Professional Management Team

CHRIS ZANOBINI – PRESIDENT CANGC: In addition to his new role as President of CANGC Chris serves as the Executive Vice  President of the California Grain & Feed Association,  the Executive Director of the California Pear Advisory Board and the Executive Vice President of the California Seed Association. Prior to joining the California Pear Advisory Board, he served as Director of Floral Sales for Dierberg’s Markets in St. Louis, MO and as General Manager and owner of wholesale and retail flower operations in California.  In his career, Chris has served as the President of the California Ag Export Council, the Treasurer and Secretary of the Ag Issues Forum, as President and Vice President of the World Apple and Pear Association and as Chairman of the Buy California Marketing Agreement.  Chris also serves as a board member of the California Minor Crops Council and The California State Fair Agricultural Advisory Committee.  Chris is a graduate of the University of California at Davis with a degree in Plant Science and an emphasis in Agricultural Management.  He holds a Masters in Business Administration emphasizing marketing and management from the U.C. Davis Graduate School of Management. He also completed post graduate work in education.

DANEÉ BRADY – ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/TRADE SHOW AND MARKETING MANAGER:  Manages the operations and sales and marketing efforts for both the California Grown Show and The Nursery Mart.  Develops all promotional emails, postcards, fliers, places all advertising, exhibitor communication and sponsorship solicitation.  Manages all expense and revenue solicitations to budget. Key liaison and manager for the association’s Enewsletter and website.               

ANITA GORE - CONTROLLER: Anita Gore is responsible for all accounting and financial reporting functions for all the associations.   She assists in preparing annual association project budgets and prepares all  financial reports.  Anita oversees reporting and financial activities of the associations’ political action committees and is responsible for compliance with pertinent political campaign laws. Anita has primary responsibility for  office management including office equipment acquisition,  maintenance and property management.  She is also responsible for the association’s computer system,  local area network, database management, software selection and enhancement and hardware selection and maintenance.  Anita is experienced in working with spreadsheet programs.   Anita comes to our association after twelve years of serving as staff accountant for the CPA firm of Floyd A. Moses in Sonoma and two years as the office manager at Cal Pacific Drywall.  Her responsibilities included all the accounting aspects as well as employee management.  Anita holds an A.A. degree  in accounting from Heald Business College.

NIDA AGNO - ASSISTANT CONTROLLER:  Nida Agno is responsible for the daily preparation of the Market Review News Bulletin.  Other responsibilities include  Assistant to the Controller providing support maintaining the database for twelve associations, cash receipts, accounts receivable, invoicing and miscellaneous office duties including assisting all associations in projects as needed.   She is responsible for dues billings and rendering membership reports.   Nida  joined the association staff in March of 1995 after graduating from the National Education Center with a certificate in Computer applications.

MEETINGS / INFORMATION / MEMBERSHIP AND  ECONOMIC  SERVICES

DONNA BOGGS - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR:  Donna Boggs started at the association in March of 1985 after graduating and receiving an A.A. degree as an Administrative Assistant from National Education Campus/Sawyer College.  She earned an A.A. degree in Business from American River College in Sacramento and has completed several years towards her Bachelor’s degree in Business at California State University, Sacramento.  Donna  serves as Associate Director performing management functions  and is responsible for  meeting management of the various associations including planning through implementation and post conference evaluation.  Meetings conducted include four annual conventions, an annual feed production conference, a mid-year convention, association board meetings and miscellaneous seminars, legislative receptions and meetings. Donna is managing the CGFA, PEPA, CSFA and CSA webpages. Donna also edits and publishes various association membership directories.   Donna has extensive experience in member relations, acquisition and retention, and planning and budgeting. She is a member of Meeting Professionals International. 

GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS / ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT 

JANE TOWNSEND - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR:  Jane Townsend started with the association in May 1991 as a special projects resource person while pursuing her paralegal degree at MTI Western Institute of Procedural Law in Sacramento.   Jane is the staff liaison for the California Fisheries & Seafood Institute, California Bean Shippers Association, California Association of Wheat Growers, and California Ag Irrigators Association. Jane has full planning and implementation responsibilities for several conferences.  She also does special projects, assists with governmental relations activities, conducts research and does industry wage and benefit surveys.  She also serves as a special assistant to the Manager of the Central Valley Project Water Association.  Jane has experience in managing and marketing the Political Action Committees for the industry.  For three years prior to joining CGFA Jane was assistant to the Director of Marketing at J.G. Boswell, a diversified agribusiness company in Los Angeles.  Her responsibilities included commodity future and options trading, export, and generation of commodity reports and research.  Prior to her tenure at Boswell, Jane was an advertising sales representative for Wear Sportswear Magazine. Jane attended Southwest Texas State University where she studied Journalism.  Jane received her paralegal degree from MTI in June, 1992.

ANN QUINN -  ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: Ann Quinn joined the Association Staff in February of 1997.   She serves as the Executive Vice President for the California State Floral Association and the California Warehouse Association where she performs  management functions. Ann also coordinates an annual Animal Nutrition Conference. She is a committee member of the California Farm Bureau's Horticulture Advisory Committee, and the California Ornamental Research Federation.  Ann comes to our Association staff after 16 years of serving as administrative assistant for SeedTec International in Woodland, an oilseed breeding & development company.

NICK MATTEIS - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: Nick Matteis joined the Association Staff in August of 2007.   He serves as the Executive Vice President for the California Association of Wheat Growers and as the Manager of the California Kiwifruit Commission and the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee. Nick is the staff liaison to the management of the Buy California Marketing Agreement.  Nick also assists on regulatory and legislative communication and representation at key hearings and meetings.  Nick is a graduate of the University of Nevada Reno with Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor is Spanish.  Nick is fluent in Spanish and is skilled at writing, reading and translation of documents.

DEBBIE MURDOCK - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/REGISTERED LOBBYIST:  Debbie Murdock joined the Association team in October of 1997.  She worked for United States Senator Paul Laxalt of Nevada in Washington as a Legislative Assistant.  For five years Debbie worked on agricultural related issues and judiciary committee matters.  She is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Debbie's current responsibilities include managing the Pacific Egg and Poultry Association, governmental relations, and conference management.  Debbie is involved in the legislative process at the Capitol in Sacramento on a daily basis.  She  monitors and tracks industry specific issues and she plays a key role in influencing decision-making in California.   She also serves as manager of the Pacific Egg and Poultry Scholarship and Research Foundation.  In addition, she handles the California Grape Rootstock Improvement Commission, the California Grape Rootstock Research Foundation, and the California Egg Industry Association.

GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS / REGULATORY AFFAIRS

In conjunction with Chris Zanobini and Debbie Murdock our team of government relations professionals include:

DENNIS ALBIANI, California Advocates, has over 11 years experience in advocacy and public policy. He was most recently the Deputy Legislative Secretary for Resources, Energy, Food and Agriculture and Cal EPA for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Previously, he served in the Davis administration as the appointed Deputy Secretary at California Department of Food and Agriculture. His legislative experience includes a position as consultant to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources for then state Senator, now Congressman Costa and as Government Affairs Counsel for the Agricultural Council of California. He has extensive business experience in livestock production, real estate and land use. Dennis is a member of the California State Bar and graduated from McGeorge School of Law with distinction. Dennis has a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business and minor in Water Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he was recognized as an outstanding graduate from the College of Agriculture. Dennis was a fellow in the prestigious California Agricultural Leadership Program and a graduate from the Dale Carnegie Institute.

TAD BELL spent eighteen years at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, holding several positions including Senior Biologist, Director of Policy Development and Undersecretary of Agriculture. Since leaving the Department Tad has focused on regulatory issues, and is currently a principal in Velo Consulting in Sacramento. Tad provided key support to the California grain and feed industry during the Karnal Bunt crisis and is extremely familiar with state and federal regulatory affairs.

TECHNICAL SERVICES

BETSY PETERSON - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL SERVICES & PROGRAMS: Betsy Peterson joined our staff in 2002 as Associate Director of Technical Services and Programs.  She is responsible for the  organization and implementation of the pesticide registration program provided to members of the oganization. She coordinates the sampling and recordkeeping for the CGFA Storm Water Group Monitoring Program. Betsy has 23 years experience in the agricultural field.  Prior to joining our team, Betsy served as the Staff Research Associate at the California Crop Improvement Association.  There she managed the operations of the Wildland Collected Certification program & developed certification forms, standards and reports.   Betsy has successfully organized & implemented a variety of meetings and workshops.  Betsy has a B.S. in  Home Economics from the University of Davis.

SUPPORT STAFF

ANNE ALCON / LORA VELARDO – Lensi conducts the CGFA and CSA Wage and Benefit surveys, organizes the Seed Industry Conference and assists PEPA with the PEPA Annual Convention, the PEPA Good Egg Breakfast and other events as needed.  The office team is supported by Anne Alcon,and Lora Velardo.  In addition to phone reception and clerical responsibilities, Anne and Lora provide support in the preparation of manuals and distribution of association materials, directories, and publications as well as assisting with mailings, publications and meeting preparation.