US agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed six members to serve the National Mango Board (NMB). The appointees include five new members and one returning member.
The new board members include first handler Patrick F. Dueire of New Castle, Delaware; along with importers Michael B. Warren of Parkland, Florida; Susan Underwood of Saint Petersburg, Florida; and Sergio Palala of San Carlos, California. Also appointed are foreign producers Tomas Paulin Quezada of Colima, Mexico; and Jacqueline Abuhayar of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Quezada is returning to the board to serve a second consecutive term.
New members will serve three-year terms beginning immediately upon appointment and ending on 31 December, 2018; with the exception of new importer from district III whose term will end on 31 December, 2016.
The NMB also thanked those members who have completed their term on the board for their service to the mango industry, namely Danny Pollack, chairman, of Sea Girt, New Jersey, who will serve one year on the executive committee as an ex-officio; Ronnie Cohen of River Edge, New Jersey; Mariana Gonzalez of Hidalgo, Texas; Eddy Martinez of Guatemala City; Jean Sapp of Lehigh Acres, Florida; and Bill Vogel of Los Angeles, California, who was serving one year as ex-officio.
“The leadership that these members have provided has made a positive impact and will shape the future of the NMB and the mango industry for years to come,” stated Manuel Michel, executive director of the NMB.
“We also want to welcome the newly appointed board members and look forward to their contribution of ideas and dialogue. The sharing of knowledge and exchange of ideas is what strengthens the NMB programmes and ultimately has a lasting influence on the mango industry.”
