Feb 6, 2023

USApple selects NextGen Apple Fellowship members

The U.S. Apple Association has chosen the six members of the 2023 class of its emerging leader program, the NextGen Apple Fellowship.

In its second year, the program focuses on providing fellows with professional and leadership development, one-on-one mentoring, hands-on advocacy and community engagement.

The 2023 NextGen Apple Fellows are:

• Kostas Batziakas, senior scientist/technical project manager for Crunch Pak, Washington;
• Ely Giroux, production manager at Chazy Orchards, New York;
• Emily Kropf, associate crop insurance specialist at GreenStone Farm Credit Services, Michigan;
• Aimee Peters, business development manager for West Coast First Fruits Farm, Washington;
• Jesus Rodriguez, horticulturalist/assistant area manager for Washington Fruit and Produce Co., Washington; and
• Jennie Strong, communications and outreach specialist Washington Apple Commission.

“Following an extensive interview process with applicants from across the country, we are excited to name the 2023 class of the NextGen Apple Fellowship,” USApple board member and chair of the NextGen Advisory Committee Elizabeth Pauls, of Wittenbach Orchards in Michigan, said in a news release. “Each of the fellows was chosen because of their distinguished work in the apple sector, their tremendous potential, and their enthusiasm for the fellowship. USApple is excited for this class of individuals who come from diverse careers in the apple industry and balance one another with a vast collection of strengths and expertise.”

The 2023 NextGen Apple Fellowship will have a kickoff meeting March 14-17in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with USApple’s Capitol Hill Day. The program runs through December 2023. To learn more about the fellowship, visit the association’s website.