Produce Marketing Association, National Grocers Association appoint new board members, and more
ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Produce Marketing Association (PMA), Newark, Del. John Oxford, president and CEO of L&M Cos. Inc., was appointed chairman of the 2016-17 board. Oxford has been an active PMA volunteer for many years, including working on marketing, global strategy, membership restructure, strategic planning task forces and the Fresh Summit Committee in 2011. He was also the secretary and treasurer for both PMA and the Center for Growing Talent by PMA (CGTbyPMA). Jin Ju Wilder, director of marketing for LA & SF Specialty Produce, was elected chair-elect. At LA & SF Specialty Produce, Wilder is responsible for marketing strategy and activities, brand management and company communications for the wholesale produce, dairy, and specialty foods distributor serving California, Arizona and Nevada. She also leads the customer relationship management systems and data discovery and reporting solutions. She served two terms on the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, and was on the board of directors for the Fresh Produce & Floral Council. April Porter, chief financial officer of Noble Produce Imports Inc., was elected secretary-treasurer. In 2010, Porter pursued her dream to work for the family business (fresh citrus and blueberry agribusiness) after a career in corporate finance with Wendy’s Arby’s Group and investment banking with Houlihan Lokey. As CFO, she leads all finance, accounting and treasury functions, and coordinates budgeting and capital planning. She also works closely with strategic partners and evaluates new business ventures. Porter serves on PMA’s Budget and Finance Committee and has participated in CGTbyPMA’s Career Ambassador Program. Russ Mounce, vice president and divisional merchandise manager of produce and floral for Sam's Club, was named immediate past chair. Mounce maintains more than 18 years of experience in the produce industry. He joined Sam’s Club as an assistant buyer in the produce division in January 2000, and held numerous buying/sourcing roles within the produce and floral areas. In 2010, Mounce was promoted to his current position with responsibilities over merchandising for 632 U.S. Sam’s Clubs, including 11 clubs in Puerto Rico. He is also chair of the PMA Leadership Committee, and has served on PMA’s Membership Committee and the Strategic Planning and Governance Task Forces. Elliott Grant, chief executive officer of ShopWell Labs Inc., was elected vice chair. Grant founded YottaMark Inc. (also known as Infinity Coding Solutions Inc.), where he was responsible for all aspects of its marketing execution, product and solution definition, branding and user experience. Prior to YottaMark, Grant served as vice president, operations for Portola Packaging Inc., where he was responsible for high-speed, high-volume production lines across six U.S.-based factories. Grant is PMA’s Science & Technology Committee Chair, and has served on PMA’s Supply Chain Efficiencies Committee and the Strategic Planning and Membership Restructure Task Forces. Paul Kneeland, vice president of fresh merchandising for Fresh Formats LLC, a division of Ahold USA, was named vice chair. Kneeland is a veteran of the food business and retail since 1981. He forged his way from bagging groceries to holding leadership positions in three supermarket chains. Kneeland has chaired two regional produce shows with years of experience in strategic planning and operating. Kneeland also serves on PMA’s Fresh Summit Committee and has participated on the Dues Restructure Task Force and CGTbyPMA’s Career Ambassador Program. New at-large board directors are Jim Corby, vice president of merchandising, produce, floral and gift centers, The Fresh Market; Dwight Ferguson, president and CEO, Naturipe Farms LLC; Bernadette Hamel, vice president, national procurement, produce, Metro Richelieu Inc.; Andrew Kennedy, president, FoodLogiQ; David Marguleas, executive vice president of Sun World International LLC and president of Sun World Innovations; Jill Overdorf, director of business and culinary development and corporate executive chef, Coosemans L.A. Shipping Inc.; Kurt Vetter, president, Wonderful Sales; Gary Wishnatzki, president and CEO, Wish Farms; and Joe Don Zetzsche, director of floral and blooms, H-E-B. Retiring from the PMA board are Jeff Dunn, chief executive officer, Bolthouse Farms Inc.; Howard Nager, former vice president of marketing, Domex Superfresh Growers; Oleen Smethurst, assistant vice president, general merchandise manager, Costco Wholesale; Dan Sutton, vice president of produce procurement, Albertsons LLC; and Thomas Wheeler, director of produce operations, Mollie Stone Markets.
Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), Madison, Wis. Rachel Kerr joined as public relations manager, where she will support national public relations and social media campaigns. Kerr maintains nearly 10 years of experience in the public relations and social media industry, most recently as the senior assistant experiential marketing manager for Kraft Heinz Co. During her 7-year tenure at Kraft Heinz, Kerr worked on the Oscar Mayer brand, coordinating events, managing multiple social media accounts and launching an app for the Wienermobile.