2020 RETA Breeze Sept-Oct

2019-20 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN Arlie Farley, CARO, CIRO Farley’s S.R.P., Inc. PRESIDENT Vern Sanderson, CIRO, CRST, RAI Wagner-Meinert, LLC EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Eric Teale, CARO, CRST Danfoss Industrial Refrigeration TREASURER Keith Harper, CARO Tyson Foods SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Pete Lepschat, CIRO, CRES, CRST Henningsen Cold Storage, Co. DIRECTORS Bengie Branham, CIRO Perdue Farms William Ellena Coastal Pacific Food Distributors, Inc David Gulcynski, CIRO Dot Foods Inc. Michael Hawkins Midatlantic Refrigeration, LLC Matt Hayes, CARO TJW Industrial Edward Johnson, CARO Schwans Global Supply Chain, Inc. Frank Kologinczak III Kolo Compression Jim Kovarik Gamma Graphics Bill Lape, CARO, CIRO, CRST SCS Engineers Jordan Reece, RAI Ricky Jimenez, CIRO Mericle Mechanical Inc COMMITTEE CHAIRS Gene Dumas, CARO, CIRO, CRST, RAI Nominations SCS Tracer Environmental Dave Gulcynski, CIRO , Education Dot Foods, Inc. Jim Kovarik, National Conference Gamma Graphics Lanier Technical College Raymond Urban, CARO Lineage Logistics

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Thank you for the opportunity to address the membership. This is my final Presidents report. It has been an honor to serve as President and I look forward to many years as a RETA member. This year has not been without challenges. But the challenges were confronted and resolved. Many things beyond our control affected our year. RETA is blessed with a fantastic Headquarters staff. In addition our elected leadership, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Board of Directors, Chapter Presidents and Chapter Officers are top notch. All worked very hard to continue to serve the membership through the pandemic. The committee chairpersons and sub-chairpersons work very hard for the organization. Thank you to all of them as well. I would also like to thank Sara Louber and James Barron at RETA HQ. Without their assistance this year may have turned out very differently. The organization is strong. Surprisingly strong! It is a testament to the leadership of HQ and the Board of Directors. In my acceptance speech last year, I said that I believed the refrigeration industry needs one voice, the operator’s voice, RETA’s voice. But there are many facets of our industry and as some of those facets struggle, the industry struggles. RETA stands ready to do our part for the membership and the industry. RETA will lead the industry forward. Our incoming President will be the voice of the industry. It is the job of every member to counsel

Vern Sanderson, RETA National President

The fall board meeting is upon us and the committees have a lot of things in process. You should receive some of the news in the next issue of the Breeze. Conference is upon us. Our first virtual conference. We are very excited. Both to experience this new platform and to return to the old. Please avail yourself of the benefits this platform has to offer. Our new officers will be sworn in soon. There is a great slate of officers and board members, they will serve the organization well. I look forward to the coming year. I assure you it will be better than this one. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve as your President. It has been a life altering experience that I will never forget.

Michael Hawkins, Membership Midatlantic Refrigeration, LLC Matt Hayes, CARO, Publications TJW Industrial Lee Pyle, CARO, Certification SCS Tracer Environmental Jim Barron, Executive Director 4 RETA.com

Vern M. Sanderson National President

him as you’ve counseled me. The organization is in great hands.