Jan 10, 2006Offices To Relocate To Salt Lake City
UNITED Potato Growers of America has hired Julia E. Cissel as CEO. Cissel takes over from interim CEO Jerry Wright, who led the co-op since its inception in March 2005.
Wright will now focus his efforts in leading the UNITED Potato Growers of Idaho. Part of his role in Idaho will be to ensure that the Idaho co-op works closely with the new national office.
The UNITED co-op system has grown so fast across North America, and there are so many exciting programs being planned and implemented that it is now time to move to the next level,” said Jerry Wright. “A separation of the Idaho and national offices has been planned from the beginning. The fact a national CEO has been hired after only nine months is testimony of the rapid growth and acceptance of the new co-op.”
One of Cissel’s first tasks will be to locate and set up an office in Salt Lake City for UNITED of America. Salt Lake provides easy access for board members from all major potato growing regions via the Salt Lake International Airport, and is where many UNITED of America board meetings are held, to be near UNITED’S legal council, Randon Wilson. Cissel will spend much of her time traveling to the various UNITED Cooperatives to learn the industry and plan the steps for implementing the strategic plan the UNITED board has outlined.
As the new CEO, Cissel brings more 20 years of expertise in designing strategies, business ventures and products for domestic and international markets. She has experience in marketing and brand management, field sales and supply chain functions. Cissel spent more than 12 years at Monsanto, working closely with growers, retailers, and other industry partners.”
