Remedios Diaz-Oliver is the President of All American Containers, Inc., a leading supplier in the United States of glass, plastic and metal containers and caps throughout the world. She is actively involved in business and charitable organizations. In 1988, she was appointed a member of the Advisory Board-Trade Policy, Negotiations and International Policy for the President of the United States. In addition to her many recognitions, she was the first woman to receive the 'E' award for Excellence in Export from the President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson, in 1968. Ms. Diaz-Oliver is a graduate of the University of Habana in Habana, Cuba.
Rita Kellogg and her family founded Side Hill Acres in 1987 as a beef farm, but almost immediately transformed into a goat dairy. The company experienced tremendous growth in the initial years by selling goat milk to their cheese processor, Goat Folks. After this customer went out of business, the company resized and began to focus on producing the cheese on its own.
Elizabeth Wolf started Angel Ridge Farms in 1990 by growing herbs in the summer and producing wool in the winter, though eventually sold off the wool division. The herb product line was sold in local supermarkets and at the Ithaca Farmers' market. To complement the success of the herbs at the farmers' market, the farm introduced salad dressings and related fresh produce.
Other channels of distribution were explored, including sales to New York City, local restaurants, and grocery store warehouses. However, production constrained the success of these channels, and the company elected to continue on a lower scale at the higher-margin local supermarkets
Elizabeth Ryan has also served as Vice President of Ithaca Farmer's Market. She is a graduate of Cornell University.
Susan & Amy Machamer (a mother and daughter team, respectively) and their family are owners of Hurd Orchards, a fruit grower in operation since the early 1800's. Their product line has diversified into wholesale and retail produce, processed "jar products", a bakery, and foodservice. The term "jar products" refers to their lines of jams, jellies, brandy fruits, pickles, vinegars, chutneys, sauces, and cordials. This diversification is the result of innovation, product development, and effective niche marketing. The company has successfully differentiated their high quality products by developing their products along with their brand image. The company shows remarkable tenacity and desire to stay true to their philosophy and mission of sustaining production of quality fruit products.
Susan & Amy Machamer (a mother and daughter team, respectively) and their family are owners of Hurd Orchards, a fruit grower in operation since the early 1800's.
Their product line has diversified into wholesale and retail produce, processed "jar products", a bakery, and foodservice. The term "jar products" refers to their lines of jams, jellies, brandy fruits, pickles, vinegars, chutneys, sauces, and cordials. This diversification is the result of innovation, product development, and effective niche marketing. The company has successfully differentiated their high quality products by developing their products along with their brand image.
The company shows remarkable tenacity and desire to stay true to their philosophy and mission of sustaining production of quality fruit products.
Cheryl Rogowski expanded the family farm, created in 1955 by her father, Walter, to include hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables and a division called Cheryline's Fancies. Nearly everything about the original farm has changed, including the complete transition from wholesale onions to diverse retail produce and the multiplication (from 15 to 150 acres) of black dirt.
Part of this transition was a result of fungal disease pressure from monocropping, but another factor was Cheryl's desire to grow less common but beautiful varieties of fruits and vegetables that she was reading about and experimenting with in her home kitchen.
The W. Rogowski farm sells its produce at the farmers' markets of New York City and the surrounding community under the leadership of Cheryl's brother, Mike. Involvement with other vendors and Community Supported Agriculture programs, such as the nonprofit Just Food, has helped the farm overcome challenges such as marketing and setting up effective and durable displays. Cheryl credits her ability to persevere despite these challenges and inherent risks as the main reason for the farm's successful bottom line.
Laurie Linn is the President of Communique Design & Marketing, Inc. She has fifteen years experience in the field of marketing stemming from consulting with major financial institutions, such as Citibank, Chase and Bank One to smaller institutions around the globe.
Perri LoPinto is currently the Director of Community Relations and Development at Franziska Racker Centers, a private non-profit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for people with special needs. Prior to that position, LoPinto created the publication "Ithaca Child" - a paper geared towards parents in the Ithaca, NY community. Perri LoPinto holds an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts.
Heidi Miller, Chief Financial Officer of Citigroup, was ranked number 2 by Fortune in its 1998 list of the 50 most powerful women.
Miller left Citibank to work at Priceline.com and then later left Priceline to join the Insurance Industry at Marsh & McLennan. Ms. Miller is now Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Bank One Corporation.
Heidi Miller has a Bachelor's degree from Princeton and holds a Ph.D. in History from Yale University.