The Texas International Produce Association recently added three new members to its board of directors, filling chairs vacated by board members whose service had concluded.
Newly welcomed members are Travis Catalani Anna Lopez and Cory Oliver
The outgoing members are Courtney Schuster Moore of Rio Fresh Inc., Mrs. April Flowers of Lone Star Citrus Growers, and Mr. Will Steele of Frontera Produce LTD.
Catalani of B. Catalani Inc. started his full-time career at B. Catalani 14 years ago and has been around produce his entire life. The family company was founded in 1914, and Travis is the fourth generation to continue the family business. “I have known since I was 12 years old that this is what I wanted to do. I am passionate about the industry and honored to be able to serve in this role for TIPA,” he said.
Anna, who has been with HEB for more than 28 years, recently assumed the role of the Vice President of Produce. She began her career in the Gulf Coast and started in store operations for the first 10 years. In the last decade, her career has included multiple roles for Produce, including Regional Operations, Corporate Merchandising & Marketing, Quality Assurance, Business Development Manager, and Business Unit Director for Procurement.
Cory Oliver began his produce career on the retail side and worked with various grocery stores for over 25 years before moving to the supplier side. His tenure included management and director-level positions within Albertsons, Ahold, HEB, Sprouts, and Kroger, nearly always in Texas. Over the past five-plus years Cory has worked with Texas-based shippers handling a variety of commodities and roles. Recently, he represented TIPA at the Gulfoods event in Dubai, UEA as part of a Texas Dept. of Ag trade mission to expand access into new international markets. Each year a 17 to 19-member TIPA board of directors is elected by the association’s membership, with the board including members from varying geographic areas in Texas as well as, members from each of the different membership categories.
