<p>Former PMA President Bob Carey has passed away. Bob paved the way at PMA from 1958 to 1996, taking it from an organization with fewer than 100 members focused on produce packaging to a vertically integrated association of thousands, bringing buyers and sellers together.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“I was privileged to work with Bob from the time he hired me in 1983 until his retirement in 1996. He was my mentor and my dear friend,” says Bryan Silbermann, PMA’s CEO. “His insights and advice when he was my boss and after he retired have been invaluable. Bob’s real genius was getting the best out of everyone around him – members and staff – and that’s become a core part of PMA’s culture.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Each year, PMA gives the Robert L. Carey Leadership Award at Fresh Summit to honor someone who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer leadership skills and an uncommon commitment to helping PMA achieve its goals. Bob's belief in volunteer leadership was evident in his military career to leadership in association management. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“Bob's leadership was the lynchpin for PMA's growth and success, but it was his engaging personality, compassion, humor, and empathy that endeared him to all those around him,” Silbermann notes. “Always ready to have fun or sit and talk, Bob was an easy and dear friend to many.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Silbermann will offer a eulogy at Bob's service on December 3rd in Bridgeville, Delaware. In addition, his thoughts will be shared on a tribute page for Bob, along with information about his life and career. Per the Carey family’s wishes, memorial contributions can be made to Delmarva Teen Challenge.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">AndNowUKnow would like to offer our deepest condolences to Bob's family and friends.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.pma.com/bob_carey_memorial" target="_new">Bob Carey Tribute Page</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
