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Elvia Ramirez Maldonado Key Account Manager Robinson Fresh (C.H. Robinson) Salinas, CA Background: I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco in Mexico and moved to Salinas, CA when I was 11 years old. As a child, my only goal was to work hard to learn English as my second language but also to make my parents proud in everything I set my- self to do. After high school, I went to the local community college and obtained my As- sociate Degree in Business Administration. I then went to pursue my undergraduate degree in Business Management and International Business from California State University, of Mon- terey Bay. After high school and throughout college I worked for AT&T Mobility until I decided it was time to leave the company and begin my new journey in the ag world. I was introduced to C.H. Robinson by a college friend that thought I would be a good fit for the company and in the ag industry and recommended me for the job. I was hired by Robinson Fresh in February of 2019 as replenishment analyst, in which my job was to buy produce that our company would sell to multiple divisions of Trader Joe’s. The job was exciting and it was new to me, so I wanted to learn more about the industry. I took it upon myself to take a class on food safety at my local community college to learn more about other areas that are especially important in the industry. Unfortunately, in 2020 the pandemic started, and our community college stopped offering some of the classes, but I still made it my mission to continue to work hard and learn new things to advance in my career. In 2021, I was promoted to an account manager in which my primary job was to manage multiple customers that needed support with forecasting, inventory management and distribution to all Trader Joe’s nationwide. Since the pandemic lasted longer than expected, I decided to go back to school and pursue my masters (MBA) from Southern New Hampshire University and graduated in January 2023. My desire to learn new things and to continue to grow led me to find a mentorship program at C.H. Robinson in which I was assigned a mentor that helped me with my career development to get to my next role in the company. In February 2023, I was promoted to key account manager, in which my primary role is to help other customers looking for a solution in the supply chain for any produce business and retailers. I am an incredibly lucky person to live in an area where we have a lot of different agriculture commodities such as berries, lettuce, artichokes, garlic, among others right in my backyard. But also to work in an industry where I get to see how things go from the ground to the packaging facilities, to the store, and finally to our table. I love what I do, and I want to continue learning more every day. FPFC Connection: I first learned about the Fresh Produce and Floral Council in early 2020 by a former Robinson Fresh employee. He mentioned that since I was new to the industry and eager to learn he thought it would be great for me to look into this program. I remember asking my direct supervisor and finding out that I was about two months late for the application process, however he thought it was a good idea to consider this program the following year. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and other work commitments, the timing did not align the last couple of years. However, I do know that Robinson Fresh has been a continuous supporter of the FPFC for years and we also have another person that is a graduate of this program. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend this year’s luncheon that took place in Pleasanton, CA on January 24. I found this event to be inspiring and a wonderful way to network with others in the industry. This event opened my eyes to how women can lead in the ag industry and be successful in their roles, and how we all have this impos- ter syndrome that we need to overcome. Listening to the panel that day, I left motivated, and I knew that I was going to do my best to apply to this year’s Apprentice Program. Fun Fact: Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and my two dogs, Luna and Toby. As a family we like to get together occasionally and cook together and create memories. Prior to the pandemic, my family and I really enjoyed traveling together. I had the opportunity to visit a few countries with my family including China right before the pandemic. I am really hoping I get the chance to take my parents somewhere new this year. When it comes to my own personal hobbies, I like to listen to podcasts about finance, business, and personal growth. I also enjoy audio books during my commute to the office. I like to spend time with friends going to football games, trying new restaurants, trying new breweries, but more than anything creating new memories. 12