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SHARESE ROPER, 38
Events & Education Manager Produce For Better Health Foundation
HQ: Brentwood, MO
Hobbies: Spending time with family, home improvement projects Personal/Community: Married, two girls, working on M.B.A. in organizational leadership Motto in life: Enjoy every moment, even when it sucks.
Work history: Working out of New Castle, DE, Roper is the architect of Produce for Better Health Foundation’s (PBH) events and education platforms. She is responsible for reimagining how the organization delivers all-encompassing experiences that unite the produce industry with consumer influencers. Over her 14-year tenure at PBH, she has leveraged her passion for planning, project management and technology to streamline and elevate PBH programs and processes in several management roles, including oper- ations, HR, information technology and events. She developed and implemented an operational excellence plan that saved the Foundation nearly $100,000 annually, freeing up these resources for consum- er-focused programs and the development of PBH’s new consumer call-to-action. She transformed PBH’s annual conference spon- sorship model with new opportunities that offer product and brand exposure with PBH’s large consumer audience, while focusing on the diverse and unique needs of the produce industry. She has enhanced PBH’s indus- try-facing communications with creative writing skills and techniques that embrace a spirit of transparency and service.
Q: How did you begin working in the produce industry?
Honestly, I stumbled upon the produce industry at the recommendation of a place- ment agency while looking for work. They introduced me to PBH as a potential asset, and the team hired me on the spot almost
14 years ago. I’ve been there ever since. As a promotional non-profit, PBH’s business structure is unique by comparison, so it took a few years before I really felt a part of the produce industry.
Q: What do you know now you wish you knew when you first started your career?
I wish I knew more about produce as a cate- gory, and the unique challenges. Produce operations and marketing are different from meat, dairy and other commodity categories.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
My proudest achievement just happened at our recent Consumer Connection Confer- ence. I played an active role in launching our new consumer call-to-action, “Have A Plant.” We unveiled the brand during our annual conference, and I was excited to bring this new inspirational brand to life in a meaningful and memorable way. To provide the ultimate launch pad, we reimagined the entire event — from future-focused education to top-notch engagement, on and offline. Working with the hotel culi- nary team and sponsors, we created a fully customized produce-centric menu to high- light the approachability and cravability of fruits and vegetables.
Q: How has the industry changed during your tenure?
I started with PBH 14 years ago when I was 25, and change has been constant in everything around me. The 2008 recession pushed a wave of change in our industry, and that was the first time I became aware of the direct connection between consumer purchasing behavior, retail operations and agricultural processes. PBH saw a significant reduction in membership, which directly affected our programs and budgets. It was shocking to see so much change in only few short years. Most recently, we have seen a good amount of mergers and acquisitions that condensed the industry, and I think this will continue over the next few years.
Q: What has shocked or surprised you about the produce industry?
The produce industry is network-driven. I am always surprised to see someone’s bio, and see that they worked at several produce companies during their career. Once someone gets into this business, they tend to stay, which is a good thing.
KIMBERLY SAMUELSON DAVIS, 39
Director, Human Resources
Naturipe Farms HQ: Estero, FL
Hometown:
Hobbies: Music, reading, yoga/pilates Family/Personal: Married, two sons Motto in life: Drive with purpose.
Work history: Samuelson Davis came to Naturipe Farms in 2008 during a critical growth phase. At that time, all HR functions had been outsourced to a PEO (professional employer organization) for several years before Naturipe decided to bring human resources in-house. Samuelson Davis was hired four days before the first in-house payroll and tasked with establishing inte- gral systems and procedures ... quickly. Her first year was trial by fire, but she succeeded in establishing a functional HR department from the ground up. In 2010 she was promoted to human resources manager and continued to excel in devel- oping HR programs and procedures for the company. During this time, she helped established Naturipe’s ongoing leadership development program, Cultivate. This program takes a small group of emerging leaders within Naturipe and educates them through field visits, leadership training and grower-owner interactions. In 2013, she was promoted to director of human resources. Since then, the company has experienced rapid growth, and she directs, manages and executes all human resource functions for 185 U.S.-based employees. This includes all recruiting, benefits, compensation, perfor- mance management, organizational and employee development and risk manage- ment. She holds a Masters of Science in Employment Law from Nova Southeastern University. She is a former board member and officer of HR Collier — an organization of local human resources professionals. She serves as a volunteer for Produce Marketing Association’s Center for Growing Talent.
Q: How did you begin working in the produce industry?
Honestly, CareerBuilder is responsible for it. HR, like Finance and IT, is a plug-and-play function — we can do our thing in any and every company. I fell into the produce industry randomly but instantly felt like it was kismet. Having grown up in New Jersey and obsessed with blueberries, Naturipe Farms and I were meant to be.
Q: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career?
I made some stupid but human mistakes at the beginning of my career related to trust and confidentiality. I was humbled by those mistakes but learned from them and keep those lessons with me to this day.
Q: What aspect of the business chal- lenged you the most early on? Understanding fluctuating prices, the sales process and how our company generated a profit for our grower-owners.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
Being a working mother is difficult, as many can attest to. Beyond that, I am particularly proud of being able to mold and drive the human resources function within a well-re- spected company.
Q: What advice would you give someone new to the produce industry? The produce industry is a large yet small community — don’t burn any bridges.
Q: What are some of the more chal- lenging aspects of a career in the produce industry today?
Finding great talent outside of the typical produce geographic hotspots. I also find it a personal challenge to ensure that my company is, at minimum, on par but ideally above par as it relates to the benefits offered to our hardworking staff and potential employees.
Q: Do you see the produce industry as a united front, or is it more about the particular items or silos?
Definitely a united front. The shelf life or protocols or handling may be different, but all commodities/companies experience the same highs and lows.
New Brunswick, NJ
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