Former PMA President Bob Carey died last week at age 82. Carey led PMA from 1958 to 1996, taking it from fewer than 100 members focused on produce packaging to a vertically integrated association of thousands focused on marketing. “His vision of bringing buyers and sellers together in the 1960s and 1970s catapulted PMA into dramatic growth, positioning it to become the international association it is today,”said PMA President Bryan Silbermann.
“I was privileged to work with Bob,” Silberman continued, “from the time he hired me in 1983 until his retirement in 1996. He was a mentor and a friend to many of us on the PMA staff team. Bob’s genius as a leader was getting the best from those around him. He was a master at having people – members and staff alike -- believe they could succeed at whatever they set out to do. As an association executive he taught us all the power of community and the need to be courageous.
“PMA gives the Robert L. Carey Leadership Award at Fresh Summit each year, honoring someone who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer leadership skills and an uncommon commitment to helping PMA achieve its goals. Bob believed in volunteer leadership himself -- from his military career to leadership in association management. He had an uncanny ability to gather just the right leaders at just the right times to propel PMA forward.
Bob's leadership was the lynchpin for PMA's growth and success, but it was his engaging personality, compassion, humor, and empathy that endeared him to all those around him. Always ready to have fun or sit and talk, Bob was an easy and dear friend.”
Carey was buried with full military honors. Memorial contributions can be made to Delmarva Teen Challenge.
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