Greater Vision

Harvesting Data: Careers in Agriculture

More than 300 students and agricultural professionals attended the 19th Annual Ag Jobs: Bringing a Greater Vision – Harvesting Data: Careers in Agriculture event at CSUMB on November 3, 2025. A joint effort with the College of Science and the Grower-Shipper Foundation, whose Executive Director, Lisa Dobbins, assembled an exceptional set of presenters. 

Fireside chat speakers:

• Dennis Donohue. Salinas Mayor and Director of Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology
• Lorri Koster, of Coastal Grower Magazine

Panel discussion speakers:

• Hua Huynh (Driscoll’s)
• Steve Church (Church Brothers Farms)
• Nathan Dorn (F3 Innovate)
• Hillary Thomas-Sanchez (Naturipe)
• Jon Detka (CSUMB Drone Tech/WATR)
• Greg Gonzales (The Thornhill Companies)
• Angie Martinez (Driscoll’s).

Thanks also to faculty MCs, Sumadhur Shakya and Maj-Britt Kimm!

Watch a recording of the event on YouTube!

Smarter Agriculture: Feeding More-Impacting Less.

The 2024 Ag Jobs: Bringing A Greater Vision event focused on "Smarter Agriculture: Feeding More-Impacting Less." The Ag Jobs Career and Internship Fair followed the forum.

Read More.

Watch the video recording on YouTube

2024 Event Program

Welcome Remarks

• Vanya Quiñones - President, Cal State Monterey Bay
• Andrew Lawson - Provost, Cal State Monterey Bay

Fireside Chat

Host: Dennis Donohue - Director, Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology

Special Guest: Brandi DeCarli - Founding Partner & CEO, Farm from a Box

Panel Discussion #1: Sustainability in Agriculture

Moderator: Nikki Cossio, CEO and Founder of Measure to Improve, LLC

Penalists:

• Katie Chiapuzio, Director of Environmental Science and Resources for Braga Fresh

• Wyatt Maysey, Director of Sustainability at Taylor Farms

Panel Discussion #2: Climate in Agriculture

Moderator: Jeana Cadby, Environment & Climate Director, Western Growers

Penalists:

• Eric Brennan Ph.D., Research horticulturist and lead scientist at USDA Agricultural Research Service, Salinas

• Jeff Anderson, CEO, AllMade Materials

• Steve McIntyre, Founder of McIntyre Vineyards and Monterey Pacific, Inc.

Closing Remarks

Lorri Koster - President, Grower-Shipper Foundation

Innovation in Ag: The Future is Now!

Read more about the 2023 event.

2024 Event Program

Keynote Speaker

• Karen Ross - Secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture

Panel Discussion #1: Ag Tech / AI

• Dennis Donohue - Director, Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (moderator)
• Claire Delaunay- COO of Farm-ng
• Romain Thibaux - Director of Machine Learning at Verdant Robotics
• Lee Vetsch - Analyst at Ospraie Ag Science

Push, Pull, Panic? Perishable Supply Chain Management

The 16th Annual Greater Vision was a hybrid event. The live webinar had a combined online and in-person viewing audience of over 200 students, faculty, staff, community members, and employers.

The webinar was followed by the in-person Cultivating Talent & Harvesting Leaders Career Fair where students from all majors at CSUMB and area community colleges networked with 25 employers from the region's agribusiness industry.

2022 Event Program

Welcome & Introduction

• Vanya Quiñones - President, California State University, Monterey Bay

Keynote

What is the Perishable Supply Chain and how is it managed?

• Kevin Murphy - Chairman Ocean Mist Farms; Advisor to Produce Industry & CSUMB; Former CEO Driscoll’s

Industry Discussion #1

Supply Chains In Action

• Tom Shepherd – Former Vice President of Logistics Driscoll's; Former Operations & Supply Chain Management Fresh Express ( Moderator )
• Sandor Nagy - Chief Operating Officer, Driscoll's
• Matt Amaral - Vice President, Post Harvest

Industry Discussion #2

Supply Chain Skills

• Dennis Donohue – Director, Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology (Moderator)
• Diane Wetherington - Founder & CEO, iDecision Sciences, LLC
• Martha Montoya - Founder & CEO, Ag Tools

Closing Comments

• Lorri Koster -President, Grower-Shipper Association Foundation

Your Future in Ag: A Conversation with US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

The 2021 program featured a virtual “Fireside Chat” with Sam Farr, former US Congressmember from the Central Coast, and US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discussing USDA programs and careers in agriculture.

The discussion was followed by US Congressman Jimmy Panetta moderating a panel of leaders from USDA agencies responding to questions submitted by students and sharing some of the specific work of the agencies with an emphasis on jobs.

A virtual Career Fair was hosted by CSUMB, Hartnell, and USDA staff representatives in breakout rooms where students heard about internships and career opportunities, and participated in Q & A with panel participants.

Watch the Greater Vision 2021 Event video series on YouTube!

Climate Smart Agriculture: Current Impacts, Future Scenarios, Essential Skills

October 5, 2020 – Sponsored by CSUMB's College of Business, College of Science, and the Grower Shipper Association Foundation.

Watch the video recording on YouTube

Speakers

• Elizabeth Fastiggi - Head of Worldwide Agriculture Development, Amazon
• Mike Clancy - Monterey Chapter, Citizens' Climate Lobby
• Amy Francetic - Founding and Managing Partner, Bouyant Ventures
• Dennis Donohue - Director, Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology
• Megan Nunes - Founder and CEO, Bountiful Agriculture
• Rod Braga - President and CEO, Braga Fresh
• Nicole Flewell - Director of Sustainability, Taylor Farms
• Tim Escamilla - Senior Vice President, Dole Fresh Vegetables
• Mat Muller - Director of Open Innovation, Technology Acquisition & Licensing, Corteva Agriscience
• Lorri Koster - President, Grower-Shipper Association Foundation
• Shyam Kamath - Dean, College of Business, CSUMB
• Andrew Lawson - Dean, College of Science, CSUMB
• Forrest Melton - Senior Research Scientist, NASA, and Adjunct Professor, CSUMB

Thank you to our Career Fair Participating Organizations and Employers

• Dole
• Monterey Bay Economic Partnership
• United States Department of Agriculture
• Hartnell Workforce Development
• Grower-Shipper Foundation Association
• College of Business Internships
• CSUMB Agribusiness Club
• Gavilan College
• Central Coast Community Energy

Tomorrow's Ag Marketplace: Opportunities, Challenges, & Careers

October 21, 2019 – Greater Vision is an annual event addressing contemporary issues in agriculture and society. The program is designed for students, professionals, and community members. Greater Vision is a collaborative project of the College of Business at CSU Monterey Bay and the Grower Shipper Association Foundation. Agriculture can open a world of career possibilities and the demand for professionals in every agricultural area is high!

2019 Event Program 

Welcome Remarks

• Dennis Donohue - Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, Chairman of the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation, Former Mayor of Salinas (2006-2012)
• Christine Mosley - Founder & CEO, Full Harvest

Product Development for Tomorrow's Marketplace

• Moderator: Greg Ahn - President & CEO, Folktale Winery
• Lorri Koster - Former CEO & Chairwoman, Mann Packing
• Gina Nucci - Former Director of Corporate Marketing, Mann Packing
• Christine Keller - Principal & Founder of Sensate Foods

The Role of Production in Tomorrow's Marketplace

• Moderator: Scott Fausti - Associate Professor, CSUMB College of Business, Agribusiness Program
• Colby Pereira - Farm Bureau President & Manager, Costa Farms
• Hillary Thomas - Research & Technical Director, Naturipe
• Jason Smith - President & CEO, Smith Family Wines

The Role of Supply Chain Management in Tomorrow's Marketplace

• Moderator: Kevin Murphy - Former CEO, Driscoll's
• Vince Ballesteros - President & CEO, River Fresh Farms
• Lalainia Moules - Senior Logistics Manager, Driscoll's
• Manuel Davalos - Market Specialist, C.H. Robinson