The New England Produce Council BB #:170872 has announced the moderator and panelists for the Educational Breakfast Panel Session during its annual expo this August.
The session, titled “How to Minimize your Produce Supply Chain Challenges,” will be moderated by Ed Treacy, vice president of supply chain and sustainability at the International Fresh Produce Association. Panelists will be Mark Donley, vice president at ADUSA Procurement; Jonathan Eisen of American Trucking; Dave Patnaude, sales manager at Coast to Coast Produce in Boston; and Joshua Noonan, director of delivered sales at C.H. Robinson Fresh.
This session will take place Aug. 25 at the council’s annual Produce, Floral & Food Service Expo, scheduled to take place Aug. 24-25 at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, a new venue.
Given the current state of affairs, every business is facing supply chain challenges including lack of truck drivers, high gas prices and limited product, but these challenges are a bit different with produce and floral due to the perishable nature of the product.
Unfortunately, these challenges are not going away anytime soon, and Treacy will provide an overview followed by a discussion with the panel members, who are experts in the produce and floral supply chain and sustainability sector.
Treacy offers over 39 years of senior management experience in logistics and supply chain management working with major Canadian retail chains, including Loblaw Companies Ltd., Shoppers Drug Mart and Sobeys Inc.
Donley has spent 12 years at Ahold Delhaize, through which he has held logistics, distribution and transportation roles. He has responsibility for strategic oversight of the logistics in North America, collaborating with great local brands.
Eisen is director of the American Trucking Association’s Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference, which represents the subset of ATA member companies who operate at the nation’s ports and inland intermodal facilities. As director of the conference, he leads the advocacy efforts on issues of concern to these members such as supply chain, infrastructure, workplace and other issues critical to strengthening the connections between ports, highways and railroads.
Patnaude, a 35-years produce veteran, is familiar with all aspects of produce procurement and logistics. He understands produce supply chain management and the importance of coordinating the needs of customers, growers, truckers and warehousing personal.
Through his 15-year career at C.H. Robinson, Noonan has held numerous leadership positions within the company of which he has consistently been tasked with developing and executing on strategies for North American’s largest retail, grocery and foodservice customers.
He remains consistent in his goals: establishing trust, improving service levels and increasing his customers’ product sales.
“Attend this session to hear the most up-to-date information regarding the produce and floral supply chain,” said NEPC President Tom
Murray, who is vice president of produce and floral at Roche Bros. “Register today to be part of this great event.”
For more information about the expo, contact NEPC Executive Director Laura Sullivan by phone (781-273-0444) or email nepc2@rcn.com.
