Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently appointed five new members to the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) and reappointed five members. The new appointees are Emma Ezell, Sean Frielich, Vernon Hollingsworth III, Daniel Hunt and Melanie Ressler. Steve Johnson, Carlos Martinez, William Poulton, Daniel Sutton and John “Patrick” Schirard were reappointed.
The FCC is the governing board of the Florida Department of Citrus. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
EZELL
Ezell, a grower member representing District 3, is a harvesting and hauling coordinator at Reynolds Farms, Inc. She is a member of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association and the Highlands County Planning and Zoning Committee and was the recipient of the Junior Chamber International Florida Outstanding Young Farmer Award. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Florida Southern College. Her term will expire May 31, 2027.
FRIELICH
Frielich, representing statewide processors, is vice president of technical services for Florida’s Natural Growers. He currently serves as president of the Florida Citrus Processors Association and previously served as chairman of the Juice Products Association. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and chemistry from the University of Florida. His term will expire May 31, 2027.
HOLLINGSWORTH
Hollingsworth, a grower member representing District 2, is president of VCH Management, Inc. He previously served as chairman of the Farm Service Agency and earned his bachelor’s degree in citrus from Florida Southern College. His term will expire May 31, 2028.
HUNT
Hunt, a grower member representing District 5, is vice president of Hunt Brothers Cooperative. He currently serves as treasurer of the Citrus Research and Field Trial Foundation, Inc. and is a member of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute. He earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida. His term will expire May 31, 2026.
RESSLER
Ressler, the statewide packer representing the Indian River production area, is co-chief executive officer at IMG Enterprises, Inc. She is a member of the Florida Citrus Packers Association board and the Citrus Administrative Committee. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stetson University and her master’s degree in business administration from Paris Graduate School of Management. Her term will expire May 31, 2026.
JOHNSON
Johnson, a grower member representing District 4, is president and owner of Johnson Harvesting, Inc. He is vice president of the Florida Farm Bureau and earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural operations management from the University of Florida. His term will expire May 31, 2028.
MARTINEZ
Martinez, representing statewide processors, is a procurement manager for the Coca-Cola Company in Auburndale. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida and his master’s degree in Christian theology from St. Leo University. His term will expire May 31, 2026.
POULTON
Poulton, representing statewide processors, is the senior director of global procurement for Tropicana Products, Inc. The Navy veteran earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Duke University. His term will expire May 31, 2028.
SUTTON
Sutton, serving as a statewide large grower, is president and general manager of Alico Citrus. He earned his bachelor’s degree in citrus from Florida Southern College. His term will expire May 31, 2026.
SCHIRARD
Schirard, a grower member representing District 6, is director of Citrus Extracts, LLC. He is president of the Indian River Citrus League and earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Florida. His term will expire May 31, 2027.
Source: Gov. Ron DeSantis
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