PMA names board of directors

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Rich Dachman PMA chairman

The 2011/12 Produce Marketing Association (PMA) board of directors took office during the recent PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta, with chairman of the board Rich Dachman of Sysco Corp. joined by three other officers and 29 directors.

Other newly appointed PMA officers are chairman-elect Jan DeLyser, secretar/treasurer Derrick Jenkins and immediate past chairman Mike O'Brien.

Along with vice-chairman Tim Riley, vice-chairman Jim Corby and PMA president Bryan Silbermann, the officers comprise a seven-person executive committee.

'I'm honoured to have the opportunity to serve the industry in this position, especially as PMA sharpens its focus and follows through with its rebranding, focused on growth,' said Dachman. 'There's a lot of work ahead and I'm looking forward to the close collaboration in the coming year with my outstanding colleagues.

'Our industry itself is going through a reimaging as all eyes are on fruits and vegetables to solve the many dietary challenges that face our country,' he added. 'Our behind-the-scenes-efforts will have a big impact as we seek to increase consumption of the best and healthiest food known.'

The directors of the association are:

- Michael Agostini, senior director of produce and floral, Walmart, Bentonville, Ark.
- Mitch Ardantz, managing partner, Bonipak Produce, Santa Maria, Calif.
- Greg Calistro, executive director of produce and floral, Save Mart Supermarkets, Modesto, Calif.
- Marty Craner, president/owner, B&C Fresh, Orange, Calif.
- Tina Fitzgerald, director of produce and corporate and social responsibility, IPC-Independent Purchasing Cooperative, Miami
- Patrick Hynes, senior director of purchasing, Darden Restaurants, Orlando, Fla.
- Dan Johnson, corporate director of produce and floral sales and marketing, The Kroger Co., Cincinnati
- Alec Leach, president, Taylor Farms Inc., Salinas, Calif.
- Dave Lessard, director of produce, Ahold USA Retail, Assonet, Mass.
- Martin Ley, vice president, Del Campo Supreme, Nogales, Ariz.
- Larry McIntosh, president and CEO, Peak of the Market, Winnipeg, Canada
- Matt Middleton, vice president of sales, Marie’s/Ventura Foods, Dallas
- Victor Moller, president, Hortifrut SA, San Jose, Costa Rica
- Robert Ondrus, director of category management produce/wet salads/refrigerated potatoes, Monarch Foods/Division of U.S. Foodservice, Chicago
- John Oxford, president and CEO, L&M Cos., Raleigh, N.C.
- Frank Padilla, vice president, GMM produce & Meat, Costco Wholesale, Seattle
- David Parsley, senior vice president, supply chain management, Brinker International Inc., Dallas
- Joe Pezzini, chief operating officer, Ocean Mist Farms, Castroville, Calif.
- Victor Smith, CEO, Fresh Innovations LLC, Yuma, Ariz.
- Mike Solomon, president and CEO, Ready Pac Foods, Irwindale, Calif.
- Mayda Sotomayor-Kirk, CEO, Seald Sweet International, Vero Beach, Fla.
- Craig Stephen, vice president and general manager, bananas and Fresh Select, Chiquita Brands International, Cincinnati
- Michael Stuart, president, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Maitland, Fla.
- Maureen Torrey-Marshall, vice president, Torrey Farms Inc., Elba, N.Y.
- David Werner, corporate director of marketing, Ben E. Keith Foods, Fort Worth, Texas
- Jin Ju Wilder, president, Status Gro, South Pasadena, Calif.Listen