WASHINGTON, DC - As the monumental merger between the United Fresh Produce Association and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) gets underway, the two recently made announcements pertaining to their Board of Directors. The current United Fresh Board, market segment Boards, and expert advisory councils will remain in place through 2021. In addition, the current Chairman-Elect Danny Dumas will become Chairman of the Board effective June 1, taking the reins from Michael Muzyk, who led the association through the pandemic since March 2020.
“I am honored to assume the role of Chairman of United Fresh and also very excited to work alongside United’s Board of Directors, loyal members, and staff,” said Dumas, President of Courchesne Larose USA. “I wish to congratulate and thank my dear friend Michael Muzyk for his dedication and leadership with our association in what was, and continues, to be a challenging period. Despite working through a crisis and reinventing his business, Michael has led our association with passion and was one of the architects that helped set the foundation for the new association. We are grateful to Michael for his involvement.”
Dumas was born and raised in Canada where he studied in both English and French. He started his career in produce at Dole Fresh Fruit Company where he held various positions, a press release stated. In 1998, Dumas joined Fresh Del Monte Produce to manage its first and only Canadian office as District Sales Manager.
He held various positions with Fresh Del Monte including Vice President of Operations for Europe and Africa at its European offices in Monte Carlo, Monaco. In 2014, he returned to Florida as VP of Sales and Product Management and became Senior Vice President N.A. Sales & Product Management in 2019. He joined Courchesne Larose USA in 2021.
“As we begin to look back on this extraordinary pandemic year, and look forward to great things to come for our association and our industry, I am particularly grateful to all of the Board and Council leaders who have guided United Fresh this year,” said United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel. “I appreciate their willingness to continue service through 2021 extending some of their volunteer time commitments, and to their active support for our new association in 2022.”
Dumas continued, demonstrating his excitement for all that is to come for this powerful organization.
“As we transition to the new association, I look forward to working with Tom, his dedicated staff members, and PMA toward a seamless combination to provide the best value and service for our members. I would be remiss if I did not also thank the members of the United/PMA Integration Committee along with Tom and Cathy [Burns] for their work and continued contribution in building a successful new association,” said Dumas.
Michael Muzyk, President of Baldor Specialty Food and the outgoing Chairman of the Board for United Fresh, also commented on this upcoming leadership transition.
“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to help lead such a wonderful association,” said Muzyk. “It is with great pleasure, honor, and respect that I pass the baton to my dear friend and colleague, Danny Dumas. Danny has been an unwavering support this past year. I also want to thank Tom for his dedication to our members. Leadership is a capacity which translates vision into reality; and Tom certainly possesses leadership characteristics.”
Congratulations to Danny Dumas on entering this prestigious role!
