CUESA Announces Departure of Executive Director Dave Stockdale

January 16, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Susan Coss
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Phone: 415.291.3276  x 105
susan@cuesa.org

                                                                                                                                             

CUESA Announces Departure of Executive Director Dave Stockdale

CUESA Director of Operations Dexter Carmichael to serve as interim director and manage the organization’s market services and educational programs

SAN FRANCISCO (January 16, 2014) — CUESA (Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture), operator of the acclaimed Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, today announces the departure of Executive Director Dave Stockdale. He will next serve as the Director of the Water & Environmental Center at Walla Walla Community College.

During his nine-year tenure, Stockdale has played a critical role overseeing the refinement of CUESA’s farmers market services and sustainability standards. He also coordinated the expansion of CUESA’s educational programs, which in addition to its dynamic website, popular weekly e-letter, and long-running in-market cooking demonstrations and farm tours, now also include programs with elementary school children (Foodwise Kids) and at-risk high school youth (Schoolyard to Market), as well as hands-on workshops, panel discussions, seasonal celebrations, discovery stations, and a scholarship fund for market sellers. Under Stockdale’s thoughtful guidance and effective management, CUESA has set a national bar for experiential shopping at a farmers market, with the introduction of customer services such as Veggie Valet, two information booths, a chef shopping program, and educational signage.

“All of us at CUESA are going to miss Dave tremendously,” said Hans Baldauf, President of CUESA’s board of directors. “Through his leadership, CUESA remains the most influential farmers market in the country. He is responsible for building a strong foundation of educational programming and, most particularly, making CUESA a force for innovative youth education in our local food system.”

 “The decision to leave CUESA was not easy,” said Stockdale. “Managing this organization has been an incredible experience, and while I am sad to leave, I do so with complete confidence in the strength of CUESA’s staff and infrastructure.”

Board Vice-President Cathy Curtis will oversee the search committee for Stockdale’s replacement. During the search for a new executive director, CUESA Director of Operations Dexter Carmichael will serve as interim director. With more than 11 years at CUESA and extensive operations experience, Carmichael will seamlessly ensure the continued success of the organization.

“Dave has been a great fit for CUESA,” said Curtis. “The organization is stronger due to his leadership and well poised for continued growth. We look forward to embarking on a national search for a new director who will clearly have big shoes to fill. We send Dave off with gratitude and wish him well in his new endeavors.”

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The Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA) a non-profit whose mission is to cultivate a sustainable food system through the operation of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and its educational programs.

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Topics: Press release