PMA Announces Staff Changes
The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) announced key personnel changes and additions today following a reorganization of staff to help implement the trade association’s strategic plan. The plan, adopted in 2008, calls for PMA to align itself to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex and global industry.
Lorna Christie has been promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer, with the responsibility of managing PMA’s member service and administrative functions. Christie joined PMA in 2002 with extensive association, government and corporate experience.
Duane Eaton, a 30-year PMA veteran who has led many successful member and staff functions, manages the association’s support services as senior vice president of administration. Tony Parassio has been promoted to senior vice president of member value. Parassio, who joined PMA in 2008 with extensive experience managing global corporate business development teams, is responsible for connecting PMA member needs with timely business solutions. Eaton and Parassio report to Christie.
The senior staff changes will PMA President and CEO Bryan Silbermann to focus more on external partnerships and volunteer leadership engagement. PMA’s senior management team also includes chief financial officer Yvonne Bull, chief science and technology officer Dr. Bob Whitaker and PMA Foundation for Industry Talent executive director Cindy Seel.
Two promotions have also been made to strengthen PMA’s events teams. Kent Allaway is now vice president of meetings and trade show logistics and Eboni Wall has been named senior director of events. They lead the teams that create PMA’s highly-rated events, including the annual Leadership Symposium, Fresh Summit and Foodservice Conference, as well as the association’s regional Fresh Connections events.
To reflect PMA’s increasingly global outreach and involvement, 17-year PMA veteran Terry Humfeld is now vice president of chapter relations, a new position. Humfeld’s responsibilities include working with PMA’s first international affiliate, PMA Australia-New Zealand, Ltd., which was launched Oct. 1, 2009. He joins a strong team under Parassio’s leadership that is focused specifically on PMA’s worldwide member involvement.
The association has hired Richard Owen as director of global business development, bringing further expertise and strength to PMA’s global efforts. Owen has extensive international and agriculture industry experience, ranging from director of agricultural affairs for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, to association leadership positions. He works closely with 30-year PMA veteran Nancy Tucker, vice president of global business development, and both are part of the globally-focused team led by Parassio.
The association has combined its food safety and traceability teams into a new PMA staff group directed by Bob Whitaker. This team will be responsible for all food safety and technology initiatives, including PMA’s leadership on the Produce Traceability Initiative.
