Citrus industry warrior Joel Nelsen will work through the end of 2019, helping Exeter, Calif.-based California Citrus Mutual usher in a new era of leadership under Casey Creamer.
Creamer, the group’s current executive vice president since about a year ago, will assume the role of CEO in February. Nelsen will be retained as senior strategist/past president, he said, and will narrow his responsibilities over the course of the year.
Nelsen wrote a letter to California Citrus Mutual members explaining his new role and expressing thanks for 37 years with the group.
Nelsen said the staff of CCM grew from two people when he started to eight today, along with public relations representation in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, Calif.
“We (announced the transition) Jan. 23 at the board meeting, and it was emotional for me,” Nelsen said Jan. 28.
The transition plan has been in place with the executive committee of CCM for a couple of years, he said.
“We put a plan together because you don’t want to leave the organization in a situation where it’s training rookies, and you don’t want to leave the organization where it stumbles and loses some of the energy and credibility it has,” he said.
Creamer has done everything the board has asked of him and understands grower issues, revenue issues, state regulatory issues and will be a quick study on federal issues, Nelsen said.
“Everything is going good, so why not slow down now? So my portfolio gets narrowed,” he said.
Nelsen said he will focus on technical issues on behalf of the industry and will continue to travel to Washington, D.C., to lobby for industry issues such as supporting efforts to fight against huanglongbing (HLB)/Asian citrus psyllids and advancing immigration reform efforts.
“With the administration change here (California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom took office Jan. 7) it made sense to make the move now because for me to try to build a relationship with new people and then be gone — that was futile. So let’s get the new team up front,” he said.
In his letter to members, Nelsen said he will always be a part of the industry.
“And rather than spending all my time at the desk, or on a plane, or driving 99, 126, and 10, I will be out and about with you reminiscing and listening,” he said. “I have two goals now. One is to slow down somewhat and the second is to support the efforts of your board and staff to carry CCM to a higher level than ever before on your behalf.”
