Jul 22, 2020

Cherry Industry Administrative Board welcomes new executive director

The Cherry Industry Administrative Board has named Meghan Swain as its new executive director, starting Aug. 24.

According to a news release, Swain brings a multi-faceted background defined by nonprofit management, government relations, and board organization experience. Most recently, she served as the executive Director of the Michigan Association of Local Public Health, where she was responsible for coordinating with all local health departments in the sate of Michigan and representing them before state and federal government.

“I am excited to begin a new chapter in my professional career as the new executive director of the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB), where I can use my experience and passion to promote the tart cherry industry,” Swain said. “I am pleased to have the confidence of the board to lead CIAB in fresh and innovative ways.”

According to the news release, “the Executive Committee unanimously confirmed Swain. The CIAB is looking forward to Swain’s contributions using her entrepreneurial leadership style, the outside perspective she brings, along with her familiarity of government, nonprofit, and board liaising. The Executive Committee has developed an on-boarding plan that will include extensive knowledge sharing by each of the members who will take ownership of a portion of the process. The process will include fruit science and meeting growers and processors across the U.S. as well as other Industry stakeholders.”

The CIAB works with tart cherry growers and processors in seven states: Michigan, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin to stabilize the annual cherry supply as well as educating consumers and promoting the benefits of tart cherries.

The CIAB administrates the Federal Marketing Order for Tart Cherries in the United States. Authorized by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the CIAB is composed of growers and processors from across the U.S.

Learn more at cherryboard.org.