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Industry > About APC > Staff & Board Members

APC staff and board members

Meet the dedicated industry leaders and professionals guiding the American Pecan Council’s strategic direction and daily operations.

Collaborative leadership driving industry progress

 The American Pecan Council’s leadership structure brings together experienced industry representatives and professional staff working collectively to advance the American pecan industry. Our board members represent diverse segments across the pecan value chain, including growers, shellers, and accumulators from all growing regions. All to ensure balanced representation and unified decision-making.

Together with our professional staff, this leadership team develops and implements strategic initiatives that expand markets, foster innovation, and create sustainable value for the entire industry. From overseeing marketing campaigns and export development to establishing industry standards and providing essential resources, these dedicated professionals work tirelessly to strengthen the position of American pecans in domestic and international markets.

Council members

Larry Don Womack

Chair of the Full Council, Grower

Central Region

Deborah Walden-Ralls

Vice-Chair, Grower

Western Region

Justin Jones

Secretary, Grower

Eastern Region

Lalo Medina

Treasurer, Grower

Central Region

Brent Brinkley

Grower

Eastern Region

Taylor Moses

Grower

Eastern Region

Lenny Wells

Grower

Eastern Region

Molly Willis

Grower

Eastern Region

Lisa Jackson

Grower

Central Region

Vada Lucas Jr.

Grower

Central Region

Randy Stephens

Grower

Central Region

Josh Bowman

Grower

Western Region

Mark Hendrixson

Grower

Western Region

Frank Salopek

Grower

Western Region

Alexander Wright

Grower

Western Region

John Taylor

Sheller

Eastern Region

Alex Willson

Sheller

Eastern Region

Jeff Worn

Sheller

Eastern Region

Jared Miller

Sheller

Central Region

Jake Montz

Sheller

Central Region

Evo Soria

Sheller

Central Region

Steve Zaffarano

Sheller

Central Region

Brandon Harrell

Sheller

Western Region

Blake Houston

Sheller

Western Region

Will Easterlin

Accumulator, At-Large Member

Mark Hamilton

Accumulator, At-Large Member

Lawton Pearson

Grower

Eastern Region

Chad Selman

Grower

Central Region

Brycen Salopek

Grower

Western Region

Sally Arn

Sheller

Eastern Region

Greg Salopek

Sheller

Western Region

Vacant

Sheller

Western Region

Erika Hinsberger

Public, At-Large Member

Dr. Luis Ribera

Public, At-Large Member

APC committees

The American Pecan Council operates through specialized committees that focus on key areas of industry development and oversight. These committees – including Marketing, Grades & Standards, Industry Relations, International, and Governance committees – allow members to leverage their expertise in specific areas while ensuring comprehensive attention to all aspects of the APC’s mission.

Committee recommendations are presented to the Board for consideration, fostering transparent governance and thorough evaluation of all initiatives. This collaborative approach ensures that APC programs reflect the diverse needs of the industry while maintaining alignment with our strategic goals.

American pecan council committee chairs

Steve Zaffarano

Chair of the Marketing Committee

Justin Jones

Chair of the Industry Relations Committee

Will Easterlin

Chair of the International Committee

Jake Montz

Chair of the Grades & Standards Committee

Meet the staff

Anne Warden

Anne Warden

CEO

Serena Schaffner

Serena Schaffner

CMO

Emma Garner

Emma Garner

Director of Operations

Brandon Drummond

Brandon Drummond

Director of Finance

Joy Glass

Joy Glass

Associate Director of Marketing

Carl Sanders

Carl Sanders

Associate Director of Digital Marketing

Bailey Rayfield

Bailey Rayfield

Senior Manager of Industry Relations

Kristi Mosquera headshot

Kristi Mosquera

Senior Administrative Manager

Gabrielle Teixeira

Gabrielle Teixeira

Industry Relations

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Connect with our team

For inquiries regarding APC leadership, board meetings, or governance matters, please contact our office.