The Southeast Produce Council will hold its annual fall conference Sept. 25-27 at Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa in Young Harris, GA, a beautiful venue located in the north Georgia mountains.

As always at the fall conference, attendees will enjoy delicious food, lively receptions, thought-provoking workshops on timely topics, high-profile speakers, the State-of-the-Council address, the President’s Dinner Dance and the annual Ken Lanhardt Memorial Golf Tournament, to name just some of the many offerings.Terry Vorhees in 2012 at Rockefeller Center in New York City during the holiday season.

The fall conference is always a wonderful event, and I am not going out on a limb when I say that the upcoming conference will be every bit as good, if not better, than the ones that have gone before.

But there will be one thing missing.

The 2014 fall conference will be the first event in the council’s 15-year history without its executive director, Terry Vorhees, who died July 30 at the age of 64.

At every previous fall conference, at every previous Southern Exposure conference and expo in the winter, Terry Vorhees was a constant. When you arrived at either event, you could be sure that when he first saw you, you would get a big smile and welcome hug. We will miss that this time.

Terry and Bev Vorhees in 2008 with their youngest grandchild, Chase, then two weeks old.You could count on watching him take care of the smallest detail at every part of every event to make sure that things ran smoothly and that everyone got the most out of their experience. We will miss that, too.

You would always see him enjoying the cocktail parties and the receptions and the golf tournaments and the football parties as much as everyone else. When the theme of a particular conference suggested dressing up in the spirit of that theme, you could be sure that he was right there with the craziest costume of all. We will miss all of that.

Terry Vorhees was a husband, father and grandfather, with a very loving family. He was blessed in that regard.

For those of us who knew him professionally, we will always be thankful — for his guidance, for his support, for his encouragement, for his friendship. You might start out with a business relationship with Terry, but somewhere along the way, it would blossom into so much more. He made you feel like you were a member of his family — his Southeast Produce Council family.

This front-page article in the Aug. 2, 1999 issue of The Produce News announced the launching of the Southeast Produce Council.Terry Vorhees had a long and successful career in the produce industry, including serving as a representative of the California Tree Fruit Agreement for many years. But his professional legacy — what he will be remembered for as long as there is a produce industry — is the Southeast Produce Council, an association he helped bring into existence.

The front-page headline that ran in the Aug. 2, 1999, issue of The Produce News — ‘An idea whose time has come’ — summed up Vorhees’ excitement for the nascent organization. In that article, Vorhees said that “information equals power,” adding, “The Southeast Produce Council is an idea whose time has come. This organization will provide an excellent means for produce professionals to stay abreast of the latest industry trends and issues.”

The southeastern United States had no organization to call its own back in 1999, but Vorhees and the other founders decided to change that. As an important center for agricultural and retail growth, according to Vorhees, the Southeast deserves an organization devoted to addressing the needs of the produce and floral industries.

“In addition to being home to some of the nation’s leading retailers, wholesalers and foodservice distributors, the southeastern United States also grows a vast amount of the nation’s fresh fruits and vegetables,” he said in the 1999 article. “It’s about time we had our own regional organization.”

The new Southeast Produce Council would be modeled after the New England Produce Council, which was founded in 1995 by CeCe Krumrine and Arthur O’Leary, and which itself was modeled after the Eastern Produce Council, which was founded in 1966 and originally called the Produce Sales Club.

While Terry Vorhees (right) was as professional as they come, he could cut loose when the moment warranted, like the Southern Exposure 1980s-themed 2012 gala, where he convincingly dressed as rock icon Slash while then-Vice President Andrew Scott was Austin Powers.“He was very passionate about the Southeast Produce Council, and he knew the challenges he would face” in launching it, Krumrine told The Produce News earlier this month. New York City and even New England are “more compact” than the Southeast, she noted, “and that was one of his biggest challenges. Pulling that all together was just amazing.”

Krumrine, now a merchandiser for several commodity boards, added, “He took the advice and made [the Southeast Produce Council] into an unbelievably successful council. He was one of the first to invite retailers outside the Southeast. He was a visionary.”

Vorhees and Dave Parker had worked together at the California Tree Fruit Agreement for around 10 years, and the CTFA sponsored the meeting in Atlanta back in 1999 that launched what would become the Southeast Produce Council.

“Terry was maybe the quietest of our group [at the CTFA],” Parker told The Produce News in early September. “He had this idea for a council in the Southeast. He knew he had geographical challenges, but he did some amazing things. Terry did great work starting and building the [SEPC], and he was always modest and unassuming about what he had accomplished. It was a joy and a wonder to watch how effortlessly and effectively he could run an event. He will be missed by many.”

Asked about Vorhees’ leadership qualities, Parker replied, “Empathy was Terry’s best attribute. When talking with someone, he would listen intently and assimilate what he heard to more fully understand the other person’s thoughts and needs. He genuinely cared about others and worked hard to help them.” He added, “He had some very strong supporters [at the SEPC]. His board knew how talented he was. He grew that organization every year.”

Parker added that Vorhees “touched a lot of people on an individual basis. Quietly he would go out of his way to help people. He will be remembered as someone who genuinely cared about all the people he brought together.”

On the golf course were Tom Page, Jan VanDriessche, Brad Carden and Terry Vorhees.Mark Daniels of the Military Produce Group stated, “Terry knew how to lead. He didn’t manage the council; he led the council. Great leaders allow other leaders to lead.”

Daniels, who will be introduced at the upcoming fall conference as the next president of the council’s board of directors, added, “Terry had a unique quality of being very humble. He never took the spotlight. His legacy will continue through the Southeast Produce Council. He just did a stellar job in making the Southeast Produce Council what it is today.”

Martin Eubanks, a longtime friend who served on the SEPC board of directors for its first seven years, said, “Terry Voorhees was a hard-working individual dedicated to the entire produce industry. He understood people and knew how to deal with a diverse group of personalities. And he always did so with a smile and a can-do attitude.”

Eubanks, who is South Carolina’s assistant commissioner of agriculture, added, “A great example of Terry’s vision was the spring expo. The board was very cautious about the idea and moved into developing the format slowly, taking into consideration that we wanted small producers and shippers to have the same exposure as the larger groups. Terry was all about fairness to all, as was the board, and look at what it has grown into. All because Terry kept presenting the opportunity until the board was satisfied that it would work in a cost-effective manner for all. And look at where we are now —a long waiting list to participate in a show that brings educational value and networking opportunities. Retailers have embraced the event, and vendors are elated with the opportunity to actually have time to network with retail leaders. All because Terry kept on pushing.”

Terry Vorhees was shocked (but obviously very happy) when the council surprised him a few years ago with this bowl for his years of dedicated service.Teri Miller of Delhaize America said that Vorhees was “always fair,” recalling, “When I think about the meetings we were in, he was just a very fair person. He was always about doing the right thing.”

Miller, who is chairing both the upcoming fall conference and the council’s new Southern Roots leadership program for women in produce, said that as a leader, Vorhees “listened to what people had to say, then shared why he agreed or disagreed. He was teaching us. And oh my gosh, he was just so much fun.”

Asked what his best quality was, she replied, “His love for the council. His love for the industry. He was always thinking about the Southeast Produce Council. Even during his sick time, he embraced the new Southern Roots program.”

Rick Estess, regional sales manager at RPE Inc., remembered his longtime friend as extremely humble. “Here’s a guy who had a vision, and he saw it grow into one of the largest councils in the United States. And he never took credit,” said Estess, a past president of the Southeast Produce Council. “I remember the first meeting we had in Atlanta [in 1999], and he was talking about what the organization was going to be. And he knew what it would look like 20 years in the future. He was the driving force of where we are today. But he was very humble.”

Estess also remembered Vorhees as personable. “He always wanted to make sure that you were taken care of — that everything was right. It didn’t matter if it was your first expo or your 10th, he treated everybody the same. And you know, there’s a lesson to be learned from that,” he said. “Terry was a visionary. He had a plan. None of this happened by accident. He was the backbone of what we’re doing today.”

The six members of the founding committee met in September 1999 at the Atlanta Farmers Market to discuss the formation of what would become the Southeast Produce Council. The six people and their company affiliations at the time were William Watson of the National Watermelon Promotion Board, Ken Lanhardt of Cub Foods’ Atlanta division, Cathy Carney of Zeigler’s Apple Cider, Tom Page of Supervalu Inc., Heidi McIntyre of the National Watermelon Promotion Board and Terry Vorhees of the California Tree Fruit Agreement.Heidi McIntyre, one of the six industry leaders who met in Atlanta in 1999 to discuss forming a new organization for the Southeast, said that Vorhees had “great ideas and a very creative mind. He was great at bringing people together and allowing others to be creative. He was so good at it.”

McIntyre, now a managing partner at Full Tilt Marketing, said that if other people “were naysayers” on a particular idea, Vorhees “never let that stop him. He didn’t let people” stop a project going forward simply because it was new or difficult. “He would just say, ‘We’ll figure it out.’ That was inspiring to people. He taught me that can-do attitude for my own business.”

On the subject of leadership, McIntyre said that Vorhees “made everyone feel important and that everyone’s opinion matters. He was good at empowering people, and he treated everyone with respect. I learned so much from him. He will be remembered as a great leader, a visionary, and someone who was very passionate about the produce industry and the Southeast Produce Council.”

If Terry Vorhees is remembered for his singular role in bringing the Southeast Produce Council into existence, his legacy will be establishing the rock-solid foundation that enabled the council to grow year after year as well as inspiring the scores of talented people who served tirelessly on its behalf.

Each and every past president, all of those who served as officers or on the board of directors down through the years, everyone who volunteered to make the many charitable programs of the councils a success — they all have helped make the Southeast Produce Council a world-class organization. And those people will make sure that the Southeast Produce Council continues to grow and prosper for a long, long time.

The upcoming fall conference will see new leadership on the board of directors, even as some of those stepping down take on new roles to help the council.

One of those with new responsibilities is David Sherrod, who was named assistant executive director back in June. Everyone interviewed for this Tribute expressed the highest confidence and admiration for Terry’s chosen successor.

“David Sherrod will pick up and carry on the tradition where Terry left off,” said Rick Estess. “David is my oldest and dearest friend. I know he’ll do a terrific job — there’s no doubt in my mind. This council will now move forward the way Terry wanted it to.”

SEPC board member Faye Westfall, who is director of sales at DiMare Fresh Tampa, said, “I miss my friend Terry, as do many other friends and family members.” However, “If anyone is concerned about the success of the Southeast Produce Council, rest assured it will continue to flourish. Terry knew how to place people in positions where they would excel. He was surrounded by an Executive Committee overflowing with talent, and a board of directors who aren’t afraid of hard work.”

She continued, “Terry also knew what he was doing when his plan included training David Sherrod. David will do a phenomenal job. He has already proven that in the short time he has been at the helm. He shares the passion and vision that Terry possessed, and the council will only get stronger through him and the members backing him.

Perhaps the best endorsement for Sherrod and the long-term future of the council comes from Terry Vorhees himself, who told me back in June in what would be our last conversation, “I have known David almost since the council was formed. He and I have talked over the last few years about him possibly taking over for me when I retire. Knowing David the way I do, I know that he will never abandon the core principles of the Southeast Produce Council. It makes me very proud that he has agreed to lead the council in the years ahead as it continues to grow and prosper.”

Finally, I will always remember Terry Vorhees for his vision, his leadership skills, his expertise and his enthusiasm for the fresh produce industry and especially for his beloved Southeast Produce Council. On a more personal note, I will always miss Terry’s encouragement, his warmth, his friendship, and just how good it felt to be around him.

I especially remember, now more than ever, when he came to New York City in late fall 2012 on business but carved out some time to let me show him around town. We walked on Fifth Avenue, where the department store windows were decorated for the holidays. We took in the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center and took pictures of the skaters. It was freezing cold, so we spent a few hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We had just the best time.

The 2014 SEPC Fall Conference at Brasstown Valley will be excellent. People will learn new things, they will have fun, they will greet old friends and make new ones. But during the course of the conference, people will raise a glass in Terry’s memory, they will share stories about him, and they will wipe away a tear for our great friend.

And I will be one of them.