Technology Council.
The following industry leaders have been nominated to serve as new at-large members of the United Fresh board for a two-year term beginning in May:
Mike Celani, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ready Pac Produce in Irwindale, CA; Tony DiMare, vice president at the DiMare Co. in Ruskin, FL; Roger Harkrider, director of produce at H.E. Butt Grocery Co. in San Antonio, TX; Brent Harrison, president of Al Harrison Co. Distributors in Nogales, AZ; Michael Martin, vice president of sales at Rio Queen Inc. in Mission, TX; Phillip Muir, president and CEO at Muir Copper Canyon Farms in Salt Lake City; Mark Murai, president of the California Strawberry Commission in Watsonville, CA; Doug Riley, assistant vice president of produce operations at Hy-Vee Inc. in West Des Moines, IA; and Geoff White, vice president of corporate produce at Safeway Inc. in Pleasanton, CA.
The following current board members will continue service on the board: Nelia Alamo of Gills Onions, Ron Anderson of Spartan Stores Inc., Barry Bedwell of the California Grape & Tree Fruit League, Matthew Caito of Imagination Farms, Peter John Condakes of Peter Condakes Co. Inc., Pete Donlon of Earthbound Farm, Charles Hall of the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, Brian Kocher of Chiquita Brands International, Robin Poynton of One Harvest, Ashley Rawl of Walter P. Rawl & Sons Inc., John Shelford of Shelford Consulting, Vic Smith of Fresh Innovations LLC, Alan Temple of B&W Quality Growers Inc., Alessandro Turatti of Turatti Srl, Rick Urschel of Urschel Laboratories and Timothy Vaux of Vaux Group Inc.
"In total, the slate of nominees for our new boards, councils and at-large seats, together with our returning board members and new officers, makes this a tremendously diverse and skilled set of leaders to represent our entire industry and guide our association in the year ahead," Nominating Committee Chairman Tompkins said in an April 28 statement.
Board members who will complete their terms of service at the May convention are Rick Antle of Tanimura & Antle, Charles Ciruli of Ciruli Brothers/Amex Distributing Co. Inc., Alan Heinzen of Heinzen Manufacturing International, Mark Hilton of Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Diane Huntsinger- Carson of Crunch Pak LLC, Bruce Knobeloch of River Ranch Fresh Foods LLC, Lawrence Kern of Kern Associates, Maureen Marshall of Torrey Farms Inc., Mark Miller of Fresh From Texas/Energy Sprouts Inc., Walter Strickland of Strickland Produce Inc., Jay Taylor of Taylor & Fulton Inc., Nick Tompkins of Apio Inc., Mike Kemp of Save-A-Lot and chairman of the Business Development Council, and Walter Ram of The Giumarra Cos. and co-chairman of the Food Safety & Technology Council.
"I'd like to personally thank Nick Tompkins and the board development committee for their work this year in nominating an outstanding individual in Jim Lemke to serve as chairman-elect, as well as a slate of great new board members and council and supply chain board chairmen," United Fresh President Tom Stenzel said in the statement. "We recognize that the strength of our association comes from strong representation of our membership across the total supply chain, bringing together an exceptional group of industry leaders to serve our industry. I'd also like to thank those leaders who are concluding their service at this meeting. We greatly appreciate the time and resources they have given to serve our industry."
