The Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways scholarship brings top agriculture and food marketing students and faculty from select colleges and universities to PMA's Fresh Summit. The program is designed to provide information, education, and networking opportunities that showcase the opportunities and rewards of careers in the produce industry. Scholarships are funded through donations made by the Jay and Ruthie Pack Family Foundation and PMA.
The Pack program is growing! In addition to the six universities that have participated in year's past, the Foundation added a seventh domestic University, University of Florida, as well as 4 international colleges representing Australia, Chile, and South Africa. International colleges include: University of Queensland (Australia), Pontifícia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile), University of Pretoria (South Africa) and University of Stellenbosch (South Africa).
While attending Fresh Summit, students and faculty attending the 2007 program experienced conference workshops, networked with industry professionals, and walked the exposition floor. Students are given pre-conference assignments to help them prepare for the event and add more value to the learning experience.
For additional information about this program please contact Stephanie White, Program Coordinator, at info@pmaef.com.
Jay Pack
Jay Pack received a B.S.B.A. from Boston University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. Prior to moving to Dallas in 1984, he resided in Kansas City where he was active in the banking industry and served as a director and shareholder of a private bank that was sold to U.S. Bancorp. He has been very active with the Produce Marketing Association, and has served in several positions, including a Director on the PMA Board. Pack has been a member of the Lone Star Chapter of the Young President's Organization and is currently a member of the World President's Association. Jay is also a Director of Growth Capital, based in Houston. Jay and wife Ruthie have two daughters.
"Given the Pack/Rutchik family's history and involvement with the produce industry and PMA, my wife Ruthie and I felt that it was imperative to find a platform to give something back to the industry. We know it works: we saw how our company was able to recruit talent from an agricultural college and that's proven to be an ongoing success. Now we'd like to see that success translated throughout the industry."
Jack Pack
The Pack Group
"The Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund directly supports one of PMA's strategic initiatives. PMA has consistently identified 'attracting talented people to the industry' as one of the key long-term challenges facing our industry worldwide. Reaching out to top food and agriculture students and showing them the wide range of opportunities in the produce industry will help enhance the professionalism of the industry and develop our future leaders. We are very grateful to Jay and Ruthie Pack for having the vision and commitment to provide the funding for this initiative."
Bryan Silbermann
President, Produce Marketing Association
