The United Fresh Produce Association has promoted several staff members in order to create what it calls strong team alignment to enhance service to members.
Victoria Backer is promoted to EVP of the association, with a mandate to lead the association in all aspects of organizational development, management and operations. Backer will have several key areas of responsibility, including staff and organizational development and volunteer leadership development. She also will lead the new United Fresh Start Foundation and its mission to increase children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
In supporting the new United Foundation, Andrew Marshall is promoted to director of foundation programs and partnerships. United Fresh says Marshall has been effective in building the group’s Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative and its school food service programs; he now will lead these efforts for the new foundation.
Dr. Lorelei DiSogra will continue her collaboration with Backer and Marshall as United’s nutrition policy leader in the public health and policy community. In addition, United Fresh VP Jeff Oberman will add to his current portfolio in trade relations, working with Backer in fundraising to help grow the foundation and member involvement.
Miriam Wolk will become VP of member services, adding direct program responsibility to her membership recruitment and retention portfolio. She will drive member engagement in United’s core programs such as the Produce Industry Leadership Program, Cornell Produce Executive Development Program, USDA Inspection Training, Retail Managers and Foodservice awards, convention education programs and more, according to the association.
John Toner now will lead United’s multi-disciplinary staff team that works on the United Fresh convention as VP of convention and industry collaboration. As United Fresh’s partnerships with the Food Marketing Institute, the International Floral Exposition and potentially new partners expand, Toner will coordinate collaborative efforts to better serve United Fresh members.
“Congratulations to these team leaders on their increasing responsibilities to deliver the highest possible value to our members,” said Tom Stenzel, president and CEO of United Fresh. “These new assignments will further enable United’s talented staff to enhance and expand their service to the association in many key areas as they work to foster innovation and growth for our members.”
