United Fresh introduces new leadership program members

Members of the 2017-2018 United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program Class 23 have now been announced. Sponsored by DuPont Crop Protection, this program was launched in 1995 and has graduated more than 200 program participants.

The Produce Industry Leadership Program welcomes the following professionals to its 23rd Class:

• Alisha Albinder, Hudson River Fruit Distributors, Milton, New York
• Joel Buurma, Buurma Farms Inc., Willard, Ohio
• Kristen Catalani Small, Del Monte Fresh Produce, Dallas, Texas
• Tyler Clear, Deardorff Family Farms, Oxnard, California
• Alex DiNovo, DNO Produce, Columbus, Ohio
• Kent Ford, Taylor Farms Tennessee, Smyrna, Tennessee
• Jordan Grainger, Castellini Company, Wilder, Kentucky
• Troy Le Cheminant, Westlake Produce Company, Irwindale, California
• Kelly Miller, Griffin Ranches, Inc., Somerton, Arizona
• Mackenzie Mills, River Point Farms, Hermiston, Oregon
• Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos, D’Arrigo Brothers Company of California, Salinas, California
• Michael Schadler, Florida Tomato Exchange, Maitland, Florida
• Lesley Sykes, SCS Global Services, Emeryville, California
• Michael Wellnitz, Costco Wholesale, Issaquah, Washington
• Hunter Winton, Robinson Fresh, Phoenix, Arizona

Beginning this July, the members of Leadership Class 23 will participate in a number of educational events and outings centered on the four core focus areas of the program: leadership development, business relationships, government and public affairs, and media and public communications.

During the year-long fellowship, participants will take part in a series of customized trips which include face-to-face meetings with leading industry players, hands-on training with top industry experts and educators, interactive experiences with influential leaders in Washington, and more. This year’s schedule will feature trips to California; Washington, D.C.; Wilmington, Delaware; Costa Rica; and Chicago, where the class will graduate at the 2018 United Fresh Convention.

Candidates selected for the program submitted an application including essays on what they consider the most important challenges affecting the produce industry, and had two personal interviews with members of the Leadership Advisory Committee comprised of United Fresh board members and program alumni. The committee is responsible for assessing each candidate based on their experience and expertise, as well as developing a class that is balanced and representative of the industry.

For questions or additional information on the Produce Industry Leadership Program, visit www.unitedfresh.org; or email Amanda Griffin, senior director of education and member programs for United Fresh, at agriffin@unitedfresh.org; or call 202-303-3412.