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Grower-Shipper Association Foundation Announces AgKnowledge Program Class IX

Salinas, CA (March 12, 2015) ¾ The Grower-Shipper Association Foundation and their co-sponsoring partners, the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California and the County of Monterey Agricultural Commissioner. announces the 2015 AgKnowledge Program Class IX Fellows. These 23 community members have been accepted into the program and will participate in an eight-month executive leadership program. The program will focus on educating participants about the heritage, diversity, stewardship and complexity of Monterey County agriculture and the interdependencies of agriculture, local government and the community.

The AgKnowledge program focuses on issues affecting and influencing the local agricultural industry. The issues include food safety, security, labor, immigration, technology, marketing, conservation, urban/agriculture interfacing, air, water and much more. The Fellows will spend nine (9) Fridays between March and November attending forums and visiting farms and processing facilities while meeting leaders and innovators in the produce industry. One of the program’s most popular facets is “Day with a Farmer”, a day spent with a local grower becoming immersed in agriculture from a boots on the ground perspective.

2015 AgKnowledge Class IX- Fellows

Bob Abrams, Ph.D., P.G., C.Hg. Consulting Hydrogeologist

Roberto Avila, Director of Innovation, Mann Packing Co. Inc.

Mari Beraz, Deputy Treasurer-Tax Collector, Monterey County

Joanne Bravo, Vice President, Pinnacle Bank

Tim Burns, Code Compliance Manager, Monterey County Resource Management Agency

Freda Escobar, Permit Coordinator Manager, Monterey County Resource Management Agency

Angel Garibaldo, Business & Marketing/Communications Strategist, Avenue 831 Consulting Group

Lina Gomez, CFO, Genesis Freight Lines

Teo Gonzalez, Chief Deputy, Monterey County Ag Commissioner

Jerry Hernandez, Analyst, Monterey County Economic Development Department

Kiely Holcomb, CPA, Manager, Hayashi & Wayland

Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, MPH, Assistant Director of Health, Monterey County Health Department

Greg Long, Regional Sales Manager, Central Coast Commercial Banking, Wells Fargo Commercial Banking

Justin Magaleno, Senior Sales Representative, C.H. Robinson Company

Brad Mansager, Professor, Naval Postgraduate School

Mary Grace Perry, Deputy County Counsel, County of Monterey, Office of the County Counsel

Jessica Potts, Executive Director, Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum

Susan Rimando, Environmental Health Specialist, Monterey County Health Department

Marissa Ritter, Director of Marketing & Communications, Grower-Shipper Association

Sumadhur Shakya, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, California State University Monterey Bay College of Business

Josh Stratton, Chief of Staff, Monterey County Supervisor John Phillips

Thomas Truszkowski, Deputy City Manager & Community, Development Director, City of Gonzales

Sarah Wood, Editor and Publisher, Edible Magazine of Monterey Bay

 

Grower-Shipper Association Foundation: www.growerahipperfoundation.org

The Grower-Shipper Association Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and educate about the health, social and cultural benefits of agriculture to the community and society as a whole.

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