Candidate for
Councilmember; City of Pacific Grove

Bruce J. Obbink

BACKGROUND & EDUCATION

Born 1934 in Lincoln, Nebraska, descendant of an early Dutch land grant farmer.

1948-1952 North Kansas City High School; active in sports; part-time meat cutter.

1956-Central Missouri State University, Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education.

1981-Continuing Education Program, Harvard Business School .

EMPLOYMENT

1956-1962 Pilot, Anti-Submarine Patrol, U.S. Naval Air Station, Barbers Point, Hawaii.

1959-Married to Judith Angier of Lodi, California.

1962-1968 Director of Education, Agricultural Education Foundation, Fresno.

1962-1968 Field Representative, Council for California Growers, San Francisco.

1968-1971 Assistant to the President for Finance, California Table Grape Commission, Fresno.

1971-1998 President, California Table Grape Commission, overseeing a $13 million annual budget and all advertising, communications, community service, merchandising, research and marketing campaigns in 20 plus countries ranging from the United States to Asia, Europe and South American

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

Founding member; Fresno Community Food Bank.

Chairman of the Board, Produce Marketing Association

Chairman of the Board, Produce for Better Health Foundation.

Member of the National Project to Develop a Strategic Plan for Changing the American Diet.

Member U. S. Department of Agriculture Trade Policy Advisory Committee.

Member California Agriculture Committee on International Trade.

Member Alliance for Food and Fiber.

Member Agricultural Issue Forum.

AWARDS & COMMENDATIONS

Named by the Public Relations Quarterly as one of the 100 outstanding Public Relations executives in the United States.

Joint legislative resolution by the California State Legislature citing outstanding leadership in California agriculture.

Commendation by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce for outstanding contribution on behalf of California Agriculture.

Vision Award by the California Nutrition Network for leadership in bringing private industry and government together to work on common goals.

American Society for Enology and Viticulture prestigious merit award for vision and leadership.

5 a Day for Better Health recognition award for contribution toward better health of all Americans.

Produce Market Association marketer of the Year award.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

President, Cypress MG Car Club.

Avid home mechanic, having restored several MG cars over the years.

Chairman, Pacific Grove Golf Links Golf Advisory Committee.

Member, Pacific Grove Planning Commission.

Member, Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce

Member, Pacific Grove Heritage Society.

Member, Friends of the Library

Member, Museum Association

Member, Sub Committee on Secondary and Illegal Housing

Member, Sub Committee on Archeolgical Review

Graduate, Pacific Grove Citizen Police Academy.

Member, Saint Marys by the Sea Episcopal Church.