During the Produce Marketing Association's (PMA) 2005 Fresh Summit International Convention and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, US, the 2005-2006 PMA board of directors took office, with a female chairman for the first time.

Chairman of the board Janet Erickson, executive vice president, purchasing and quality assurance, Del Taco, is joined by three other officers and 21 directors.

PMA’s president, Bryan Silbermann said: “We are delighted to welcome PMA’s first female chairman of the board, Janet Erickson, to lead the 2005-06 board of directors. Her insight, dedication and enthusiasm combined with her background in foodservice will help guide PMA through a year in which we expect to make a number of innovations that our members will value highly. She’s already shown her leadership qualities in five years of service on the PMA Board and is a very popular leader.”

The officers include chairman-elect Peter Goulet, director of merchandising strategy, Hannaford Bros; secretary/treasurer Bruce Taylor, chairman and ceo, Taylor Farms California; and chairman of the executive committee Steve Junqueiro, vice president of operations, Save Mart Supermarkets. Other directors of the association include:

•Retail Division chairman Dave Corsi, vice president of produce and floral operations, Wegmans Food Markets

•Foodservice chairman Gene Harris, senior purchasing manager, Denny's Corporation

•John Anderson, chairman, president and ceo, The Oppenheimer Group

•Anthony Barbieri, director of produce, Acme Markets (Division of Albertsons)

•Leonard Batti, vice president of production and processing, NewStar Fresh Foods

•Craig Carlson, vice president of produce and floral, Pathmark Stores

•Mike Cavallero, president, North America Tropical Fresh Fruit, Dole Fresh Fruit Company

•Daniel Crimmins, purchasing manager, University of Notre Dame

•Bud Floyd, vice president, CH Robinson Worldwide

•David Gill, partner, Gills Onions

•Don Harris, vice president of produce and floral, Wild Oats Markets

•Danie Kieviet, director, FreshWorld (Pty) Ltd

•Lisa McNeece, vice president, foodservice and industrial sales, Grimmway Farms

•Tip Murphy, vice president of sales, Chiquita Fresh North America

•Francisco Obregon, president, Obregon and Associates

•Michael O’Brien, vice president of produce, Schnuck Markets

•Jeff Patterson, assistant vice president, BJ’s Wholesale Club

•Rob Robson, ceo, OneHarvest, Carole Park

•Norman Saville, president, Produce Source Partners

•William Schuler, president and ceo, Castellini Company

•Mike Weber, vice president of operations, East, Golden Corral Corporation

PMA president Bryan Silbermann, CAE, serves on the board in an ex-officio capacity. The PMA executive committee consists of Junqueiro, Erickson, Goulet, Taylor, Floyd, Schuler, and Silbermann.