College Dean's Advisory Council

The mission of the College's Dean's Advisory Council is to support and promote the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences in its program and activities. These dedicated industry leaders provide counsel, focus and direction and assist the university president and college dean in carrying out the Learn by Doing mission of the college and the university.

Dean's Advisory Council Members

Name Title Company, Location
Dennis Albiani* President California Advocates, Sacramento
Ken Altman CEO Altman Plants, Salinas
John Andersen* Director of Forest Policy Mendocino and Humboldt Redwood Companies
Kimberly Brown Vice President Wonderful Orchards, Bakersfield
Louie Brown* Partner Kahn, Soares & Conway LLP, Sacramento
Chris Drew* President and CEO Ocean Mist Farms, Castroville
Kimo Falconer* President

MauiGrown Coffee, Lahaina, HI

Jim Fipp* Partner Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, LLP, Boulder, CO
Heather Hammack* President Famous Software, Fresno
Steve Junqueiro  President & CEO Steve Junqueiro & Associates, Modesto
Ejnar Knudsen CEO AGR Partners
Robert Lando President Western Roots, Mills River, North Carolina
Lauren Layne*# Attorney BAKER MANOCK & JENSEN, PC, Fresno
Jim Marderosian* Owner Bee Sweet Citrus, Fowler
Rachel Molatore Director of Communications Taylor Farms, Salinas
Jon Munger* Vice President of Operations Montna Farms, Yuba City
Tracy Pezzini* Director of Livestock Operations Bengard Ranch, Salinas
Eric Proffitt Executive Vice President Grimmway Farms, Bakersfield
Walter Ruzzo*# Director of Security (retired) Gilead Sciences, Foster City
John Salmonson*#

Director

(retired)

Brandt Consolidated, Fresno
Yvonne Sams*# Vice President, Sales and Marketing Flory Industries, Modesto
Gary Smith Country Manager, USA Ingleby Farms, Visalia
Karen Tate Partner Clauss Dairy Farms
Robert Taylor Attorney and Trustee Robert C. Taylor, Attorney at Law, Salinas
Dan Tomascheski

Vice President, Timber Resources

(retired)

Sierra Pacific Industries, Anderson
Rick Tomlinson President California Strawberry Commission, Watsonville
Rob Trice Founder The Mixing Bowl, San Francisco
Yen Tsutsumi Senior Vice President George P. Johnson, San Francisco
Stan Van Vleck* Partner Downey Brand, LLC, Sacramento
Mary Wagner President MK Wagner & Associates
Charles Walton*

Chairman of the Board

(retired)

Smithers-Oasis Company, Kent, Ohio
Karen Watts*1#

Market Manager, West Region 

(retired)

Nutrien Ag Solutions, Anaheim
Jean-Pierre Wolff Owner and Vintner Wolff Vineyards, San Luis Obispo
George Wurzel* Vice President & COO J.G. Boswell Company, Corcoran
Jim Zion*# Managing Partner Meridian Growers, Fresno

(* denotes alumnus, 1 denotes council chair, # denotes executive council)

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