“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand."
The Almond Board of California is proud to announce the Almond Leadership Program Class of 2020. This week, the class took part in a two-day orientation at the Almond Board office in Modesto.
Thus stated 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, during his speech to students at Swarthmore College in 1913. In his statement he challenged the students to look beyond themselves by endeavoring into the world to seek opportunities to create change and better the lives of others.
Woodrow’s charge remains relevant today as the Almond Board of California (ABC) recently selected 17 members to its Almond Leadership Program Class of 2020. These promising individuals represent diverse backgrounds across multiple industries, from almond growers to handlers, sales representatives to regulatory consultants, researchers to pest control advisors, and more. Each participant will spend the next year growing in their roles as the future generation of California almond industry leaders, learning from volunteer mentors who will help equip them with the knowledge and experience necessary to improve their leadership skills, the industry and their communities.
"Every incoming Almond Leadership class exemplifies common themes: dedication to the industry and pure excitement about the future. What’s unique about this class is how many participants are directly tied to the growing side of almond production. There is a true, organic passion from these individuals to see our industry flourish and to be a strong, contributing force to that success” said Jenny Nicolau, senior manager of Industry Relations and Communications.
Bayer Crop Science is the sponsor of the 2020 class.
As a kickoff to the program, Leadership class members participated in a two-day orientation this past week, which included an address from ABC President and CEO Richard Waycott and Chair of the Board of Directors Holly King. Waycott and King highlighted the Almond Orchard 2025 Goals and the almond community’s roadmap to achieving them, which are cornerstones of this year’s Almond Leadership Program.
Members of the Almond Leadership Program Class of 2020 are as follows:
- Nicole Assali – California Grown Nut Company
- Jason Bayer – Exact Corp
- Michelle Brasil – Olan Farming
- Steve Dail – T.A.D. Farming, Inc.
- Jason DeGraff – Mid Valley Ag Services
- Angad Dhadda – Dhadda Farms
- Stephen Dotta – Poythress Farms
- Eric Lahargou – Campos Brothers Farms
- Daniel Lawson – Treehouse Almonds
- Kyle McClintock – IB Farming/San Joaquin Fertilizer
- Chris McGlothlin – Western Agricultural Processors Association
- Michael Navarrete – Protect Your Nuts
- Nathaniel Roberts – Wonderful Orchards
- Justin Rose – Redox Chemicals, LLC
- Raj Samran – Samran Sons & Farming Co., Inc.
- Haley Seeger – Blue Diamond Growers
- Mathew Wilson – Bayer Crop Science
Participants in the Almond Leadership Program will meet at least twelve times throughout the upcoming calendar year to complete specialized training in a wide variety of topic areas, many of which are tied to ABC activities in marketing, trade stewardship, scientific research, food safety and more.
Stay tuned for future articles from the Almond Board on the participants’ experiences throughout the year.
