FPFC chooses twelve for 2018 apprentice program
The Fresh Produce and Floral Council, Anaheim, Calif., has named twelve participants to the 2018 FPFC Apprentice Program.
Selected by the council’s apprentice program task force and the board of directors, participants start the program this month and finish it in January 2019, with a recognition ceremony at FPFC’s annual dinner dance, according to a news release.
The twelve participants are employees of FPFC member companies:
- Sean Barganski, Progressive Produce LLC
- Cote Clark, LA Produce Distributors
- Audrey Dunne, Apio Inc.
- Jon Heywood, Dimetri Gardikas Produce Co.
- Jennifer Ho, General Produce Co.
- Victoria McGregor, Bonduelle Fresh Americas/Ready Pac Foods
- Paula Rae Metheny, Frieda’s Inc.
- Myisha Nathaniel, Raley’s Supermarkets
- Michael Poore, Grocery Outlet
- Vanessa Romero, QSI LLC
- Megan Stallings, San Miguel Produce
- Laura Sterling, Zespri Kiwifruit
“The selection process was extremely challenging for the committee,” said apprentice program task force chairwoman Kristen Reid of MIXTEC Group in the release. “All of the applicants this year were incredible.”
One program change this year was removing a previous requirement that applicants have seven or fewer years of experience. “Removing the limit has yielded a very diverse group who we think will learn not just from the program, but also from each other,” Reid said in the release.
The program is sponsored by Dennis Gertmenian, founder and retired CEO of Ready Pac Foods and Bonduelle Fresh Americas/Ready Pac Foods, and is designed to prepare participants for leadership roles in their companies and in the industry, according to the release.
Program components include education sessions, facility and field tours, group and team-building projects and an assigned mentor to guide participants and facilitate introductions at networking events.
“The fact that we saw applicants from several companies that have sent candidates every year since the program started demonstrates the value these companies are seeing in the program,” Reid said. “And word has definitely gotten out — we saw lots of new companies applying, as well.”
