FIBR Welcomes New Board Members!

Congratulations! to Maurie Thomas of Caldwell Fresh Foods and Laura Lee of Soyfoods of America for their acceptance to the FIBR Board of Directors.  We are excited to welcome them and look forward to the expertise and dedication they will bring!  Here is a little about each of them:

Born in Bell and raised in Maywood California, Maurie Thomas is the General Manager and part owner of Caldwell Fresh Foods, a 60 year old family owned Fresh Vegetable Processing and Sprout Growing Company in Maywood. Caldwell also Farms almost 200 acres in Oxnard, California growing specific vegetables for their operation.  Maurie can best be known for saying that "It is nice to work where everyone cares about the business."
After three years in the US Army, Maurie met and married Judi, they will celebrate 49 years of marriage this year. They have two married children and seven grandchildren.  Attending Art  Center College of Design gave him the ability to distinguish good work and the realization that his limited artistic ability would not pay the bills.

From his first job, Maurie’s enjoyment of working with people is what led him into selling. It was eighteen years ago when Maurie’s friendship with Caldwell’s Founder Jack Caldwell and current President Harry Caldwell got him the job.

Caldwell is very active in all stages of Food Safety and believe Fresh Produce Processing is one of the most exciting businesses to be in, we, other processors and the FDA are developing "How Fresh Cut’s will be processed and marketed in the future."  Maurie stays active in supporting several Food Safety and Processing Organizations and serves on FIBR’s Board.

Maurie is a member of the Downey Sertoma Club and enjoys photography.

Laura Lee is General Manager of  Soyfoods of America, a family enterprise.  Laura has been with Soyfoods  from the beginning when her parents started the business.  Still in high school, she began as a gopher and clean up person, and tells us she can  still handle a mean floor squeegee!

While going to USC for business with an emphasis in entrepreneurship, she kept the Company books  and handled  in store demos.  After graduating and working full time for Soyfoods, she  found out how smart mom and pops were and that the  "standard" business models that she learned about didn't really apply to a family run operation.  She then learned all  the pitfalls of running a food manufacturing  plant:   regulations, maneuvering  big chain store, insurance, etc.   25 plus years later, she is still learning new things and really appreciates  FIBR!

Outside of Soyfoods, Laura is a  belly dancer , supports many charity events.     

If you are interested in serving on the FIBR Board of Directors, and are a member in good standing, please send a note about your interest to ynunez@fibr.info.  We always welcome interested and enthusiastic individuals who want to shape FIBR's future!

Cordially,

Dandy Don Whittemore