The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council has announced its first cohort of fellows accepted into the group’s Blueberry Industry Leadership Program.
The program, launched in March, is designed to elevate up-and-coming leaders in the blueberry industry by providing in-depth training, industry education and connection to other ag leaders for passionate blueberry professionals across the supply chain, according to a news release.
Individuals selected as inaugural fellows in the program are:
- Christina Butler, director of Northwest and New Jersey business units, MBG Marketing
- Gonzalo de Elizalde, blueberry product leadership senior director, Driscoll’s
- Ernesto Diaz, director of operations, Berry Brothers
- Anna Jesse, vice president, Forest Hills Farms Inc.
- Karan Kohli, account manager, Mastronardi Produce
- Scott Mainord, Southeast regional sales manager, WECO
- Luke McCreesh, North American blueberry operations manager, California Giant Berry Farms
- Jennifer Pulcipher, director of food safety and compliance, North Bay Produce Inc.
- Darren Sinn, Northwest business manager, Berry Fresh LLC
- Micah Weiss, sales and grower support, Fall Creek Farm & Nursery Inc.
The Blueberry Industry Leadership Program is the first of its kind in the blueberry industry and will help fellows grow their leadership skill set, learn from decades-long industry leaders and develop their network of connections, according to the release.
Fellows will participate both virtually and in person, traveling four times over the course of the curriculum through August 2023, with a graduation ceremony taking place at the 2023 USHBC fall meetings, the release said.
The second group of fellows to enter the program will be selected in the fall of 2023.
