Civil War. What better leaders to emulate? Similarly, one of our greatest assets as an association is the strength of our board; we have talented men and women who set aside their personal interests to serve as dedicated advocates for our industry and faithful stewards of our members’ resources. Make no mistake, we are fighting a war. Everyday, we go into battle against adversaries who seek to restrict, eliminate even, our ability to operate at a profit. Without the collective engagement of the generals on our board, success would be elusive for Western Growers and the fresh produce industry. Beyond the service of our board members, Western Growers has been blessed with the visionary leadership of a number of five-star generals, our board chairs. Ninety-four individuals have taken up the mantle since the founding of our association, each one standing on the shoulders of the giants who have come before them. Over the years, our chairmen have helped to chart the course of our association and deserve to be recognized for their unique contributions. In particular, I owe a debt of gratitude to each of the 18 chairmen I have worked with as president & CEO, all of whom I hold in the highest professional regard, many of whom I call close personal friends.
This atmosphere of respect and camaraderie defines the Western Growers family, which is what we are at the end of the day, part of the same family. Our membership is made up of family businesses, and our mission at Western Growers is to help our members pass their farming legacies down to the next generation. Here is where my optimism comes in. Nothing is more inspiring than to observe the pool of talented young family members rising through the ranks of our member companies. Nine years ago, we set out to identify the next generation of leaders in our membership and prepare them for potential service on the board. Now, six graduates of our Future Volunteer Leaders Program sit on the board, in addition to several other “next generation” board members. The fresh perspectives these younger board members bring to the table will ensure that our association stays ahead of the curve and our members remain competitive and profitable for years to come. I still don’t know if I have an answer to the question of how to measure a career. But I do know for certain that the state of our association is strong and the future of our industry is in good hands, which gives me great satisfaction and comfort as I turn over the reins at Western Growers.
6 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2019
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