Board Members & Staff

“I am extremely passionate about the avocado industry and want to help shape its future.” – HAB BOARD MEMBER

Board Members

Jorge Hernandez

Importer Director
Chairperson

CJ Shade

Producer Director
Vice Chairperson

Sergio Chavez

Importer Director
Treasurer

Susan Pinkerton

Producer Director
Secretary

Elaine Bannatyne

Producer Director

Bob Schaar

Producer Director

Debbie Willmann

Importer Director

Jamie Johnson

Producer Director

Mark Vawter

Producer Director

Aaron Acosta

Importer Director

Chris Henry

Importer Director

Ben Van Der Kar

Producer Director

Rocco Fiore II

Producer Alternate

Daniel Harte

Producer Alternate

Juan Monsalve

Importer Alternate

Byron Talley

Producer Alternate

Ivor Van Wingerden

Producer Alternate

Elizabeth Ayala

Importer Alternate

Vacant

Importer Alternate

Jeff Dickinson

Producer Alternate

Will Carleton

Producer Alternate

Kimberlin Brown Pelzer

Producer Alternate

Andy Bruno

Importer Alternate

Peter Shore

Importer Alternate

Staff

Monica Acosta

Associate Manager of Finance and Administration

Natalia Arias

Sr. Digital Marketing Strategist

Ella Bauer, PhD

Nutrition Research Associate Manager

Feon Cheng, PhD, RDN

Nutrition Epidemiologist

Emiliano Escobedo

Executive Director

Nikki A. Ford, PhD

Sr. Director of Nutrition

Jason Garthoffner

Web and Graphic Designer

Alejandro Gavito

Sr. Business Insights and Data Services Manager

Ivonne Gomez

Content and Community Manager

Amanda Izquierdo, MPH, RD, LDN

PR & Advertising Manager

John McGuigan

Director of Industry Affairs

Pam Ortega

Executive Assistant of Operations

Robert M. Rumph

Sr. Director of Finance
and Administration

Silvia Standke

Sr. Manager of Operations

Gina Widjaja

Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications