Board of Directors
Stewart Fleeman - Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board
Maribel Nenna - Director
Maribel currently serves as a Director of the California Ag Labor Association, CALA and sits on the Labor Committee for California Citrus Mutual. She works for Corona College Heights Orange & Lemon Association based out of Riverside as a District 1 Grower Relations and Field Division Manager. A Tulare county grower herself, she understands the many concerns as well as challenges that impact our citrus industry today. “Of our many issues in which we face today, the most critical challenge is our fight for water. Growers have spent thousands of dollars putting in wells to provide their farms with water to produce crops or just to keep trees alive, but improved water storage is a necessity for many California farmers. “Secondly, protecting our citrus industry from the continuing threat of the HLB and other invasive pests. Maribel and her husband Dave Nenna reside outside of Ducor.
Carlos Gutierrez - Vice Chair
Carlos’ citrus career is multifaceted from being a grower farming in Tulare and Kern Counties, to starting a Farm Labor Contractor business in 2007, which continues to serve the citrus industry today, to joining Visalia Citrus Packing Group in 2011 as a Grower Service Representative. sees three major issues facing the industry that must be priorities in our industry: working to ensure the industry has a sustainable labor supply, participating with other stakeholders and government entities to address the looming water crisis with the goal of available, affordable water long term, and lastly, continuing the efforts of the ACP/HLB programs.
Gus Carranza - Director
John S. Gless - Director
John is a third generation grower with over 40 years of experience in the citrus industry. As Vice President of Gless Ranch, John manages the farming operations of Navel and Valencia oranges, mandarins, grapefruit, and lemons in the Arvin, Edison and Maricopa areas of Kern County, Riverside, Hemet, and the Coachella Valley areas of Riverside County. He has served for the past eight years on the California Citrus Advisory Committee and is currently in his fourth year of serving on the California Citrus Mutual Board of Directors. John lives in Bakersfield with his wife Keri and their three children Maggie (13), Charley (10), and Hank (4). He also has the pleasure of working alongside his eldest son, John C. (33), fourth generation in the industry.
Tom Wollenman - Director
Tom Wollenman’s family history is rooted in the California citrus industry, and he continues to carry on the tradition. He is a third generation Citrus Grower Packer who has spent a lifetime working in all aspects of the industry. Currently, Mr. Wollenman is General Manager and Vice President of Special Operations at LoBue Citrus in Lindsay, California. Tom is also a Board member of California Citrus Mutual, Vice Chairman of Central California Orange Growers Co-Op and Alternate Director of California Citrus Growers Association. In the past, Mr. Wollenman has served as Board Chairman of California Citrus Mutual, Chairman of the California Citrus Mutual Marketing Committee and Chairman of Central California Orange Growers Co-Op. Mr. Wollenman takes great pride in his Citrus heritage and the heritage of all members of the California Citrus Family and has a deep desire for the industry to continue to thrive in a sustainable manner.
Mike Hulsey - Secretary/Treasurer
NIck Galusha - Director
Director
Rudy Mendoza - Executive Director
Rudy Mendoza has been a risk management and human resource consultant for over a decade, working in multiple arenas including agriculture and manufacturing. Rudy possesses a strong government relations background, serving for seven years as the District Director to Congressman Devin Nunes. Rudy is currently Mayor of the City of Woodlake, with over 10 years of proud service to its citizens, and currently chairs several influential committees that deal with water supply, transportation, and local government and labor. Rudy Mendoza has been active in the Central Valley’s agricultural community for over twenty years, beginning as a farm laborer, then working his way to farm manager before forming his own consulting firm. Since its inception, Rudy has assisted numerous small business owners with compliance issues that include business development and regulatory concerns.