US: Watermelon promotion board announces restructuring

This December, the National Watermelon Promotion Board’s director of marketing and communications, Gordon Hunt, announced his departure after a ten-year tenure with watermelon and a career in produce to take a position as managing director of a new Southeast Asian-oriented company. This change prompted the NWPB to rebalance the resources within our organization and implement a significant restructuring.

NWPB developed a strong succession plan that includes fostering internal talents, as well as creating a new position. In doing so, NWPB has new leadership team. Megan McKenna, who had previously been with National Mango Board, will take on the newly created role of director of Foodservice. Juliemar Rosado has been promoted to Director of Retail Operations. And, Stephanie Barlow has been promoted to the Senior Director of Communications.

“This organizational restructuring will align staff and resources to better serve the watermelon industry as we work toward meeting the objectives in NWPB’s strategic plan that will produce results for our research, promotion and education initiatives,” says Mark Arney, executive director. “This staff will shape and direct the future for watermelon’s core message priorities and targets, integrating all outreach strategies.”

Effective immediately, the NWPB’s leadership team will be as follows:

Executive Director: Mark Arney
Senior Director of Communications: Stephanie Barlow
Director of Retail Operations and International Marketing: Juliemar Rosado
Director of Foodservice and Marketing: Megan McKenna

Please visit www.watermelon.org for more information.