CPMA losing two key staffers
CPMA losing two key staffers
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association will be losing two key employees later this month as Marie-Claude Thibault, the director of health and food safety, and Samy Pelerin, manager of government relations, announced that they will be leaving the association.
"We regret that Marie-Claude and Samy are leaving, as they have both done a wonderful job not just for the CPMA but for the industry as a whole," said CPMA President Dan Dempster. "We hate to lose people like them.
A registered dietitian, Ms. Thibault joined the CPMA in 1992. In her role as director of health and food safety, she coordinated food safety initiatives such as industry good practice programs, training and certification issues. She was also the leader of the CPMA's Crisis Management Team and was responsible for issues such as food safety and nutrition, food biotechnology, irradiation and functional foods.
"She was a fierce defender of food safety and made sure that the public was getting fact and not fiction, Mr. Dempster said. "She had such a passion, she was totally committed and dedicated. This was not a nine-to-five job. She worked 24/7 to reinforce the benefits of both health and food safety.
Mr. Dempster said that others in the industry have recognized Ms. Thibault's efforts, as she had been asked to serve as chairperson of several industry committees and coalitions -- most notably the Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition. As chairperson of the coalition for the past two years, Ms. Thibault has worked alongside the members of numerous Canadian commodity and industry associations in an effort to help standardize the individual provincial government's standards for food safety.
"She was one of the key forces in the [coalition], and this reflected a lot of what she brought to the table, Mr. Dempster said. "This has allowed the CPMA to be at the forefront in the areas of food safety, health and nutrition. The respect people have for her helped the CPMA gain more credibility.
According to Mr. Dempster, Ms. Thibault will be taking a public health position with the city of Ottawa, where she will be dealing with the city's individual school boards and working to better the nutritional value of the meals they serve to students.
"She has two young children, and her experience will have a direct application into the schools, he said. In addition, Mr. Dempster said that he was disappointed to announce that Samy Pelerin, CPMA's manager of government relations, was also leaving the association for a position with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Only in his current position since May, Mr. Pelerin joined CPMA in 1999 and was most recently CPMA's membership and trade show manager.
"Samy brought both our membership directory and our exhibition to a new level, Mr. Dempster said. "He was a hard worker who was committed to doing things right.
"We regret that Marie-Claude and Samy are leaving, as they have both done a wonderful job not just for the CPMA but for the industry as a whole," said CPMA President Dan Dempster. "We hate to lose people like them.
A registered dietitian, Ms. Thibault joined the CPMA in 1992. In her role as director of health and food safety, she coordinated food safety initiatives such as industry good practice programs, training and certification issues. She was also the leader of the CPMA's Crisis Management Team and was responsible for issues such as food safety and nutrition, food biotechnology, irradiation and functional foods.
"She was a fierce defender of food safety and made sure that the public was getting fact and not fiction, Mr. Dempster said. "She had such a passion, she was totally committed and dedicated. This was not a nine-to-five job. She worked 24/7 to reinforce the benefits of both health and food safety.
Mr. Dempster said that others in the industry have recognized Ms. Thibault's efforts, as she had been asked to serve as chairperson of several industry committees and coalitions -- most notably the Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition. As chairperson of the coalition for the past two years, Ms. Thibault has worked alongside the members of numerous Canadian commodity and industry associations in an effort to help standardize the individual provincial government's standards for food safety.
"She was one of the key forces in the [coalition], and this reflected a lot of what she brought to the table, Mr. Dempster said. "This has allowed the CPMA to be at the forefront in the areas of food safety, health and nutrition. The respect people have for her helped the CPMA gain more credibility.
According to Mr. Dempster, Ms. Thibault will be taking a public health position with the city of Ottawa, where she will be dealing with the city's individual school boards and working to better the nutritional value of the meals they serve to students.
"She has two young children, and her experience will have a direct application into the schools, he said. In addition, Mr. Dempster said that he was disappointed to announce that Samy Pelerin, CPMA's manager of government relations, was also leaving the association for a position with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Only in his current position since May, Mr. Pelerin joined CPMA in 1999 and was most recently CPMA's membership and trade show manager.
"Samy brought both our membership directory and our exhibition to a new level, Mr. Dempster said. "He was a hard worker who was committed to doing things right.
