Aug 13, 2024Potatoes USA board elects new chair
Potatoes USA has elected Shelley Olsen its new board chair and selected executive committee members for 2024-2025.
Olsen, of Othello, Washington, has served on the board for seven years and on the executive committee for four. She previously chaired the board’s industry outreach and international marketing committees.
“It’s such an honor for my peers to believe in me and to be able to walk in the steps of some of the great people who have led our industry for decades,” Olsen said in a news release. “I’m looking forward to sharing the message across our industry about the work that Potatoes USA is doing.”
Olsen also serves on the Washington State Potato Commission’s marketing and industry affairs committee, and she is the former chair of the Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) board. She is a 2015 Potato Industry Leadership Institute graduate.
Olsen’s family-owned companies have three generations working together, including her husband, Chris, who previously served on the Potatoes USA board. Their focus is on growing potatoes for frozen processing.
“I’m also really excited about some of the innovative initiatives at Potatoes USA, like using artificial intelligence to support reputation management and the Culinary Medicine Program, which helps people learn about how high-quality food can be part of a healthy lifestyle,” Olsen said.
Potatoes USA’s 2024-2025 executive committee members:
- Wendy Dykstra of Friesland, Wisconsin, chair of the finance & policy committee.
- Trever Belnap of Hamer, Idaho, co-chair of the production research committee.
- Dave Masser of Sacramento, Pennsylvania, co-chair of the production research committee.
- Ed Staunton of Tulelake, California, chair of the culinary committee.
- Steve Elfering of Meridian, Idaho, chair of the communications committee.
- Hunter Gibbs of Swan Quarter, North Carolina, chair of the nutrition and health committee.
- Les Alderete of Monte Vista, Colorado, chair of the market development: consumer committee.
- Dennis Wright of Kennewick, Washington, chair of the market development: foodservice committee.
- Leah Halverson of Grand Forks, North Dakota, chair of the market development: retail committee.
- Mike Carter of Rosholt, Wisconsin, immediate past chair.
Established in 1971, Potatoes USA is the national marketing and promotion board representing U.S. growers and importers.
