Nina Brooks, who started working in her family produce business at 16, is continuing in the footsteps of her great grandfather as a produce industry innovator and fourth generation H. Brooks and Company leader.  The company was founded by Harry Brooks in 1905 with a horse and wagon cart.  Nina’s depth of knowledge of and first-hand experience working with growers, as well as her impressive level of expertise, has been vital to helping grow the more than century-old company. Resourceful, technology-savvy and a consummate problem-solver, Nina works in the areas of sales, marketing, food safety and process improvement.  Nina holds two B.A. degrees - one in business management and the other in sociology.

Chalmers Carr is the owner and operator of Titan Farms, South Carolina's largest commercial peach operations, located in Ridge Spring. Titan currently grows over 4,000 acres of peaches and 250 acres of bell peppers in both the spring and fall utilizing the H2-A temporary labor visa program.  One of the most technologically advanced farming operations in the southeast, Titan provides complete traceability from field to store.  Chalmers is a 1990 graduate of Clemson University where he received a bachelor's of science degree in agricultural economics. 

Michael Connors is fortunate to be a member of the 3rd generation of his family business.  He has been involved in the potato, onion and apple industry full time for the past 18 years.  After graduating from Seattle University, Michael pursued a career in the TV News industry, producing the weekend and morning news for the Seattle CBS affiliate before deciding to return to agriculture.  After that, he went to work for Green Giant Fresh in Idaho Falls, which helped broaden his understanding of the potato industry.  When he returned to Skone & Connors/Basin Gold in 1996, he became the sales manager of Basin Gold and a partner in Skone & Connors.  Michael and his wife, April, have 4 children: Katy, Darline, Maya, and Jack.

Tony Fazio is a fourth-generation family business owner/partner of Fazio Marketing, Inc./Tri-Boro Fruit Co., Inc., specializing in table grapes and wine grapes from Central California.  He is the President and General Manager of the company and is responsible for all aspects of operations including, farming, sales, labor, real estate, finance, and regulatory compliance.  Tony is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing and is a licensed California Real Estate Broker.  He currently serves as a Commissioner for the California Table Grape Commission and is a past Chairman of The California Grape & Tree Fruit League.  Tony is also active in community organizations and leadership at College Community Congregational Church.

Emily Fragoso is the Marketing Manager for Coast Produce Company, a full service wholesale distributor in the produce industry.  She has been with Coast Produce for two years and she oversees the entire Coast Produce brand, and has been instrumental in developing comprehensive marketing programs.  Emily is on the Board of Directors for United Fresh and has also served on the Wholesale-Distributor Board, Retail Produce Manager Awards Program Advisory Committee, and currently serves on the Member Relations Task Force.  In 2007, Emily was honored as a Produce Business as one of the top "40 Under 40."  Emily graduated with a BA from California State University, Fullerton in 2001 majoring in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. Emily completed a Master degree in American Studies in May 2006 at CSUF.  Emily is married and resides in Orange, California.  

Mike George started his career working in his family-owned restaurant in Chester, Maryland while attending college.  After the restaurant sold, he accepted a job as a Territory Manager for foodservice distributor, Mazo-Lerch, where he won a produce sales contest that awarded him a trip to Salinas California and introduced him to the fast pace and excitement of the produce industry.  After four years at Mazo-Lerch, he took a position with Coastal Sunbelt Produce Company and within three years was asked to lead their newly created processing facility, East Coast Fresh Cuts, in the role as Managing Partner.  In 2002, he joined Taylor Farms at their new facility in Annapolis Junction Maryland where he currently holds the position of Sales Manager.

Gretchen Kreidler, a native of South Texas started her career in the produce industry after graduating from Texas A&M University’s College of Geosciences with a bachelor’s of science degree in earth sciences.  She worked as a merchandising representative for TexaSweet Citrus Marketing in Mission, Texas promoting Texas citrus across the U.S.  She then accepted a marketing position with Standard Fruit & Vegetable in Dallas, Texas.  In July of 2002, the decision to work in her family business, Kreidler Funeral Home, brought Gretchen back to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.  While very dedicated to the family business, her heart remained with the produce industry and in September 2008, she returned to the produce industry to handle marketing and public relations for Rio Queen Citrus in Mission, Texas. 

Nick Mascari is the New Business Development at Indianapolis Fruit Company in Indianapolis, IN. Nick is a member of the fourth generation working at Indianapolis Fruit Companyâ€"a family owned & operated business since 1947, with multiple generations dedicated to education, customer service, and advancement in the produce industry.  Soon after he graduated from Indiana University in Indianapolis, Nick went to work for Dole Fresh Fruit in Westlake, CA as a technical service and marketing representative. After Dole, he accepted a job with Chiquita Fresh North America in Indianapolis as a Ripening Specialist. Nick is currently taking courses at Ball State University in Muncie, IN, toward his master's degree in business administration.  In 2009, Nick was one of the recipients of the Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business scholarship and he is also currently on the United Fresh New Member committee.

Jerry Moran, a native of Watsonville, California, has been the Bush Berry Category Manager for California Giant Berry Farms since 2007, a new position created within the company.  In this role he manages the domestic and international sales of company grown blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.  Prior to working for Cal Giant, he worked for Driscoll’s in sales since 2002.  Jerry obtained his bachelor’s of science degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in ag business with a concentration in marketing.  He has recently been accepted into the M.B.A. program at Santa Clara University.  

Bryan Tate is the corporate category buyer for Associated Wholesale Grocers based in Kansas City, Kansas.  Associated Wholesale Grocers is a retailer-owned cooperative serving its 2,500+ member stores through eight distribution centers in 24 states with fresh produce, as well as grocery, fresh meat, specialty foods, health care, and general merchandise.  Prior to joining AWG in 2005, Bryan spent ten years with the Kroger Company in various positions throughout the retail operations of the Dillon Stores Division.  In addition to a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Bryan earned his MBA from Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas.

Dan Vena is a fourth generation family employee of John Vena, Inc., located in Philadelphia.  John Vena is a distributor of specialty produce and was founded over 90 years ago by Dan’s great-grandfather.  Working Sundays, holidays, and summers for the firm while he was attending high school and college gave Dan a good foundation in the produce industry and business in general.  After graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration from The University of Richmond in 2002, Dan took a position with a computer leasing company in Richmond, VA.  One year later, he accepted an offer to join John Vena, Inc. on a full time basis.  Since then he has worked in all facets of the business from the loading dock to sales and buying.  Dan also served as chairman of the company committee charged with searching for new information technology solutions and website development.  Currently Dan serves as the team leader for national foodservice and retail customer development and service.  Dan and his wife reside in Philadelphia.

Gary York joined C.H. Robinson Worldwide's New York City office in 1992 where he was a sales representative focusing on produce transportation until moving to Philadelphia in 2001 to manage perishable transportation services for C.H. Robinson’s Northeast Region.  In January of 2006, Gary moved again with his wife Victoria, this time to the west coast opening an office in Monterey, California.  Today he manages four offices across the U.S. focusing primarily on providing transportation services to the grower-shipper community advising them on supply chain challenges and working with them on sustainability issues including reducing carbon footprint.