Meet the 2010/2011 Almond Board Leaders

Serving on the Board of Directors for the Almond Board of California takes time, dedication to the California Almond industry, and strong leadership and people skills. The newly elected 2010 Board of Directors meets all of these requirements. The almond industry let its voices be heard as they voted to fill Board vacancies with the following industry members:

INDEPENDENT GROWER
Member Position One (one year term):
Mike Mason, Wasco

Alternate Position One (one year term):
Brad Klump, Escalon

Member Position Two (three year term):
Bill Harp, Bakersfield

Alternate Position Two:
Brian Wahlbrink, Denair

INDEPENDENT HANDLER
Member Position Three (one year term):
Keith Rigg, LeGrand

Alternate Position Three:
Dean Nelson, Kerman

COOPERATIVE HANDLER
Member (three year term):
Dave Baker, Modesto

Alternate:
John O'Shaughnessy, Sacramento

These new Board members join
returning Board members:

INDEPENDENT GROWER
Scott Hunter, Atwater

INDEPENDENT HANDLER
Dave Phippen, Manteca
Christine Long, Ballico

COOPERATIVE GROWER
John Thoming, Tracy
Bill Brush, Modesto

COOPERATIVE HANDLER
Doug Youngdahl, Sacramento

On Mar. 1, 2010, the election terms for the members of the BOD at the Almond Board of California were approved by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

Board members serve without compensation, and the nature of their service is made evident in these comments from two Board members. When asked why he volunteers, Dave Phippen says, "Our family farm has everything vested in the almond industry. What better place to invest our time. And what better opportunity to learn what the agency is doing on our behalf and how we might help with that."

Dave's vision for the Board is, "To continue with the agency direction of creating more demand for California Almonds all around the globe. And to always be the most proactive commodity group in agriculture in regards to promotion and food safety." Christine Long added her thoughts on industry direction, "Using our global marketing strategic framework, the Almond Board of California will keep positioning almonds as a crop of choice and the nut of choice for our industry and customers." Congratulations to all of these new and returning Board members.