Lungren’s run for governor in 1998. That’s when I knew I had really been through the wringer and that my experience working all these campaigns had aged me far beyond my youth,” said Puglia. In fact, those were some of the most trying times in Puglia’s career. He was tapped to run Lungren’s gubernatorial campaign in late 1997, a major shift from the team’s initial plan that he serve as communications director. He had been intimately involved in three statewide campaigns prior, but spearheading a gubernatorial campaign in the most populated state in the country was a whole new ballgame. Puglia took on the challenge of running a $45 million campaign and a staff of 60, while also handling political reporters and editors – all the while managing the candidate. Though the campaign resulted in a loss, Puglia counts it among his most valuable professional experiences. “In any political campaign, you go from crisis to crisis while trying to stay on a longer strategic plan,” says Puglia. “You can learn an incredible amount about this business, about other people, and about yourself, if you can be objective in victory and even more so in defeat.” Puglia joined WG as Arnold Schwarzenegger was in his second year as Governor. In 2007, Schwarzenegger began shaping a multi-facetted legislative package around water policy, and Puglia saw an opportunity for WG to be involved in the development of the legislation. At the time, WG had not been heavily involved in water policy for nearly 25 years. The failure of the Peripheral Canal Act in 1982 had severely divided the ag industry, and WG had largely withdrawn from the field. “I couldn’t believe it,” Puglia said. “Farmers need water, and water policy is going to be made with or without us. That was the moment where I felt very strongly that there was no point being an advocate for this industry without advocating on water policy so I jumped in with Governor Schwarzenegger’s team, knowing that I needed to get smart on water policy really fast.” Puglia, who now had a seat at the table to shape elements of the Schwarzenegger water package, started educating himself by engaging with water experts throughout the state, water agencies and WG board members who had historical knowledge on water project operations and allocations. He worked closely with the
governor and his team to help put forth an $11 billion water bond, which was approved by the Legislature along with five other bills in 2009. It marked the first time since the State Water Project’s initial bond was passed in 1959 that the Legislature approved significant bond funding for surface water projects. Just over 10 years later, and 15 years since joining WG, Puglia now has his hands at the helm. As he begins to chart his course, and by extension the future of the industry, he is reminded of the lessons he learned many years ago in his youth. “My father’s integrity, patience and determination are characteristics that I always admired. Not only do I try to instill those traits in my sons, but I try to live by those values every single day,” Puglia states with conviction. Family is central to Puglia’s life; he is quick to share the latest updates about his twin sons, Ben and Nick, who are attending college. An expert lifelong skier, Puglia relishes every opportunity to ski the mountains of Utah and Colorado with them. Home in Orange County, he and wife Lezlie enjoy friendly pickle ball matches with friends and highly competitive tennis matches with each other (Lezlie has racked up an impressive match win streak, according to Dave, though he won’t say how many). There is little doubt—among the board of directors who unanimously selected Puglia to succeed Nassif, among the WG staff who have admired his professionalism from day one, among his colleagues in the industry and partners in allied industries, among his extensive local and national political network—that these qualities, imparted by his father, have laid the foundation for what will be an incredible tenure as WG’s “chief advocate.” The threats facing the fresh produce industry will only accelerate in the coming decades, and taken together will challenge the continued competitiveness and profitability of WG member companies. Our success as an industry will be measured by our collective ability to pass our family farming operations on to the next generation. In part, this will require the enduring strength of trade associations like WG to act as a common voice, and the vision of extraordinary leaders like Dave Puglia to guide the industry forward, a task that he is both prepared for and passionate about.
Puglia with his wife, Lezlie, and sons, Nick and Ben, in 2005 when he first started at Western Growers and in 2016 during a family outing.
14 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2020
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