Columbia Marketing International (CMI), an established leader in the worldwide distribution of premium quality apples, pears and cherries is proud to announce that Bob Mast, Vice President of Marketing of CMI was appointed by the Ownership of CMI, to the position of Company President on Monday, April 22nd. Mast assumed the position immediately and will continue to work on limited marketing projects as CMI posts and fills the Vice President of Marketing position.
Mike Wade, Member of the Board and Co-Owner of CMI, said, “We are extremely fortunate Bob Mast was already in a key leadership role at CMI. Bob is not only a great choice, he was the only candidate considered. Under Bob's leadership CMI will continue its tradition of a high level of customer service. Bob's nine year history at CMI will bring valuable continuity and perspective to his new role. To anyone who knows Bob, his dedication to both CMI and the tree fruit industry is unmatched.”
Mast has been with CMI, one of Washington State’s largest apple, pear and cherry shippers, since 2003 as Director of Marketing, and has overseen the marketing department as Vice President of Marketing for the last six years. Previously, Mast worked with Fry's (a division of Kroger) in various Leadership roles for 20 years prior to coming to CMI.
Mast graduated from Arizona State University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. His extensive training in marketing and category/inventory management has been very beneficial in working with retailers to grow CMI’s fruit category.
Stuart McDougall, Chairman of the Board and Co-Owner of CMI, said of Bob Mast’s selection, “Bob’s communication skills, attention to detail, and passion for the fruit industry made him an ideal fit for this key position. It is always gratifying to promote a person from within the company, particularly from our customers’ perspective. We can expect a seamless transition in our management team and a continuation of CMI’s dedication to distributing premium fruit throughout the U.S. and to international markets.”
Mast stated, “It is with great honor that I accepted this position. Our past President Glady Bellamy was both a mentor and personal friend. I also have had the pleasure of being lead by Nick Buak whom has had a very positive impact on my business philosophies. Both Glady and Nick assembled one of the finest teams in the industry by hiring very talented and committed professionals. CMI has always had a family atmosphere within our organization where all employees truly care about both the companies they serve as well as their co- workers, so I am very blessed to be taking this leadership role. CMI has a very bright future and I am looking forward to working with our staff as we continue to build upon the legacy that Glady and Nick began.
CMI focuses on premium quality fruit and strong customer partnerships. They have been providing value-added services for many years and continue to expand those programs to meet customer needs.
Source: Columbia Marketing International (CMI)