It seems like just yesterday that I was sending all of you greetings from the Pennsylvania Milk Internet marketing Board and staff, but listed here we are once again in the midst of the vacation season.

It is a time of reflection, wonderment and joy if you have “little ones” in your household. Almost nothing is additional amazing than a child’s enchantment in the course of this time of calendar year.

Our board customers — Robert Barley and Jim Van Blarcom — welcomed a new customer member, who took more than my situation that experienced been vacant due to the fact March 23, 2020, when I became Milk Marketing and advertising Board secretary. Her identify is Kristi Kassimer, and she lives in Fayette County with her two younger sons.

We really don’t get alongside one another really normally, but I noticed a perception of family members and compatibility very last week when we had our holiday luncheon.

It was a very good working day. We had a chance to reflect on our household strategies for Christmas and also the get the job done we have been executing, remotely for the most portion, but due to technological know-how there has been a fantastic offer of collaboration.

I adore my workers. I usually say I am the luckiest secretary in the commonwealth, and I want every of them the merriest Christmas and happiest holiday break period at any time.

I feel I have reported ahead of that our govt secretary, Fatima Roberge, is the glue that holds us all alongside one another. She manages most of the mail, handles the license apps and renewals, and is most likely the individual you have spoken with if you have identified as our workplace.

We have two attorneys on team. Doug Eberly is chief counsel and counsel to the board, and Jim Petrascu is our personnel legal professional and manages the majority of concerns that area associated to licenses and bonding, late payments to producers, and basic violations of the Milk Advertising Law. Equally play a critical job in workers (and board) currently being capable to finish our operate.

Two folks handle the majority of our economic accounting — Tim Moyer and Keith Hay. Keith was promoted through the calendar year and will be having around spending budget planning, procurement and monthly bill payment when Tim retires upcoming July.

Steven Zalman heads up our enforcement…