International Fresh Produce Association's Dr. Yvonne Bull Recognized With CFO of the Year Award; Cathy Burns and Patrick Vizzone Comment


Thu. June 20th, 2024 - by Melissa De Leon Chavez

WASHINGTON, DC - Congrats to Dr. Yvonne Bull who was honored with the CEO Update’s Nonprofit Chief Financial Officer of the Year award! Bull is the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Chief Financial Officer and is now an honorary member of an elite group of professionals.

Dr. Yvonne Bull, Chief Financial Officer, International Fresh Produce Association

This award recognizes Bull’s consistent annual fiduciary stewardship and career highlights, which include human resources, I.T. integration, and, of course, the finance side of the IFPA’s legacy organizations.

A press release celebrated the recently awarded CFO’s innate curiosity and drive for professional and personal growth with her recent attainment of a Doctor of Business Administration from Wilmington University, all while undertaking full-time employment.

Cathy Burns, Chief Executive Officer, International Fresh Produce Association

"For over 20 years, Yvonne has been the cornerstone of our financial stewardship, meticulously managing the resources our members entrust to us. Her thoughtful approach has been instrumental in our efforts to lead and serve the global fresh produce and floral community," said IFPA Chief Executive Officer Cathy Burns. "Yvonne's exceptional skills in fiduciary and asset management, combined with her strategic vision for reinvesting in our industry's future, have garnered the unwavering trust of our Board of Directors and auditors. It is a blessing to count Yvonne's unwavering dedication to fiscal integrity and transparency among the many talents represented by our leadership team."

Burns also noted that, coupled with these fiduciary responsibilities, Bull presently co-leads IFPA’s internal culture and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Bull also played an integral role in launching a new staff performance management system and creating professional development programs for staff to support the ongoing creation of its high-performing organization.

IFPA's Chief Financial Officer Dr. Yvonne Bull was honored with the CEO Update’s Nonprofit Chief Financial Officer of the Year award

Past IFPA Secretary-Treasurer Patrick Vizzone, Executive Director of DiMuto and Co-Founder/Chief Financial Officer of Vertical Ocean commented that Bull’s integral financial stewardship role in the formation of IFPA “cannot be overstated.”

Patrick Vizzone, Executive Director, DiMuto and Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer, Vertical Ocean

“Tasked with navigating intricate financial landscapes and managing diverse stakeholder interests, she displayed firm leadership and strategic foresight throughout the process,” Vizzone went on to mention. “Under her adept guidance, resources were consolidated, redundant entities were efficiently wound down, and two new organizations were successfully launched, all achieved within a methodically managed budget.”

This October, Bull will be formally recognized during the Nonprofit Legal, Finance, and Grants conference.

Keep with ANUK for more industry awards.