ABOUT USHBC
The blueberry industry created USHBC 25 years ago to grow the entire category. We exist to give more consumers in the U.S more reasons to buy more blueberries, to expand demand for U.S. blueberries in global markets and to equip the industry for success.
Our Mission
USHBC invests industry funds to build demand.
Our Vision
Blueberries are the world’s favorite fruit.
Our Purpose
We exist to strengthen the blueberry industry’s profitable position in the marketplace.
2026-2028 Strategic Plan
Blueberries have been elevated from the rest of the berry patch as a worldwide symbol of wellness. As an industry, we’re keeping the momentum going! Our 2026-2028 Strategic Plan spells out our lines of effort to build global demand for blueberries.
View a one-page version of the strategic plan below:
COUNCIL MEMBERS
We invite you to get more involved with the USHBC. We need your voice and your expertise to help further the work of the organization and the entire blueberry industry – and the opportunities abound. The board is composed of state and regional representatives who serve as localized resources for the growers, marketers and importers in their assigned area. They manage coordinated state/regional efforts such as hosting meetings and data collection and reporting.
USHBC elections for Public Members, Importer and Exporter members and alternates are divided and held in two separate years. The election of Regional Members, Importer #1, Exporter #1 (Chile), Exporter #3 (Peru), Exporter #4 (Mexico) and Public Member take place in one year, and the election of State Representatives, Exporter #2 (Canada), Importers #2, #3 and #4 take place the following year.
Candidates nominated during a USHBC election year can download an industry member or public member background information form here.
States
California
Member – Doug LaCroix
Second Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Randy Grimm
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Florida
Member – Brittany Lee
Second Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Michael Hill
Second Term Ends – 12/31/28
Georgia
Member – Tammy Brannen
Second Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Brandon Wade
Second Term Ends 12/31/25
Michigan
Member – Dennis Vander Kooi
Second Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – George Fritz, Jr.
Second Term Ends 12/31/28
New Jersey
Member – Matt Macrie
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Open
First Term Ends 12/31/28
North Carolina
Member – Kristen Johnson-Brinkley
Second Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Neil Moore
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Oregon
Member – Ellie Norris
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Anna Jesse
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Washington
Member – Michele Cherchi
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Bryan Sakuma
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Regions
Western
Member – Nathan Sakuma
Second Term Ends 12/31/27
Alternate – Anne Steinkamp
Second Term Ends 12/31/27
Midwest
Member – Katelyn Craig
First Term Ends 12/31/27
Alternate – Kara Laraway-Hartmann
First Term Ends 12/31/27
Northeast
Member – Brandon Raso
Firsst Term Ends 12/31/27
Alternate – Alec Arena
First Term Ends 12/31/27
Southeast
Member – Jody McPherson
Second Term Ends 12/31/27
Alternate – Dan Register
First Term Ends 12/31/27
Importers, Exporters and Public Members
Importer #1
Member – Gonzalo de Elizalde
First Term Ends – 12/31/27
Alternate – Bonnie Lundblad
First Term Ends – 12/31/27
Importer #2
Member – Guy Cotton
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Ian Grigg
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Importer #3
Member – Ryan Lockman
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Harold Mongrut
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Importer #4
Member – Joe Barsi
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Bo Slack
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Exporter #1 (Chile)
Member – Juan Pablo Vogt
First Term Ends 12/31/27
Alternate – Ruy Barbosa
First Term Ends 12/31/27
Exporter #2 (Canada)
Member – Sunny Brar
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Alternate – Humraj Kallu
First Term Ends 12/31/28
Exporter #3 (Peru)
Member – Daniel Bustamante
Second Term Ends 12/31/27
Alternate – Jose Antonio Castro
Second Term Ends 12/31/27
Exporter #4 (Mexico)
Member – Miguel Mendez
First Term Ends 12/31/27
Alternate – Raul Gonzales Chavez
First Term Ends 12/31/27
Public Member
Member – Bill Cline
First Term Ends 12/31/27
Alternate – Patricio R. Munoz
Second Term Ends 12/31/27
OUR PEOPLE
As board-appointed leadership and USHBC staff, it’s our pleasure to support you. We’re fully engaged and passionate about our roles and responsibilities to serve and advance the blueberry industry. In all we do, we strive to cultivate a culture and infrastructure that supports and enables industry and individual success in the spirit of continuous improvement.
USHBC Officers
Ellie Norris
Chair
Brittany Lee
Vice Chair
Brandon Raso
Treasurer
VACANT
Secretary
USHBC Staff
Kasey Cronquist
President
Amanda Griffin
Vice President of Engagement and Education
Kevin Hamilton
Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications
Leslie Wada
Senior Director of Nutrition and Health Research
Alyssa Houtby
Senior Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy
Haiying Zhang
Director of Global Business Development
Stacy Plarr
Director of Meetings and Events
Andrea Walters
Director of Organizational Development, People and Culture
Jared Ruggles
Director of Finance
Mandy Boarman
Industry and Community Engagement Manager
Inez Be
Director of Marketing
Shaun Rundle
Director of Operations
Gabriella Gebhardt
Communications and
Digital Content
Coordinator
Crystal Wills
Compliance
Coordinator
Holly Leslie
Finance and
Administrative
Specialist
Lisa Buckmaster
Administrative
Assistant
Committees
The USHBC is fueled by the dedication and passion of our industry. Our committees are the engine that drives us forward.
See all our committees and members, and filter to find a specific role.
Filter by committees
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee oversees all business and operations of the USHBC, supporting all efforts to grow the value of and sell more blueberries in the U.S. and around the world.
Ellie Norris
Chair
Brittany Lee
Vice Chair
Brandon Raso
Treasurer
VACANT
Secretary
Daniel Bustamante
Member at Large
Bryan Sakuma
Past Chair
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee oversees the financial affairs of the council, including the recommendation and monitoring of the annual budget; assessment collection and compliance; investment of council funds; fiscal reporting; and the annual financial audit. The Treasurer serves as the chair of this committee.
The committee is composed of the Treasurer, two council members and three at-large members appointed by the council chair.
Brandon Raso
Treasurer – Chair
George Fritz
term 12/31/2028
Michael Hill
term 12/31/2027
Micah Weiss
term 12/31/2026
Jody McPherson
term 12/31/2027
Tracy Umbenhour
term 12/31/2027
Industry Engagement Committee
The Industry Engagement Committee supports the council and Executive Committee in developing strategies to enhance engagement of industry professionals in USHBC meetings, events and programs, and in governance roles. The committee considers improvements in efficiency and effectiveness of USHBC governance and the leadership development system, including the recruitment, leadership succession planning and appointment process of Executive Committee members, importers and public member positions for the council.
Bryan Sakuma
Chair
term 12/31/2026
Tom Bodtke
Vice Chair
term 12/31/2026
Mark Adams
term 12/31/2025
Shelly Hartmann
term 12/31/2027
Jody McPherson
term 12/31/2026
Andrew Maiman
term 12/31/2027
Juan Pablo Vogt
term 12/31/2028
Anna Jesse
term 12/31/2026
Denny Vander Kooi
term 12/31/2027
Luis Miguel Vegas
term 12/31/2028
Felipe Silva
term 12/31/2028
Promotion Committee
The Promotion Committee oversees and reviews all U.S. markets and global market development promotion and marketing plans, and fields market research studies to inform program development and evaluation.
The committee receives and considers program budget recommendations from the Health Research Advisory Board and the Global Business Development Advisory Board, and is responsible for ensuring that overall program budget recommendations align with strategic plan goals.
Nathan Sakuma
(Grower)
Chair
1st term 12/31/2026
Shelly Hartmann
(Grower)
Vice Chair
term 12/31/2027
Tom Avinelis
(Grower)
term 12/31/2028
Katelyn Craig
(Grower)
term 12/31/2028
Chad Don
(Grower)
term 12/31/2026
Alec Arena
(Grower)
term 12/31/2027
Darren Sinn
(Fresh Marketer)
term 12/31/2027
Bonnie Lundblad
(Fresh Marketer)
term 12/31/2026
Kyla Oberman
(Fresh Marketer)
term 12/31/2028
Rose Palacios
(Fresh Marketer)
term 12/31/2028
Jeff Malensky
(Frozen Marketer)
2nd term 12/31/2026
Haley Noonan
(Frozen Marketer)
term 12/31/2028
Amy Nguyen
(Domestic Exporter)
2nd term 12/31/2026
Jim Roberts
(Domestic Exporter)
term 12/31/2027
Ray Biln
(Importer – CA)
2nd term 12/31/2026
Juan Jose Flores
(Importer – MX)
term 12/31/2027
Felipe Silva
(Importer – CL)
term 12/31/2027
Luis Miguel Vegas
(Importer – PE)
term 12/31/2028
HR Advisory
Board Liaison
OPEN
GBD Advisory
Board Liaison –
Terry Fasel
term 12/31/2027
Food Service Subcommittee (Promotion)
Kyla Oberman
Chair
term 12/31/2027
Ray Biln, Vice Chair
Vice Chair
2nd term 12/31/2026
Stephanie Kleiner
term 12/31/2028
Josh Scheel
term 12/31/2027
Bruce Turner
term 12/31/2027
Brian Bocock
2nd term 12/31/2028
Retail Subcommittee (Promotion)
Kyla Oberman
Chair
term 12/31/2027
Jim Roberts
Vice Chair
term 12/31/2028
Karen Brux
2nd term 12/31/2026
Jody McPherson
term 12/31/2026
Todd Eagan
term 12/31/2028
Bonnie Lundblad
2nd term 12/31/2026
Food Manufacturing Subcommittee (Promotion)
Jeff Malensky
Chair
term 12/31/2026
Felipe Silva
Vice Chair
term 12/31/2026
Chad Don
term 12/31/2027
Josh Scheel
term 12/31/2028
John Shelford
2nd term 12/31/2026
Haley Noonan
term 12/31/2028
Health Research Advisory Board
The Health Research Advisory Board defines recommends and manages priority research projects that demonstrate the health benefits of blueberries. The work of the Advisory Board supports success in strategies for market development.
HEALTH RESEARCH AND NUTRITION STUDIES
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS RESOURCES
Tammy Brannen
Chair
term 12/31/2026
Lindsay Bodtke
Vice Chair
term 12/31/2028
Amy Howell
2nd term 12/31/2026
Mark Sweeney
term 12/31/2027
Cheyenne Sloan
1st term 12/31/2026
Micah Weiss
term 12/31/2027
Global Business Development Advisory Board
The Global Business Development Advisory Board identifies, reviews, and recommends proposals and programs (including those funded by USDA FAS Trade Programs) that have the greatest potential to increase U.S. highbush blueberry export volume. The work of the Advisory Board supports success in USHBC strategies for export market development for U.S. production and to inspire global market development that helps achieve the USHBC’s vision to make blueberries the world’s favorite fruit.
REGISTER FOR THE EXPORT DATABASE
Terry Fasel
Chair
term 12/31/2026
Cort Brazelton
Vice Chair
2nd term 12/31/2026
Mario Flores
term 12/31/2027
Andres Armstrong
term 12/31/2025
Bo Slack
term 12/31/2026
Cristian Vivanco
term 12/31/2027
BerrySmart Insights Fresh Task Force
The BerrySmart Insights Fresh Task Force provides strategic guidance to the USHBC for improving BerrySmart Insights Fresh. The task force helps ensure the platform delivers accurate, actionable insights that support improved decision-making and drive value for stakeholders across the blueberry industry.
Sarah Quackenbush
Chair
term 12/31/2026
Darren Sinn
term 12/31/2026
Markus Duran
term 12/31/2026
Travis Kuhn
term 12/31/2026
David Miller
term 12/31/2026
Doug LaCroix
term 12/31/2026
Ernesto Diaz
term 12/31/2026
Andrew Maiman
term 12/31/2026
Stephanie Kleiner
term 12/31/2026
Luis Miguel Vegas
term 12/31/2026
Andres Armstrong
term 12/31/2026
BerrySmart Food Safety Task Force
The BerrySmart Food Safety Task Force would be convened each year or as needed to address particular food safety trends, emerging issues or project/initiative work, and would work with staff to provide any information, recommendations or reports to the Council for consideration and/or action.
Lisa Winther
term 12/31/2026
Maria Fernanda Abildgaard
term 12/31/2027
Mikala Hughes
term 12/31/2027
Zach Semerikov
term 12/31/2028
Joseph Jessup
term 12/31/2028
VACANT
BerrySmart Technology Task Force
The BerrySmart Technology Task Force would be convened each year or as needed to address particular technology and innovation trends, emerging issues or project/initiative work, and would work with staff to provide any information, recommendations or reports to the Council for consideration and/or action.
THE BUSINESS OF BLUEBERRIES PODCAST
Noel Sakuma
Chair term 12/31/2028
Gabe Bocock
1st term 12/31/2026
Anna Jesse
term 12/31/2028
Cheyenne Sloan
term 12/31/2027
Mike Mainland
2nd term 12/31/2026
Anne Steinkamp
term 12/31/2027
BerrySmart Sustainability Task Force
The Berry Smart Sustainability would be convened each year or as needed to address particular sustainability trends, emerging issues or project/initiative work, and would work with staff to provide any information, recommendations or reports to the Council for consideration and/or action.
Pat Goin
Chair term 12/31/2028
Christy Butler
2nd term 12/31/2026
Cecilia Allende
term 12/31/2027
Brian Knight
term 12/31/2026
Rajendra Gangavarapu
term 12/31/2028
Emily Fritz
term 12/31/2027
ELECTIONS, ELIGIBILITY
AND FORMS
AND FORMS
Executive officers of the USHBC are elected and serve terms of one year. Candidates must be qualified council members and are eligible to be elected for multiple terms. Elections are held at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Candidates who are nominated during a USHBC election year can learn more and download nomination forms here.
JOIN USHBC MEETINGS
Stay connected to the work shaping the future of blueberries by joining our virtual or in-person committee, advisory board and committee meetings.
BYLAWS
View USHBC’s Bylaws and the Title 7 Blueberry Order which establishes the council.
