07/14/05 The transition

07/14/05 The transition

It was a wonderful 79th birthday celebration for Tom Mathison, the patriarch of his family and of Stemilt Growers. But last month's event was also historical, according to grandson, and now President of Stemilt, West Mathison. MATHISON: He decided that he wanted to announce the transition at that point. So we had a really nice birthday function for Tom. And we had some long standing employees who'd been with us over twenty years. And some of the initial investors into Stemilt back in the Sixties. And some family was there. They came to celebrate the formal transfer of power as well as Tom's birthday. West, however, is quick to point out two things. The announcement was the culmination of a three year process, and Tom remains Chairman and guiding influence of Stemilt. MATHISON: A lot of the transition has been incurring over a period of time and most specifically in the last six months. Tom, he's got a lot to do just on his own personal orchards. In addition, Tom is still very available and I continue to talk to him and continue to be mentored by Tom and really just carrying a lot of the same coaching relationship that we had in the past, but he continues to spend more time in his orchards and less time in the sales and the marketing and the packing. And West says much of the company's future remains centered on the principal Tom Mathison developed for stakeholders of Stemilt all those year ago & return of the land.
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