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)