SAN ANTONIO, TX - With companies across the industry fortifying their operations for the year ahead, new leaders are being put in place to help drive forward growth. NatureSweet® is one such company with expansion in mind as the greenhouse grower has announced the addition of Suzanne Wade to its Board of Directors. Bringing with her an in-tune senior executive perspective, Wade will be a strong asset for the NatureSweet team.
“The values at NatureSweet are in line with mine—they do what is right with integrity—and they really are raising the bar for an entire industry,” said Wade. “I could not be prouder to join the Board of an organization that knows who they are and are fearless in their fight to transform the lives of Agricultural workers.”
With a career spanning over 40 years, Wade has worked amongst some of the leading retail companies in the industry, according to a press release. Of her four-decade-long career, 11 of them were spent at Walmart where she served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources as well as Senior Vice President of Membership, Marketing, and Administration for the retailer's Sam’s Club branch.
In 1997, Wade joined H-E-B, after which she held a variety of senior leadership roles for the grocer. These included Group Vice President of Sales and Advertising and Senior Vice Presidnet of Human Resources. For most of her time at H-E-B, she led one of the company’s largest divisions which encompassed over 200 stores and 50,000 associates.
“Suzanne’s incredible perspective will help us raise the bar in our commitment to partner with our customers to change the way the packaged produce category operates, driving change not only on the sustained quality of the product, but also in the lives of the agricultural workers,” said CEO and President Rodolfo Spielmann. “Her civic contributions and understanding of how important our Associates are to help making that success a reality is extremely aligned with the work we are doing in transforming the company from the best tasting snacking tomatoes to the single-source solution for greenhouse vegetables for our customers.”
In addition to her well-rounded professional experience, Wade is also recognized for her civic contributions with the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Tribute to Women Leadership Award, the North San Antonio Chamber Athena Award, the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame, and as a Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas Trefoil Honoree.
“Suzanne’s experience is the perfect combination of strategy and hands-on approach to support NatureSweet’s unique position in the market,” said Executive Chairman Bryant Ambelang. “With its unique story of Unleashing the Power of People at the forefront of everything they do, she will no doubt help to support its transformation of the agricultural industry.”
Congratulations to Suzanne Wade on her new appointment! We look forward to seeing her continued impact on the fresh produce industry and all that she will accomplish with NatureSweet.
