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EXECUTIVE NOTES By Don Gann, FPFC President Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Helping lead the Fresh Produce and Floral Council through these difficult times has truly been my pleasure. Joining the staff of the Council during a difficult time in my life was good for me, and I hope my contributions were good for the FPFC. As I look back at the last several years, I am proud of what we have accomplished. We were able to put the FPFC back on sound financial footing. We added some events – including the very successful recently held Top Golf tournament. We are exploring expand- ing the base of the FPFC with the up- coming November Golf Tournament in Arizona. Also, we have revamped the website, go check it out. We are also very excited that we have added 66 new members this year alone. 2023 has been a great year for the FPFC and its members! When I say “we” there is an ever- expanding list of people to thank for being part of the solution. First and foremost is the membership. I have been a member of the FPFC for many years with the association being near and dear to my heart. And I’m not alone. This is an organization run by the membership. Every event we hold is planned, organized and staffed by an impressive group of volunteer mem- bers. They get together in committee meetings to develop ideas, pick venues, approve the calendar of events, work hard to make our budgets and make sure their industry colleagues show up to enjoy the camaraderie and do the all-important networking, which is at the very core of the FPFC. The Council could not exist without the robust help of its members. I remember when FPFC Chairman Brian Cook approached me and asked if I would be willing to work part time to help the FPFC right its ship. It was a tough time for me as I was deeply in- volved with helping my late wife Heidi travel her narrowing health path. I had some available time and Brian said the number one task was to keep the membership engaged and mini- mize our losses as COVID raged. We did that, but the vast majority of our membership wasn’t going anywhere. You are committed to the organization as much as the board and the staff. It has been a true highlight of my career to get to know so many more of you as friends and colleagues. My involvement in the FPFC would never have occurred without my two mentors, Roger Schroeder and Marvin Quebec. I have to pay special recognition to those two industry giants as they got me involved in the Council and expanded my participa- tion. The five chairs I worked with – Brian Cook, Sean McClure, Kori Martin, Michael Schutt and chair- elect Kristen Reid – are excellent lead- ers who made my job easier and more fulfilling. Each of them rises to the top of the list of the volunteers who carry this organization on their broad shoulders. I also need to thank Emma Mc- Bride-Taylor, who was with me every step of the way. She remains at the Council and will continue to help the members as she has been doing for the past four years. The board is explor- ing its options and I’m sure you will be notified of plans moving forward on our new and improved website as soon as there is something to report. While I have resigned from the staff of the Council, I won’t be very far away. I have taken a position as the senior director of produce, floral and bulk foods for Smart & Final, a 253-store chain, headquartered in Commerce, CA. I was not looking for a new position as I assumed the FPFC would be my final work destination. Timing is everything and returning to the retailer side of the business ap- pealed to me more than I knew. I am a produce retailer at heart. I do miss that action and will enjoy being back at it. But I will surface at FPFC events again after I get settled in my new position. Again, it was a pleasure serving the membership of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council. I’ll see you soon. 5