read more - Potato Growers of Alberta

T HE P O T A T O M I N U T ETHE PGA TEAMThe Staff of the PGA is dedicated to providing valuable information and services to our members. Over thepast months we have grown stronger as a team, relying on our collective skills to get the job done! Here is aquick run down of who we are, who does what, and who is best to answer your inquiry!Deb Hart - Seed Coordinator(written by Terence)Deb has been with the PGA in her current position since May, 2004. As our most senior (OLDEST lol)staff member, and representative of the PGA on the national and international scene, Deb’sknowledge of the seed sector is invaluable to her fellow staff members. This respect is mirrored by herfellow AB and Canadian committee members. Stationed in the Edmonton office at CDC North, Debworks closely with the seed growers, the CFIA and Trade Missions to ensure that PGA seed growershave the opportunity to market their product in both the national and international arenas. Deb’swillingness to assist all of us in our day-to-day jobs, and fill in wherever need be, shows her completededication to the PGA! If someone is looking to learn about our industry, and has an affinity for redwine, then pull up a chair and enjoy Deb’s wealth of knowledge and her willingness to share!Patti Lamb - Assistant to the Executive Director (written by Deb)The title of Executive Assistant is a very small part of Patti’s role with the Potato Growers of Alberta.In fact, Patti is the glue that holds us together and is the PGA go-to person! Patti started her careerwith the PGA on October 16, 2006, just in time to complete the final details for the AGM and receivethe harvest reports – coincidence? I think not!! Her patience level and organization skills are envied.She can answer the phone and redirect calls, edit documents, greet and help growers in the office,plan events, prepare PGA licenses, and make coffee, all at the same time – some days are better thanothers!! She also takes care of our Board of Directors’ needs, including distributing meeting packages andeven preparing the occasional lunch (hmmm)! Well done and thanks Patti. We’d be lost without you!Wendy Arnold - Financial & Communications Administrator(written by Patti)Wendy joined the PGA in May, 2011 as the Finance/Accounts Assistant, but due to her strong workethic and inability to leave anything half done, she was the perfect fit to replace Margie when sheretired in September! Wendy is an accountant first, a communicator second, but as a very quick studyshe has also transitioned well into Office Manager, IT Manager and Rodent Manager (oh wait, she’sdefinitely not the mouse girl!) Wendy loves good food and puts on her caterer’s hat when meals areplanned or Cornfest approaches!! Wendy is very organized, however this comes at the sacrifice of aforest or two … she’s always taking notes!! (Watch for it, people!!) Wendy’s door is always open andkeeps everyone on track .. we are blessed to have her commitment and knowledge at the PGA!Terence Hochstein - Technical Director(written by Cindy)As the lone male in the office, Terence has to have a great sense of humour, but he also acts as theoverprotective brother to “his girls”. He started in July, 2011 and hasn’t stopped learning since; oftenseen in the office late at night or on weekends absorbing as much as he can. PGA members can relyon Terence’s knowledge for chemical questions, safety regulations, planting techniques, harvest andstorage, government legislation, PGA research projects, and if he can’t answer your question, he willfind someone who can. (Just don’t ask him about growing spuds inside!) He also represents the PGAon Provincial and National Boards, where he continues to gain valuable knowledge. Mr. “Fussy- stein”can also be seen rearranging the back storage area, repacking the trailer, redoing his presentations,but we just know that’s all part of what makes him the dependable Tech Director that he is!2Cindy Fletcher - Accounts Clerk & Promotions Coordinator (written by Wendy )Cindy stated with the PGA in August, 2011 part-time as the Accounts Clerk. Her job at the PGAconsists of the day to day AR and AP, and she also helps administer the Crop Advance program. Shehas proven to be very detailed and is the spread sheet Queen, and as a result her duties now extendto managing planting and harvest reports, processor reports, and combining that info in to the statsrequired for negotiations and government departments. On top of that, Cindy does a lot of thesearching out and purchasing of promotional items, and she registers and attends trade shows onbehalf of the PGA. She truly has a “gift of gab”, loves to talk to consumers and students about potatoes,so we extended her job title to reflect this skill. Finally, Cindy’s day is not complete if she doesn’tmake at least one of her co-workers laugh, as entertaining people is the best part of her job!!