New York Apple Association, Inc. (NYAA) President and CEO Cynthia Haskins will direct the association’s activities to market and promote the 2017 New York state apple crop, and has assembled an experienced staff team of both new and familiar faces to assist her, the association announced.
“I am very excited to have our ‘Team 2017’ in place and ready to make the case to retailers, foodservice and consumers alike that New York state is their Big Apple,” said Haskins. “In the weeks and months ahead, we’ll be letting them know the many reasons why they don’t need to look any further this fall than their backyard for delicious, nutritious, local apples, cider and other apple products.”
From left to right: Cynthia Haskins, Tami Bacon, Susan Sarlund, Michele Hoard and David McClurg
Hoard and McClurg join Haskins and Sarlund on marketing staff
Haskins will lead NYAA’s marketing team, working with Michele Hoard as NYAA’s new retail and foodservice account manager and Susan Sarlund, NYAA’s longtime Northeast account manager. Hoard and Sarlund will call on retailers and other buyer partners. Haskins has also tapped NYAA alumnus David McClurg to support the association’s 2017 retail promotional activities, and to implement a foodservice market development grant project.
Hoard’s marketing skills include category management, program launches, customer marketing, and consumer promotions at the retail level including demos. She brings a wealth of industry experience to her new NYAA role. Sarlund worked alongside her father John McAleavey, Sr. on NYAA’s Northeast retail account management team for several years until his death in 2015. At that time, she also succeeded him as executive director of Eastern Produce Council, a relationship that comes in handy in getting Sarlund into retailers’ offices, notes Haskins. McClurg rejoins NYAA as a contractor to support the association’s retail promotion activities, and to fulfill a foodservice market development grant project targeting New York state schools and correctional facilities.
This is an exciting time, there are many opportunities for our industry at retail and in foodservice, and now we have a strong team in place to realize those opportunities,” said Haskins.
Haskins also reported that Molly Zingler has resigned as NYAA’s marketing director. Zingler helped NYAA add digital marketing tools including digital coupons and social media to its traditional marketing toolbox. “We thank Molly for all her contributions over the last five years, and wish her much success in her new endeavors,” said Haskins.
Bacon joins Stewart on public relations team
Haskins welcomed Tami Bacon as NYAA’s new administrative and public relations assistant. Bacon’s administrative duties include orchestrating NYAA’s annual presence at the Great New York State Fair, and fulfilling industry and retailer requests for marketing collateral. Stewart has served as NYAA’s public relations director since 2012, directing the association’s consumer and trade media relations, issues/crisis communications and websites.
Haskins herself joined NYAA as president and CEO on Jan. 3, following the retirement of longtime NYAA senior executive Jim Allen.
Contact:
Julia Stewart
New York Apple Association
Tel: (703) 727-8808