Ron Lemaire and other key staffers leave CPMA
Ron Lemaire and other key staffers leave CPMA
(This is an updated story from the one posted Sept. 9 on this site.)
Ron Lemaire is going green, and it has nothing to do with produce.
Mr. Lemaire, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's executive vice president and director of marketing, announced his resignation Sept. 19. He is leaving to become vice president of market development at the Canadian Green Building Council. His last day at the CPMA will be Oct. 17.
Mr. Lemaire told The Produce News Oct. 1 that "it was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make because of the nature of the industry and the relationships over 10 years that I've developed and built not only in Canada but on an international level. The dynamic nature we see in produce, the work is very exciting, especially seeing the framework and merging of health and agriculture together, and leaving the industry definitely wasn't an easy decision. I'm extremely appreciative of everyone that's supported the programs, visions and activities that CPMA and I have undertaken, and hopefully even with my leaving, a lot of that will continue to be supported and driven into the future so the produce can only keep getting better and better."
He continued, "The [green] industry I'm going into has started to explode, and I'm coming in at the front end and am one of the first senior executives being hired. It's really exciting. I'm going to get a chance to build at the very front end of an industry that is only expanding in a very, very rapid way."
A Sept. 24 statement issued by the CPMA said that "as a key part of the association for the past 10 years, Mr. Lemaire has contributed as part of the CPMA team to position the association effectively to meet the future needs of its members."
It continued, "Mr. Lemaire joined CPMA as director of marketing in 1998. His core objectives in 1998 were to build partnerships with key stakeholders, develop the revenue streams for the association and re-launch the industry's consumer marketing program 'Reach For It, 5 to 10 a day!' In 1999, the program was relaunched as 5 to 10 a Day - Are You Getting Enough?' which is now widely known as 5 to 10 a Day for Better Health."
"Ron has grown with the organization over the past 10 years and has been a significant contributor to all aspects of the CPMA," Dan Dempster, president of the association, said in the statement. "While we at CPMA are disappointed to see Ron leave, we understand the tremendous opportunity he will have with his new position and organization."
In 2000, Mr. Lemaire added the title of executive vice president. "In this role he has worked effectively with the CPMA executive board and staff to help move the organization's files forward to ensure the growth and development of the Association," Larry McIntosh, CPMA's chairman in 2007-08, said in the statement.
"Ron has been a key part of CPMA's effort to be more influential in the North American and international marketplace," Beth Pattillo, CPMA's chairman in 2008-09, added in the statement. "He has been active on numerous task forces and committees, and has chaired various national and international organizations - all in an effort to drive consumption of fresh produce."
Mr. Dempster told The Produce News Oct. 1, "You can't replace a Ron, per se, but we will replace a very senior, important position within the association. It may look a little different and we'll probably be going through an executive search to help us do that. We're defining what it is we're looking for and what are the skill sets and qualifications an ideal candidate would have, and will notify our board and members of our game plan. It should come together pretty quickly."
Other staff changes
Cristina Nunes, senior trade show and convention manager for the CPMA, left the organization Oct. 3, and David Lauer, its communications officer, also resigned earlier this year.
Mr. Dempster told The Produce News that "with Christina leaving, we needed to act very, very quickly because of the importance of the convention to the association, and I think we'll be able to make some progress fairly quickly. We need to do some more research and I hope to have that finalized and in place by early next week."
He said, "It's not the first change for us and the association is more than one individual. It's about a team of staff, volunteers and members trying to work together, and everyone brings something to the table. People come and go, and while you hate to see people go, sometimes you can capitalize on those events. You stand back and it forces you to take a look at where you are going and say, 'How we are going to go from this point forward?' You capitalize on the skill sets of the people left behind and look at what you need to fill with the new positions. I know we'll be fine."
Ron Lemaire is going green, and it has nothing to do with produce.
Mr. Lemaire, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's executive vice president and director of marketing, announced his resignation Sept. 19. He is leaving to become vice president of market development at the Canadian Green Building Council. His last day at the CPMA will be Oct. 17.
Mr. Lemaire told The Produce News Oct. 1 that "it was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make because of the nature of the industry and the relationships over 10 years that I've developed and built not only in Canada but on an international level. The dynamic nature we see in produce, the work is very exciting, especially seeing the framework and merging of health and agriculture together, and leaving the industry definitely wasn't an easy decision. I'm extremely appreciative of everyone that's supported the programs, visions and activities that CPMA and I have undertaken, and hopefully even with my leaving, a lot of that will continue to be supported and driven into the future so the produce can only keep getting better and better."
He continued, "The [green] industry I'm going into has started to explode, and I'm coming in at the front end and am one of the first senior executives being hired. It's really exciting. I'm going to get a chance to build at the very front end of an industry that is only expanding in a very, very rapid way."
A Sept. 24 statement issued by the CPMA said that "as a key part of the association for the past 10 years, Mr. Lemaire has contributed as part of the CPMA team to position the association effectively to meet the future needs of its members."
It continued, "Mr. Lemaire joined CPMA as director of marketing in 1998. His core objectives in 1998 were to build partnerships with key stakeholders, develop the revenue streams for the association and re-launch the industry's consumer marketing program 'Reach For It, 5 to 10 a day!' In 1999, the program was relaunched as 5 to 10 a Day - Are You Getting Enough?' which is now widely known as 5 to 10 a Day for Better Health."
"Ron has grown with the organization over the past 10 years and has been a significant contributor to all aspects of the CPMA," Dan Dempster, president of the association, said in the statement. "While we at CPMA are disappointed to see Ron leave, we understand the tremendous opportunity he will have with his new position and organization."
In 2000, Mr. Lemaire added the title of executive vice president. "In this role he has worked effectively with the CPMA executive board and staff to help move the organization's files forward to ensure the growth and development of the Association," Larry McIntosh, CPMA's chairman in 2007-08, said in the statement.
"Ron has been a key part of CPMA's effort to be more influential in the North American and international marketplace," Beth Pattillo, CPMA's chairman in 2008-09, added in the statement. "He has been active on numerous task forces and committees, and has chaired various national and international organizations - all in an effort to drive consumption of fresh produce."
Mr. Dempster told The Produce News Oct. 1, "You can't replace a Ron, per se, but we will replace a very senior, important position within the association. It may look a little different and we'll probably be going through an executive search to help us do that. We're defining what it is we're looking for and what are the skill sets and qualifications an ideal candidate would have, and will notify our board and members of our game plan. It should come together pretty quickly."
Other staff changes
Cristina Nunes, senior trade show and convention manager for the CPMA, left the organization Oct. 3, and David Lauer, its communications officer, also resigned earlier this year.
Mr. Dempster told The Produce News that "with Christina leaving, we needed to act very, very quickly because of the importance of the convention to the association, and I think we'll be able to make some progress fairly quickly. We need to do some more research and I hope to have that finalized and in place by early next week."
He said, "It's not the first change for us and the association is more than one individual. It's about a team of staff, volunteers and members trying to work together, and everyone brings something to the table. People come and go, and while you hate to see people go, sometimes you can capitalize on those events. You stand back and it forces you to take a look at where you are going and say, 'How we are going to go from this point forward?' You capitalize on the skill sets of the people left behind and look at what you need to fill with the new positions. I know we'll be fine."
