The Sustainable Food Trade Association (SFTA) Board of Directors elected Annie’s Inc.’s director of sustainability, Shauna Sadowski, as the new SFTA Board president at its March 6 Board meeting during the Natural Products Expo West event in Anaheim, Calif.

“I am honored by the confidence expressed in me by the SFTA Board. Striving to be a sustainable business is a natural fit for companies in the organic foods industry, and I look forward to helping guide the SFTA’s direction as we grow the size of the organization as well as the number and breadth of our educational and networking offerings. I am also excited to work with the talented SFTA team, Board and membership,” said Sadowski.

The Board also elected Cecil Wright (Organic Valley), vice president; Jason Boyce (Nature’s Path), treasurer; and Brionne Saseen (Chico Natural Foods Cooperative), secretary. Both Shauna and Brionne are new officers this year. In addition, Jim Pierce (Oregon Tilth) and Isabelle Reining (Straus Creamery) joined the officers as new members of the executive committee.

The results of the 2014 Board election were announced at the SFTA Annual Member Meeting later that day. New Board members are Hansel New (So Delicious Dairy Free) and Peter Golbitz (SunOpta). Re-elected are Natalie Reitman-White (Organically Grown Company), Diana Chapman (PCC Natural Markets), Jason Boyce, and Sadowski. Continuing Board members are: Cecil Wright, Brionne Saseen, Isabelle Reining, and Britt Lundgren (Stonyfield Farm). The Board re-appointed Jim Pierce as an At-Large member for another term.

Nate Morr (Belcampo Group), founder and president since 2008, and Rebecca Thistlethwaite (Sustain Consulting), who stepped down from the Board. SFTA sincerely thanks them for their many years of service and support.

DiMatteo also announced the hiring of two staffers with long histories in the organic sector ─ Sandra Marquardt as communications director and Lisa Spicka as education director. Sandra worked at the Organic Trade Association and maintains her own organic public relations business. Lisa worked extensively in the organic, food/agriculture, manufacturing, and sustainability sectors, including OCIA, in both the U.S. and Latin America, and maintains her own sustainability consulting operation. The SFTA administrative office is now based in New Castle, Va. (near Roanoke) with staff located on both coasts.

“We have had a seamless transition to the new Board, staff, and office, and have a strong team in place to help companies in their drive to become ever more ecologically and socially conscious in their operations,” said DiMatteo. “We look forward to a dynamic year of trainings, presentations, and information sharing.”