The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has announced that its former president Bob Carey passed away in Delaware on Friday 29 November, at the age of 82.
Carey led the PMA from 1958 to 1996, taking it from a near bankrupt organisation with fewer than 100 members focused on produce packaging to a vertically integrated association of thousands focused on marketing. His vision of bringing buyers and sellers together positioned PMA to become the worldwide association it is today.
“I was privileged to work with Bob from the time he hired me in 1983 until his retirement in 1996,' said Bryan Silbermann, PMA’s CEO. 'He was my mentor and my dear friend. His insights and advice when he was my boss and after he retired have been invaluable.
'Bob’s real genius was getting the best out of everyone around him – members and staff – and that’s become a core part of PMA’s culture,' he added.
PMA gives the Robert L. Carey Leadership Award at Fresh Summit each year, honouring someone who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer leadership skills and an uncommon commitment to helping PMA achieve its goals. Carey's belief in volunteer leadership was evident in his military career to leadership in association management. He had an ability to gather just the right leaders at just the right times to move things forward.
“Bob's leadership was the lynchpin for PMA's growth and success, but it was his engaging personality, compassion, humour, and empathy that endeared him to all those around him.” Silbermann noted. “Always ready to have fun or sit and talk, Bob was an easy and dear friend to many.”
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