Virginia Zimm, of Faye Clack Communications Inc., made this speech, announcing Hugh Bowman, president of Ippolito Fruit and Produce, as the winner of the Cory Clack Streef Memorial Produce Person of the Year Award at the annual OPMA gala. The event took place at the Historic Liberty Grand in Downtown Toronto.
Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,
Congratulations to the OPMA staff and Board of Directors for hosting another spectacular evening. The theme and dcor are amazing. You have out done yourselves once again.
Its an honour to present the Cory Clack Streef Memorial Produce Person of the Year Award again this year. This industry was my sisters life and Im delighted to present this award in her name.
This years recipient is a stalwart produce advocate. He has made produce his lifes work. One might say he is even willing to go to great lengths both physically and emotionally to work and contribute in an industry fraught with challenges. Giving 200% is his credo. Hell go where he is needed, endure personal sacrifice to get the job done, and even put himself in harms way on the streets of Montreal.
After working in Montreal following his education at Brock he considered his personal options for happiness, and elected to return to his native Ontario to become one whom you might say, worked in the dark and dealt with a lot of sh.
Of course we could say that about all of our careers in produce couldnt we?
After a stint in the mushroom business, he returned to his former employer armed with a determination to move their business forward. While working full time he took on the additional challenge of developing his skills by completing an executive MBA at the University of Guelph. None of this could have been accomplished had he not had the support of the love of his life and mother of his children. Kudos to her for allowing his potential to evolve.
His employer asked why do you want to do this? there wont be a pay raise ya know, so why bother? – I think they already knew he was presidential material.
This individual has made a point of knowing all aspects of the value chain a Jack of all trades. Yes I said value chain not supply chain. He understands that unless you are adding value along the supply chain, its not worthy of this industry.
Those of you who work with him know who Im talking about. Those of you who need some more hints may know him for his service on the OPMA Board of Directors or the CPMA Board of Directors.
Hes a member of the CPMA Food Safety Committee, the North American Trade Committee, the Grower Shipper Committee, the Industry Government Issues Management Working Group, the Industry Technology Advisory Committee, the Member Services Committee and the current CPMA rep on the Produce Electronic Identification Board.
But the real reason for this latest accolade this evening is his fierce dedication to produce education. Yes educating the uninformed about leeks guess what they grown in dirt- who knew? Need some more hints?
Well its the Scots who built this country with great big hairy knees according to our fellow countrymen, Bowser and Blue. The brand he brandishes may be Queen Victoria, but hes the Prince of Produce. He believes that recognizing dedication and devotion in this industry is one of the most important pillars of leadership and so too we recognize him for the same.
This years Cory Clack Streef Memorial Produce Person of the Year Award goes to a man who is outstanding in his field, has it all in the bag the OTR bag that is, the Cardinal of Halloween, the Duffer of Golf, the Fisherman of the North, the father of the next Canadian Olympic Female Gymnastic Team, a man my sister adored, and one I admire Hugh Bowman!