Dean LaVallee to take on role as chief operating officer; Laura Gerhard to become vice president
Blue Diamond Growers named Dean LaVallee as the new chief operating officer (COO) for California’s largest almond cooperative. In addition to serving as COO, LaVallee will continue to operate in his current role as chief financial officer (CFO) and will report directly to Blue Diamond Growers’ president and chief executive officer, Mark Jansen. As COO/CFO, LaVallee will oversee the Finance, Global Ingredients, and IT divisions within Blue Diamond Growers. He joined the cooperative in 2011.
In other leadership news from the cooperative, long-time Blue Diamond Growers’ employee, Bill Morecraft, announced his retirement at the end of this year after 35 years of service. Morecraft joined Blue Diamond Growers in 1986 working in Finance, Production Planning, and Sales Planning.