News from first day of Fresh Summit

News from the first day of Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) 2012 Fresh Summit International Convention and Exposition included election of 2012-2013 boards for PMA and the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent, and presentation of the first Robert L. Carey Leadership Award to Mike O’Brien of St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets Inc.

Elected to chair PMA’s Board of Directors is Jan DeLyser, vice president of marketing for the California Avocado Commission, Irvine, Calif. Five other officers and 28 directors join her. Together with PMA President and CEO Bryan Silbermann, the officers comprise PMA’s Executive Committee. 

Jim Leimkuhler, president and owner of Progressive Produce Corp., is the newly appointed officer for the PMA Foundation Board of Directors. Other appointed officers include Vice Chairman Dick Spezzano, Secretary and Treasurer John Oxford, and Past Chairman John Anderson. They join Margi Prueitt, PMA Foundation executive director, and Yvonne Bull, PMA chief financial officer.

Mike O’Brien was named the first Robert L. Carey Leadership Award Winner during Friday’s general session. From the many nominations, a team of four past PMA chairmen selected O’Brien in recognition of his outstanding leadership and an uncommon commitment to PMA and the produce industry.

Since 2004, O’Brien has served eight years on the PMA board, including as its chairman. He also served on the Retail Division Board and on numerous committees, including the Produce Electronic Identification Board, the Government Affairs Committee, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, and previously as chairman of the Produce for Better Health Foundation.

To learn more about the 2012 Fresh Summit International Convention, visit www.freshsummit.com. For more information about the PMA, visit www.pma.com.