A Look at WG Employee Champions Inside Western Growers
Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico. Western Growers provides a lobbying voice in state and federal government, affordable health benefits, technology and innovation development, transportation solutions, legal and human resources guidance and more. Behind the association are more than 400 employees who are dedicated to serving America’s food heroes; here is an inside look at two of Western Growers’ champions.
Shoon Phyo Digital Marketing Specialist Do you have a favorite WG memory? I was very fortunate to be voted Marketing MVP for
Edward Garcia Learning and Development Specialist Do you have a favorite WG memory?
Accepting the Learning and Development Specialist position. Do you have a work accomplishment that you are proud of? Being selected as the Employee Choice Award recipient has been one of the best accomplishments by far. It was really unexpected. Do you have a passion or hobby? I am a musician and I love music! I can just sit here, listen and play different genres of music. All genres have something special! Do you have a favorite quote or motto you live by? A favorite would be this, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” —Wayne Dyer What’s something most people don’t know about you (special talent, unique interest)? People never believe my wife when she says I am a better cook! I love to cook. What’s your favorite movie/tv show/song/book? I love movies and can’t pick a favorite. The Office, Friends, How I Met your Mother and Criminal Minds are some of my favorite shows. I don’t have a favorite song, I just love music and The Bible is an all-time favorite! Holes , The Art of War and Harry Potter also top the charts.
2022, which came with an extremely large and surprisingly heavy trophy. Do you have a work accomplishment that you are proud of? My team and I recently supported a webinar for the Child Care Providers United Health Care Fund—with over 1,000 attendees! Do you have a passion or hobby? My houseplant collection has been steadily increasing ever since I bought a Monstera deliciosa three years ago. My goal this year is to have an herb garden on my patio! Do you have a favorite quote or motto you live by? Don’t schedule meetings on Friday afternoons. What’s something most people don’t know about you (special talent, unique interest)? I went to school for animation and am proficient in motion graphics! My favorite animators are Ivan Ivanov-Vano and Masaaki Yuasa. What’s your favorite movie/tv show/song/book? P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves books are my comfort series—absurdly charming with a healthy dose of shenanigans. The entirety of the director’s cut of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is an essential movie day experience. Do you have a favorite place where you have traveled? I once visited Mogok, a town in Myanmar famous for their ruby mines. It was a wonderful experience and the food from the night markets are second to none.
Do you have a favorite sports team? Raiders! There’s always next year…
Do you have a favorite place where you have traveled? So far, Miami has been a favorite in the U.S., and Ensenada in
Mexico, but I am still in the middle of traveling to and experiencing a lot of new places. Do you have a connection to agriculture? Growing up I saw my parents work hard out in the fields from tying vines to picking oranges to be able to provide for us, I have also been able to experience that hard work and hats off to everyone who does it!
Editor’s Note: Shoon and Edward were recently honored as recipients of the Employees’ Choice Award, a WG program where employees select and honor fellow team members for their exemplary work and embodiment of the outward mindset.
MARCH | APRIL 2023
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Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com
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