CASTROVILLE, CA - Chris Drew, Vice President of Operations at Ocean Mist Farms, has been admitted into Class 47 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), a 17-month curriculum from October 2016 to February 2018, which is managed by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF) and is one of the most esteemed leadership programs in the United States.
Drew has more than 16 years of experience in the in nursery crops and vegetable production and has been with Ocean Mist Farms since 2004. His duties there include directing activities associated with the post-harvest of Ocean Mist Farms products, managing the cooling and shipping facilities, overseeing food safety and quality assurance, sustainability and value-added operations, and directing new product and service innovation.
Drew, who lives in Hollister, CA, with his wife and two daughters, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Crop Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and also has an MBA.
"We are excited to see Chris participate in the Cal Ag Leadership program," said Joe Pezzini, CEO of Ocean Mist Farms. "He has a team approach to solving complex problems; has leadership and intellectual acumen and he is a product expert. We are thrilled that he will bring this additional training and perspective to senior management.”
More than 1,200 men and women have participated in the program and have become influential leaders and active volunteers in agriculture, communities, government, business, and other areas. Applicants must be growers, farmers, ranchers or individuals working in allied businesses and organizations who are emerging or mid-career leaders in agriculture.
The program operates through four partner universities—Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State, and UC Davis. In addition to leadership-focused and high-impact curriculum through monthly seminars, fellows participate in an eight-day national travel seminar and a 15-day international travel seminar as valuable extensions to their studies.
As explained in a press release, CALF invests approximately $50,000 per fellow to participate in the Ag Leadership Program, with costs being underwritten by individual and industry donations.
