05/27/05 Boss leaves Wash Potato Commission

Farm and Ranch May 27, 2005 Pat Boss, the Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, has resigned to pursue other career opportunities. Boss first came to the Commission as government affairs director in 1996 and became Executive Director in December of 1998. Commission chair Allen Floyd says Boss is well-known and respected among national as well as state agriculture groups and has raised the visibility of potato issues in Washington state and on the national front. He was also instrumental in opening international markets to Washington fresh potatoes. Karen Bonaudi, Assistant Executive Director, has been appointed interim Executive Director. Bonaudi: "We have an excellent team here in terms of staff. The support staff and the directors here really knowledgeable and excellent workers. We also have contractors we work with on specific issues. So the Commission will really rely on them and things keep moving just as before." Bonaudi says commissioners will take this opportunity to do an assessment of the position of Executive Director. Bonaudi: "And see if any adjustments need to be made there and then work out a time line for filling the position and seeing what other changes might need to happen here at the Commission." Commissioners will hold a special meeting May 31st to accept Boss's resignation and review options for filling the position. That meeting will be in the Commission office in Moses Lake at 10 a.m. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.