Potatoes USA, the national marketing, research and promotion board for the potato industry, says Shelley Olsen was elected as board chair at its annual meeting. The organization also announced its 2024-25 executive committee members.
This is the seventh year that the Othello, Wash.-based Olsen has served on Potato USA’s board and her fourth year on the executive committee, according to a news release. She previously co-chaired the board’s industry outreach and international marketing committees.
“It’s such an honor for my peers to believe in me and to be able to walk in the steps of some of the great people who have led our industry for decades,” Olsen said in the release. “I’m looking forward to sharing the message across our industry about the work that Potatoes USA is doing.”
She added that she looks forward to streamlining Potatoes USA’s board.
“It’s great to see the Potatoes USA board evolve to become more dynamic,” Olsen said. “Every board member now has a seat on a committee and an opportunity to be really involved. I’ve loved seeing how much board members are buying into this new approach.”
Olsen said she’s also looking forward to integrating artificial intelligence into Potatoes USA’s Culinary Medicine Program, which helps people learn how to incorporate high-quality food into a healthy lifestyle.
Olsen also serves on the Washington State Potato Commission’s Marketing and Industry Affairs Committee and is the former chair of the Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation, or Potato LEAF, board. She is also a 2015 Potato Industry Leadership Institute graduate.
Olsen’s family-owned companies have three generations working together on the business that grows potatoes for frozen processing, including her husband Chris, who has served on Potatoes USA board; her in-laws, Lynn and Marthann; her two sons, Owen and Connor; and Connor’s wife, Kaitlyn.
“It’s a unique opportunity to work with my family every day, and I love watching my adult children have great new ideas they go out and implement,” Olsen said. “We’re also overjoyed to welcome our first fourth-generation family member.”
The executive committee includes:
- Wendy Dykstra of Friesland, Wis., chair of the finance and policy committee.
- Trever Belnap of Hamer, Idaho, co-chair of the production research committee.
- Dave Masser of Sacramento, Pa., co-chair of the production research committee.
- Ed Staunton of Tulelake, Calif., chair of the culinary committee.
- Steve Elfering of Meridian, Idaho, chair of the communications committee.
- Hunter Gibbs of Swan Quarter, N.C., chair of the nutrition and health committee.
- Les Alderete of Monte Vista, Colo., chair of the market development: consumer committee.
- Dennis Wright of Kennewick, Wash., chair of the market development: foodservice committee.
- Leah Halverson of Grand Forks, N.D., chair of the market development: retail committee.
- Mike Carter of Rosholt, Wis., immediate past chair.
