Following the retirement of Randy Hause on January 3, 2017, Western Growers brought in Kim Sherman to head up the Membership Department.  Kim comes to Western Growers with a rich and varied background that will make her an immediate asset to the association and its members.  We recently sat down with Kim and asked her to help us get to know her better.

Tell us about your background and professional experiences.

I was born in the Midwest, but grew up in Orange County and earned my Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Long Beach.  In my professional career, I have a diverse background in advertising, marketing, employee benefits and association work.  Before coming to Western Growers, I served as the director of membership with the Irvine Chamber of Commerce for more than seven years.  I am a graduate of the U.S. Chamber Institute of Organizational Management and on the board of directors for Leadership Tomorrow Orange County.

Why were you interested in the job as director of membership?

Western Growers has an outstanding reputation in the industry and I am excited about the opportunity to support the generations of families that grow the best medicine in the world.  I have also heard that the members are some of the most wonderful people you will ever meet, and my goal is to help them achieve their business goals.

What do you hope to accomplish as head of the Membership Department?

I will work strategically with the Western Growers leadership team, board of directors and membership to enhance the value of our products and services, as well as the member experience, in order to achieve our mission statement: To enhance the competitiveness and profitability of our members.

What are some fun facts about yourself that you would like our members to know?

I was a competitive skier in college, I used to paint wall murals, and I was on a game show in the ‘80s and won a year’s supply of Sunny Delight!

What is your favorite fruit, vegetable or tree nut grown by our members?

I absolutely love avocados!

Answer one question that wasn’t asked but should have been.

For fun, I love to golf and travel.