Gary Pasquinelli, Pasquinelli Produce, Yuma, AZ Former WG Chairman of the Board “I met Tom Nassif in 1971, during the contentious labor battles in the Yuma area. I’ve always said we got a ‘twofer’ when we hired Tom. Western Growers always had someone running the insurance side and a different leader for the association side. Tom did both. He shattered that myth. “I’m not sure we knew when he was hired the degree of professionalism he would bring to the job. We knew we had a good man, but the skill set he possesses might have been a bit of a surprise. His commitment to the job and his integrity is unmatched. I think he can sell ice to Eskimos, but he is as polished as anyone in agriculture. As you can see I am the self- appointed president of the Tom Nassif Fan Club. He has set the bar very high and it is going to be very difficult to replace him.” Vic Smith, J.V Smith Companies, Yuma, AZ Former WG Chairman of the Board “I first met Tom shortly after he was hired (at Western Growers in 2002) when
issues important to the membership. “Since the establishment of Western Growers in 1926, there has not been a president that has left such an indelible mark on the association as Tom has. He was the right man at the right time for the challenges of the position of president. He has been true to the mission to enhance the profitability and competitiveness of the members, and Western Growers is a better place for his dedicated service.” Mike Stuart, Former president of Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association “I met Tom in 1979 in the middle of the Imperial Valley labor issues when I was working for Western Growers, but I didn’t really get to know him until after he was named president of WGA. “Both Tom and I realized that FFVA and WGA had a very good relationship and we wanted to continue that. We had many shared members and had the same vision with few differences. And we didn’t let those few differences get in the way of working together. We agreed to attend each other’s conventions when we could. Over the years we became very good friends and have had
a very good relationship. Neither of us shy away from differences when they arise and I believe we both respect that in the other. Tom is a very assertive individual. I think it is his basic personality and a result of his legal training. “As a former employee of Western Growers, I am very familiar with where the organization was when Tom came aboard. It needed new leadership. Tom was an outstanding selection. He was the right person for the right job. He came in and did what had to be done. “As far as working with him is concerned, a couple of things stand out… one was the partnership we formed, along with others, to create the Specialty Crop Alliance for the Farm Bill. Second, was the effort he put forth when we were negotiating immigration reform in the winter and spring of 2013 with the Senate and Californa’s Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Tom’s leadership was extremely helpful in putting together the agreement. His skills as a labor negotiator were very much in evidence. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get that legislation past the finish line but it was a heck of an effort.”
from left: Dennis Nuxoll, Tom Nassif and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
8 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com JULY | AUGUST 2019
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