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
Updates & Resources
