CACM Welcomes New President & CEO

Left to right: David Zepponi gathers with Lori Albert, CCAM, Jodi Fischer, CCAM and Roy Helsing, CCAM, PRA, RS before a CACM Regional Forum in Camarillo.

After an extensive search and interview process, the CACM Board of Directors has selected David Zepponi as the new President & CEO for CACM.

With more than 21 years’ experience in the executive management of regional associations, David (Dave) most recently served as President of the Northwest Food Processors Association (NFPA) in Portland, Oregon. Complementing his executive management background is his strong financial and entrepreneurial experience that includes owning his own marketing/distribution company and working at Deloitte & Touche. He holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration degree, and has been an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Oregon Society of Association Executives (OSAM).

During his 13-year tenure at NFPA, Dave headed the organization’s legislative and regulatory affairs by working with state legislators and managing lobbyists; facilitated more than 40 annual meetings and events; and employed a strategic planning approach that ensured association activities focused on creating a competitive business environment for members.

Of his own admission, Dave strongly believes in being a custodian of the members he serves and takes pride in helping them achieve professional development and find quality jobs. This dedication to members’ growth is evidenced by his experience building and implementing education and certification programs. He conceived of and established the Food Research and Education Institute (FREDI), a novel training and member engagement platform designed to support communities and improve the way their businesses work, and helped create an online continuing education program complemented by in-person talks and training meetings.

“I’m fortunate to be joining CACM at such a pivotal time in its development. Karen Conlon has done a tremendous job growing the organization’s membership and statewide influence, as well as developing professional standards for this industry,” says Zepponi. He plans to apply his vast association management experience to his new role at CACM, with a keen focus on discovering innovative ways to enhance membership value, influencing key legislative decisions impacting the industry, and building a stronger network of industry professionals across the state.

“I’m committed to discovering how CACM can become a larger, more united front in this industry,” he says. “I’ve already been able to sit down one-on-one with industry members and, together with the CACM staff, I have some great plans in the works to grow and expand CACM’s presence in California even more.”

Born a Southern California native, Dave was raised in Northern California in the Sacramento area and spent much of his youth in the wine country of Sonoma and Napa working in his family’s vineyard and winery.

The CACM Board welcomed Dave this past September at its Strategic Visioning workshop, and he officially began work on October 1 alongside Karen Conlon, who remained President & CEO through November. Karen helped transition Dave to take the sole leadership role on December 1.

The CACM Board will formally introduce Dave to the membership at the Northern and Southern California Law Seminar & Expo events in the first quarter of 2015.