Meet the Board & Staff
The Almond Board of California is a diverse group of almond professionals that is advancing almonds throughout the world, maximizing the impact of California almonds, and embracing innovation and research. Meet the Board of Directors, and key staff members who work at the Almond Board.

Board Members

Kelli Evans
Evans Farming

Paul Ewing
Sales and Grower Relations Manager, RPAC

Joe Gardiner
National Sales and Marketing Manager, Treehouse California Almonds

Christine Gemperle
Grower, Gemperle Orchards

Mel Machado
Co-op Handler, Blue Diamond Growers

Brandon Rebiero, Vice Chair

Darren Rigg
Sales Representative, Minturn Nut Co.

Alicia Rockwell, Chair
Blue Diamond Growers

Bob Silveira
Director of Sales and Marketing, Vann Family Orchards
Staff

Julie Adams
Vice President, Global Technical & Regulatory Affairs

Toni Arellano
Senior Coordinator Marketing Order Services

Skylar Becvar
Senior Coordinator, Industry Relations and Communications

Rebecca Bailey
Senior Specialist, Industry Relations

Tim Birmingham
Director, Quality Assurance and Industry Services

Connie Calhoun
Director, Human Resources and Organizational Development

Adam Casso
Coordinator, Logistics & Special Events

Gary Castillo
Specialist, Field Outreach and Education

Connie Cheung
Consultant, China

Courtney Collins
Data Analyst

Brock Densel
Senior Analyst, Government Affairs

Lauren Fann
Senior Specialist, Pest Management

James Fillmore
Senior Manager, Information Technology

Emily Fleischmann
Vice President, Global Market Development

Charice D.E. Grace
Manager, Trade Marketing and Stewardship

Elena Hemler
Nutrition Research Program Lead

Natalie Henderson
Director, Global Communications

Taylor Hillman
Senior Specialist, Industry Communications

Guangwei Huang
Associate Director, Food Research and Technology

Becky Jeffers
Manager, North America Marketing, Almond Board of California

Lynn Jordan
Executive Assistant

Elisa Keener
Administrative Support Technician

Luwam Kidane
Junior Database Administrator

Murielle Kim
Consultant, South Korea/Japan Markets

Abhijeet (Abhi) Kulkarni
Principal, Technical & Trade Issues

Rahima Kunari
Specialist, Finance and Administration

Josette Lewis
Chief Scientific Officer

Gabriele Ludwig
Director, Environmental Policy

Harbinder Maan
Associate Director, Trade Marketing and Stewardship

Haille Margarite
Program Coordinator, Research and Innovation

Melissa Mautz
Associate Director, Global Market Development

Sudarshan Mazumdar
Consultant, India

Laura Morin
Director, North America and China

Jenny Nicolau
Associate Director, Industry Relations and Communications

Brian Peterson
Senior Director of Finance, Analytics and Information Technology

Sabrina Poth
Specialist, Marketing Order Services

Dariela Roffe-Rackind
Director, Europe and Global Public Relations

Michael Roots
Manager, Field Outreach and Education

Sebastian Saa
Associate Director, Agricultural Research

Keith Schneller
Senior Trade Policy Specialist, Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs

Judy Scott-McKay
Technical Specialist, Marketing Order Services

Tyree Sessoms
Help Desk Specialist

Ann Solo
Senior Administrator, Global Market Development

Bryce Spycher
Senior Manager, Marketing Order Services

Melissa Stewart
Human Resources Specialist

Clarice Turner
President and CEO

Danielle Veenstra
Senior Manager, Global Stewardship + Impact