<p>The Oppenheimer Group is adding sales expertise on both sides of the border, with the hire of seasoned industry pro Carolyn Chang in Los Angeles, and the promotion of top-performing newcomer Nicole Lapins in Vancouver. In keeping with Oppy’s strategic growth targets, this duo will nurture new business opportunities for the company as part of its overall sales and marketing approach, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Carolyn’s produce career extends back to the early 90s when she spent a decade as a produce buyer for Safeway in Honolulu, HI and later in Watsonville, CA. Afterward, she spent 5 years in senior sales for Well-Pict Berries of Watsonville, before leaving the industry to pursue senior management roles in import and export, and run her own business. Earlier this year, Carolyn returned to produce, taking on a brief sales stint with Orange County Produce in Irvine, CA, before joining Oppy in mid-September.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “Produce is what I know best and what I love to do,” said Carolyn. “I have long thought highly of Oppy and am looking forward to making meaningful contributions here.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Carolyn will first focus on the expansion of the company’s berry category in the Western U.S., while also selling the full Oppy line to select customers, according to Ben Vallejo, sales manager in Oppy’s Chino Hills office. Vallejo complimented Carolyn on her berry expertise, noting that she knows the producer side and buyer side inside and out.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Nicole Lapins will be starting with marketing Mexican field and greenhouse vegetables before moving into sales of the full Oppenheimer basket. Nicole first joined Oppy as a sales and transportation coordinator about a year ago.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> “By working with carriers to arrange transportation for our products over the last 12 months, I have gained a pretty good snapshot of our Canadian business,” she said. “I am eager to build on that knowledge and to return to sales.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Nicole holds a diploma in marketing management from the BC Institute of Technology in Vancouver and a bachelor’s of commerce degree from Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Congratulations to both Nicole and Carolyn on their new positions with the Oppenheimer Group!</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=" https://oppy.com" target="_new"> The Oppenheimer Group </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
