Potato Sustainability Alliance Announces New Board Members and 2026 Executive Committee

The Potato Sustainability Alliance (PSA) has announced updates to its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, including the election of new leadership and the retirement of several long-serving directors.PSA announced the election of several new, incoming board members to lead the organization heading into 2026. 

Jane Canales (Basic American Foods), Kartika Charan (Sysco), JP Claassen (Canadian grower, Claassen Farms), Tony Macklin (United States grower, Walther Farms), Lincoln Neufeld (Canadian grower, WJ Siemens Farming Co.) and Ariel Wiegard (Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever) will join the PSA Board of Directors. The new directors bring a broad range of experience from across the potato value chain and will support PSA’s continued focus on collaboration, data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement in sustainable potato production.

The Alliance also announced the election of its 2026 Executive Committee, which will help guide PSA’s strategic direction and governance in the coming year.

• Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, Chair of the Potato Sustainability Alliance (Vice President of Research, Quality and Sustainability at Peak of the Market)
• Erika Wagner, Vice Chair of the Potato Sustainability Alliance (Agronomy Solutions Manager at Yara North America)
• Ryan Vroegindewey (Senior Manager of Sustainable Agriculture at Campbell Soup Company)
• Mike Wenkel (Chief Operating Officer at the National Potato Council)

Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, Chair of the Potato Sustainability Alliance:

"These leaders bring a strong, diverse mix of industry experience, commitment to collaboration and passion for sustainability. Their guidance will be instrumental as PSA continues to support growers, supply-chain partners, and stakeholders in defining and demonstrating sustainable potato production."

The PSA Board also appointed Dan Duguay (Canadian Produce Marketing Association) to serve in an additional at-large board seat. The appointment reflects the Alliance’s commitment to balanced representation and ensuring the board has the expertise needed to guide PSA’s strategic priorities as its programs, partnerships and impact continue to grow. 

PSA also expressed its appreciation to retiring board members Chad Berry (Canadian grower, Under the Hill Farms), Andy Diercks (United States grower, Coloma Farms), Greg Nakamura (Canadian grower, Nakamura Farms) and Shane Sampels (Sysco) for their years of service to the Alliance.

Retiring Potato Sustainability Alliance board members Andy Diercks, Chad Berry, and Shane Sampels, together with John Mesko, CEO of the Potato Sustainability Alliance.

John Mesko, CEO of the Potato Sustainability Alliance:

"On behalf of the Alliance, we thank our retiring directors for their leadership, insight and commitment to the potato industry. PSA’s strength rests on the shoulders of all our member organizations, but our board members, executive committee members and the companies they represent add special value. We make progress when everyone values what we can accomplish together."

Greg Nakamura, retiring board member of the Potato Sustainability Alliance