Allen J. Vangelos

principal

Thirty-five years experience in fresh and processed food products marketing and sales capped by 11 years as President and Chief Executive Officer of the world’s largest avocado cooperative. Recipient of the 1997 CEO Communicator of the Year award from the Cooperative Communicators Association. Honored as “Produce Man for All Seasons” by the produce industry, April 2009.

Selected Accomplishments

Business Strategies
Overhauled corporate culture and business practices of 75-year-old agricultural packing and marketing cooperative. Increased the cooperative’s returns to share-holders through new products and international marketing while significantly reducing staff overhead and operating expenses. Restructured a major grower/shipper; created and implemented a new corporate culture.

Operations Planning and Control
Centralized cooperative’s packing facilities from five to two locations achieving increased efficiency and improved grower services. Consulted with growers in Russia to identify markets and product requirements, designed a packing and distribution center, and improved governance procedure of the association.

Strategic Sourcing
For a cooperative and in a large multinational food company, secured new/additional product sourcing through strategic alliances and import programs from Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Established processing and packinghouse operations in Mexican maquiladora zone and rural growing areas.

Marketing and Distribution Management
Headed a food brokerage company with accounts across the U.S. Designed and implemented regional and national merchandising promotion campaigns directed toward distributors, wholesalers, and retail chain stores.

Financial and Joint Venture Set Up
Spearheaded cooperative re-capitalization and transformation from a business operating from retained earnings of its members to a common stock cooperative in which members have permanent ownership and ancillary businesses pay stock dividends. Represented major banks in the board of directors of two food companies as Chairman & CEO.

Board Advisory
Expert in board of directors selection, governance, set up of committees and compensation system. As Chairman of several boards, worked with top management and board members on corporate strategic direction.