Oct 18, 2018
PMA board to be led by industry veteran David Marguleas

The 2018-2019 Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Board of Directors took office Oct. 17 during PMA’s 2018 Fresh Summit Convention & Expo in Orlando, Florida. New Chair David Marguleas, executive vice president of Sun World International, LLC, Coachella, California, USA, is joined on the board by six other officers and 26 directors. 

“It is my great honor and privilege to serve as PMA Chair for the coming year. I’m excited to collaborate with the PMA board, staff and 560 volunteer leaders to bring enhanced value to our global membership of 2,900 businesses from 54 countries,” said Marguleas. “In the year ahead, look for more programs and resources from PMA to help members create demand and stimulate preference for fresh produce and floral, connect leaders globally, enhance produce safety, and invest in their employees.” 

In addition to Marguleas, officers elected to the 2018-2019 PMA board include:  

  • Chair-Elect: Joe Don Zetzsche, director of floral and BLOOMS, H-E-B San Antonio, Texas, USA 
  • Secretary-Treasurer: Dan Sun, president, HarvestMark, Sunnyvale, California, USA 
  • Past Chair: Jin Ju Wilder, director of marketing, LA & SF Specialty, Santa Fe Springs, California, USA 
  • Vice Chair: Kurt Vetter, president, Wonderful Sales, Los Angeles, California, USA 
  • Vice Chair: Tommie van Zyl, CEO, ZZ2, Limpopo, South Africa 
  • Center for Growing Talent Board Chair: Marty Craner, chief executive officer, B&C Fresh Sales, Orange, California, USA 

“PMA volunteer leaders make us a stronger organization and truly an association by the members for the members,” said PMA CEO Cathy Burns. “I cannot thank the retiring board directors enough for being so generous of their time and thought leadership in helping to shape PMA strategies and programs that deliver year-round value to members.” 

The following industry leaders will serve on the 2018-2019 PMA Board of Directors: 

  • Bryant Ambelang, president and chief executive officer, NatureSweet LTD, San Antonio, Texas, USA 
  • Joe Ange, purchasing director, Markon Cooperative, Salinas, California, USA 
  • Maggie Bezart-Hall, vice president, trade & promotion, Avocados From Mexico, Irving, Texas, USA 
  • Jim Byron, chief executive officer, Xgenex LLC, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA 
  • Lisa Cork, owner/director, Fresh Produce Marketing Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand 
  • Christian Corssen, chief executive officer, Compania Frutera Santa Maria S.A., Santiago Province, Chile 
  • Dwight Ferguson, president/chief executive officer, Naturipe Farms LLC, Salinas, California, USA
  • Karen Fernald, senior vice president, category, merchandising and pricing, Food Lion, Salisbury, North Carolina, USA 
  • Michael Franks, chief executive officer Seeka Limited, Te Puke, New Zealand; PMA Australia-New Zealand Chair 
  • Doug Grant, executive vice president/chief operating officer, The Oppenheimer Group,
    British Columbia, Canada 
  • Andrew Kennedy, co-founder, FoodLogiQ, Durham, North Carolina, USA 
  • Jacob Krempel, director of produce & grocery procurement, HelloFresh, New York, New York, USA 
  • Eric Li, vice president of global sourcing and alliance, Shanghai Yiguo E-Commerce Co., Ltd., Shanghai City, China 
  • Mau Wah Liu, chairman of the group, Joy Wing Mau Group, Shenzhen, China 
  • Ruth McLennan, vice president produce/floral/cold storage, Dairy Farm, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong 
  • Elizabeth Nardi, chief executive officer, Organically Grown Company, Portland, Oregon, USA 
  • Scot Olson, president of North/Northwest Division, Fresh Source, Santa Ana, California, USA 
  • Carlos Oramas, chief executive officer, Gems Group, Inc., Miami, Florida, USA 
  • Roberto Salazar Perez, deputy perishable director, Calimax, Tijuana, Mexico 
  • Angela Santiago, chief executive officer, The Little Potato Company, Alberta, Canada 
  • Reade Sievert, vice president corporate produce, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City, Kansas, USA 
  • Ted Taylor, head of new ventures & business development, Taylor Farms, Salinas, California, USA 
  • Patrick Vizzone, head of food, beverage & agribusiness, ANZ Banking Group, Melbourne, Australia  
  • Gary Wishnatzki, president/chief executive officer, Wish Farms, Plant City, Florida, USA 
  • Gary York, vice president, sales & marketing, Robinson Fresh, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA 

Seventeen board members concluded their term of service and retired from the board, including: 

  • Shawn Baldwin, formerly of Walmart (retired), Walmart Stores, Inc., Bentonville, Arkansas, USA  
  • Leonard Batti, vice president of Taylor Farms, Salinas, California, USA 
  • Joe Craggs, sales & marketing director, Tropical Pines Pty. Ltd., Queensland, Australia 
  • Manuel Alcaino, president, Decofrut, Vitacura, Chile 
  • Robby Barkley, president/chief executive officer, Barkley Ag Enterprises, Yuma, Arizona, USA 
  • Soren Bjorn, president, Driscoll’s, Watsonville, California, USA 
  • Jim DiMenna, president/chief executive officer, Red Sun Farms, Ontario, Canada 
  • Robin Fisher, category manager – produce, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA 
  • Bernadette Hamel, vice president, national procurement produce, Metro Richelieu, Québec, Canada 
  • Lam Lin, general manager fresh foods sourcing division, China Resources Vanguard Co.,
    Shenzhen, China 
  • Inés Masallach, marketing director, Serv. De Merc Imalinx, SA de CV, San Cristobal, Mexico
  • Cynthia Nunes, vice president/co-general manager of Fresh Fruit N.A., Dole Fresh Fruit Co.,
    Parsippany, New Jersey, USA 
  • John Oxford, president and chief executive officer, L&M, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 
  • Jaime Peisach, manager, Passion Growers, LLC, Florida, USA 
  • April Porter, chief financial officer, Wm. G. Roe & Sons, Inc., Winter Haven, Florida, USA 
  • Kent Shoemaker, CEO, Lipman, Immokalee, Florida, USA 
  • Tara Smith Vighetti, vice president, Smith Packing, St. Augustine, Florida, USA 



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