PMA Packaging Impact Award

Leonard Batti

Leonard Batti has more than 30 years of experience in the produce industry working for small, family owned companies to large, multinational firms. He has spent more than 20 years managing all aspects of value-added fresh-cut produce businesses for companies like Dole, Tanimura & Antle, Apio and New Star. Leonard was Chairman of the Board for the International Fresh-cut Produce Association and participated on PMA’s Foodservice Board and Main Board of Directors. He has traveled extensively, learning from companies around the world and frequently speaks at industry related events. Leonard now serves as a General Partner with the MIXTEC Group, the number one executive recruiting firm in the produce industry.

Bridget Bennett

Bridget Bennett currently serves as Acting Category Manager/Produce Operations and Headquarters Produce Specialist for the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), which operates a worldwide chain of 284 commissaries to provide groceries to military personnel, retirees, and their families. From 2006-2008, Bridget was the Eastern Region Produce Specialist for DeCA East in Fort Lee, Va. Prior to that her roles have included Semi-Perishable Manager, Perishable Manager and Produce Manager at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Bridget’s early career assignments at DeCA included a Supervisory Sales Store Checker and Sales Store Checker.

Kip Martin

Kip Martin has been in the produce retail business for over 29 years. His passion for produce began at a young age at his father’s supermarket where he learned how to properly handle and merchandise fresh produce. After 7 years working in the family market, Mr. Martin went on to work for Bel Air Markets as a Produce Clerk to later become a Produce Manager. Mr. Martin earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management with a concentration in Marketing from Sacramento State University California. In 2001, he became a Produce and Floral Supervisor for the parent company, Raley’s Family of Fine Stores. During the last 9 years, Mr. Martin has been instrumental in the produce merchandising and set up of company grand openings, remodels and community events. He has supervised 50 of the company’s 127 stores and is widely recognized as a leader in retail produce merchandising. From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Martin was chosen to be on the produce merchandising team to set up the Fresh Ideas Marketplace display at the PMA Fresh Summit Conventions.

Ronald G. McCormick

Ronald (Ron) G. McCormick, Senior Director of Local and Sustainable Sourcing has been with Walmart since 1995 when he joined the company as a produce buyer. He spent 10 years as VP/Divisional Merchandise Manager for Produce & Floral. Prior to joining Walmart, Ron was a perishable supervisor with Food Lion, a produce buyer at Meijer, and in store operations at a regional grocery chain, Hamady Bros., Inc. McCormick earned a B.A. in Business Administration at the University of Michigan - Flint, and attended Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. He currently serves as captain of Walmart's Food & Agriculture Sustainable Value Network. McCormick has served on the National Mango Board, the boards of the Produce for Better Health Foundation and the United Fresh Produce Association, as well as chairing committees for the Produce Marketing Association. McCormick and his wife, Angie, have been married for over 30 years and have two daughters.

Pamela Riemenschneider

Pamela Riemenschneider serves as editor of Produce Retailer magazine and Retail Editor of sister publication, The Packer newspaper.

She’s spent the past five years traveling throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico visiting retailers to find new and interesting products, packages and merchandising innovations, with a special interest in value-added products for her Pamela’s Kitchen video series on ThePacker.com and ProduceRetailer.com.

Her two-year-old son, Ike, frequently co-stars on Pamela’s Kitchen from her Austin, Texas home.

Dr. Robert Whitaker

Dr. Robert Whitaker, the Chief Science & Technology Officer of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has responsibility for food safety and security, environmental sustainability and technical innovations for the produce supply chain, from field to fork. Before joining PMA, Dr. Whitaker worked with DNA Plant Technology Corporation and NewStar. In 2006, Dr. Whitaker was awarded IFPA’s Technical Achievement Award for his work in food safety and product development. Dr. Whitaker has been intimately involved in the development of the leafy greens GAP Metrics and also serves on both the California and Arizona Leafy Greens Technical Committees. Dr. Whitaker was named to the Executive Advisory Board for the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) in 2007 and has taken on the role of Chairman for the CPS Research and Technology Council (2008) which oversees the solicitation and awarding of funds for research projects focused on produce food safety.