The Ruby Team
Officers
George Melshenker – President, CEO/Chicago
George@rubyrobinson.com
George graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS in Business Administration May of 1977. He began working at Ruby Robinson, Inc. in 1978, and became majority owner, president and CEO in 1991. As President he manages our offices and markets our services across the country. This includes financial investments with our growers in several different commodities. George works with these growers from harvest to the final sale. He has worked with our growers for over thirty years, and looks forward to continued growth with our partners. George married wife Gail in 1980, and they have two daughters, Melissa and Traci.
Scott Weber – Senior Vice President/Chicago
scott@rubyrobinson.com
Scott was hired at Ruby Robinson, Inc. in 1978 to help with general office work, logistics and customer service. He quickly included marketing potatoes and onions from every major growing area. Scott became a partner in Ruby Robinson, Inc. in 1991, and hasn’t had a good night sleep since. Scott has no bad habits, is married and has three sons.
Jeff Nianick – Vice President/Chicago
jnianick@onarolltrucking.com
Jeff graduated from Indiana University in 1982 with a BA in Telecommunications. He started at Ruby Robinson, Inc. in July, 1983, and partnered with George and Scott to buy the company in fall of 1991. Jeff spearheaded the emergence of On A Roll Trucking, Inc. in 1995, and began full time managing of On A Roll Trucking, Inc. for all partners in January of 2007. In January 2008, he purchased On A Roll Trucking while maintaining ownership at Ruby Robinson, Inc. and Produce Alliance, LLC Jeff resides in Long Grove with wife Sheri, and is the father of three lovely daughters; Amanda, Corey and Brooke. His other interests include; Golf, Travel, and avoiding cold weather.
Robert Feldgreber – Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel/Chicago
rob@rubyrobinson.com
Rob joined Ruby Robinson, Inc. in January of 1996 as our Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel. Prior to joining us, Rob was a partner in the law firm of Altheimer & Gray where he practiced in the area of real estate, corporate, and financing transactions from May of 1985 until January of 1996. Rob did his undergraduate work at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and received his BS in Accountancy, Highest Honors, Cum Laude in May of 1982 and is a registered and licensed CPA in the State of Illinois. He then did his graduate work at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law and received his JD Cum Laude in May of 1985 and has been licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois since November of 1985. Rob has also been a licensed Real Estate Broker since August of 1988. He is one of the original principals in Produce Alliance, LLC and is one of the experts in the country on PACA laws and regulations. Rob is an active member of the American Bar Association and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and he is very active in philanthropy for over 20 years for Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He has been a Board Member of its Foundation for the last six years as well as President of his own fund raising auxiliary (KIDSS for Kids) for the last fifteen years. Rob has been married since 1982 to his wife Bobbi and they have two boys, Jason and Ross.
Mike Williams – Managing Partner/Atlanta
mike@rubyrobinson.com
Mike has 38 years of produce experience. He specializes in west coast mixed vegetables, lettuce, citrus, soft fruit, grapes and transportation. He owned his own company, M.E. Williams Company, a recognized trading member. After owning the company for twenty years, he sold it to Fresh Point. He remained with the company for three years, managing the buying department in Salinas, CA. After which, he joined as a partner in Produce Alliance, LLC. In our Atlanta office, he is the managing partner of Produce Alliance, LLC and in charge of Ruby Robinson, Inc.
Sales
Stephen Berkowitz – Chicago
steve@rubyrobinson.com
Stephen has forty years experience in the produce industry. His grandfather, father, and later he owned and operated A. Berkowitz Co on the Terminal Market in Chicago. A. Berkowitz Co was over ninety years old, with an A credit rating since 1936. His family was one of the biggest tomato companies in the Midwest. At Ruby Robinson, Inc., Stephen sells avocadoes, limes, mangoes and Hispanic commodities. In his forty years there is little he has not done. He is also an expert in problem solving and consulting.
Josh Blanton - Atlanta
josh@rubyrobinson.com
Josh has been in the produce industry for ten years. He has experience in brokerage, west coast perishables, onions and potatoes, transportation and IT management in the Atlanta office.
Jim Caruso – Chicago
jim@rubyrobinson.com
Jim is the “old man” in the company, though he looks much younger. A few of his children are older than some of our sales staff. He has been in the produce business for almost 40 years. He ran the family business with his father on the new/old South Water Market. Jim handles the vegetables, specializing in carrots, cabbage, green and color peppers, and beans. Even after all these years, he still looks forward to learning new tricks. Just talk loudly, he is hard of hearing. “What!”Adam started interning at Ruby Robinson, Inc. when he was in high school in 1998. He left for a short time to attend the University of Illinois where he received a BS in Agriculture Finance. Upon graduating in May of 2003, he came to work with us full-time. He specializes in selling the onion deal from all growing regions as well as the potatoes of all colors and regions, but especially from the state of Idaho. Adam has made numerous trips out to the onion and potato fields and sheds, especially in Idaho/Oregon, to educate himself on their operations and current crops. He attends the PMA-foodservice and PMA fresh summit each year to learn more on what is going on in our industry. He prides himself on customer relations, as well as having a strong relationship with the growers/shippers.
David M. Cohen – Chicago
david@rubyrobinson.com
David graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007 with a BS in General Studies; emphasis in Sociology and Communications. He started working sales his freshman year of high school selling mobile phones in the local mall. While in college, he interned at Ruby Robinson, Inc. and Produce Alliance, LLC two summers before working full time upon completion of college. His specialty is in potatoes, handling all regions and all types. Throughout college, he was a participant on “Semester at Sea” and travelled the world. It was on this voyage he discovered many wonders and cultures of the world. He continued his travels and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, demonstrating his determination and persistency in completing this task. It is with the same determination he has in assisting and servicing his customers.
Joe Collier - Nashville
joe@rubyrobinson.com
Joe has served as a Partner and Director of Business Development for Produce Alliance, LLC, in Nashville, Tennessee since August of 1996. Joe has been active in the development of Produce Alliance since its beginning and now is involved in the development of National and Regional Multi-Unit Foodservice Chain Account business for its members. Joe also worked for Ruby Robinson Co., Inc. Responsible for opening and operating a location in South Carolina, he focused on developing business with foodservice distributors throughout the southeast. He entered the foodservice industry in 1979 with one of The Nations Top Five Institutional Foodservice Distributor Organizations. Serving as a purchasing and merchandising specialist for PYA/Monarch, Inc. in Columbia, SC he helped to develop its centralized procurement program and operation that purchased produce for its 25 distribution centers across the country. Joe has served as President of the South Carolina Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, and has also served as a member on various other panels and committees throughout the produce industry.
Jeremy Galfield – Chicago
Jeremy@rubyrobinson.com
Jeremy has been in the produce business since 2002. He specializes in strawberries, watermelons, potatoes, and just in time deliveries. Jeremy sets his focus on customer service, high quality produce, and relationships that have grown over time. Driscoll, Sunkist, and other desired labels are only a phone call away. If there is product you need in overnight, Jeremy is the person to source it for you. For nearly eight years, call him day or night, he is always available for you. Jeremy and his wife Dale live in Buffalo Grove, IL and have three children.
Bobby Graham – Atlanta
bobby@rubyrobinson.com
Bobby has thirty-one years of produce experience. Before joining the Atlanta office, he spent nine years working in the Salinas area for Southern Vac Cooling, eight years running cooler management at Unikool Inc , and four years as a manager for Grow-West. Bobby has been with Ruby Robinson Inc. and Produce Alliance, LLC for ten years and is currently the assistant manager in the Atlanta office.
Mike Holzkoph – Chicago
mikeh@rubyrobinson.com
Dale S Jensen – Salinas
dale@producealliance.com
Dale has eighteen years of experience buying, selling, and managing within the produce industry. He spent twelve years managing the west coast buying office for a large east coast distributor (three years as an assistant buyer & senior buyer). He procured fruits and vegetables from Mexico to Washington State, as the growing regions started and finished up in their respective areas. On a daily basis Dale put ads together, managed source availability, and regulated the quality and pricing. He handled orders from one pallet to fifty load ads, each getting the same respect and care regardless of size. To Dale, “No order is too big or too small.” Dale has been with Ruby Robinson, Inc/Produce Alliance, LLC for three years. He specializes in sales of all west coast commodities, potatoes, onions, asparagus, melons and citrus throughout the U.S., as well as imports. With our vast buying power throughout the U.S., Dale is able to service all types of customers, from retail to foodservice to market customers. Each customer can reap the benefits of our buying power no matter what size your company is. Each and every order is done with a personal touch and performed from start to finish with professionalism, respect and integrity from the customer to the shipper.
Adam Kramer – Chicago
adam@rubyrobinson.com
Adam started interning at Ruby Robinson, Inc. when he was in high school in 1998. He left for a short time to attend the University of Illinois where he received a BS in Agriculture Finance. Upon graduating in May of 2003, he came to work with us full-time. He specializes in selling the onion deal from all growing regions as well as the potatoes of all colors and regions, but especially from the state of Idaho. Adam has made numerous trips out to the onion and potato fields and sheds, especially in Idaho/Oregon, to educate himself on their operations and current crops. He attends the PMA-foodservice and PMA fresh summit each year to learn more on what is going on in our industry. He prides himself on customer relations, as well as having a strong relationship with the growers/shippers.
Roger Lee – Atlanta
roger@rubyrobinson.com
Roger has thirty-one years of produce experience. He began his career in the grape and soft fruit industry, where for fourteen years he owned and worked a farming area in Fresno, CA. He spent the next for years in Chicago, IL, selling California mix and value added products for Dole Fresh Vegetables. Following which, he devoted eight years to Sunkist, handing the sales of all California citrus products for the Atlanta office. Roger has spent the last five years selling west coast and import soft fruit, melons and mixed vegetables for the Ruby Robinson, Inc. and Produce Alliance, LLC Atlanta office.
Traci Melshenker – Chicago
traci@rubyrobinson.com
Traci attended the University of Texas at Austin, receiving a BBA in Management Information Systems from the McCombs School of Business. Upon graduating in May of 2008, she worked for a year in the Health Care Department at Navigant Consulting, Inc. In June of 2009, she decided to join her father at Ruby Robinson, Inc. Traci has grown up around the produce industry, and is excited to finally be apart of it. She is extremely motivated and ready to learn everything the industry has to offer.
Cory Oleson – Salinas
cory@producealliance.com
Cory grew up in the Chicago suburb of Aurora, IL. He went to college in Tucson, AZ and graduated from the University of Arizona. He started in the produce industry with Markon Inc. as a field inspector. Being in the lettuce and mix fields of T&A, Mills Distribution (now Chieftain Harvesting) and Misionero Veg every day for two years really was the best possible education he could get to start his produce career. After Markon, he went to work for a small marketing company called “Central California Marketing” aka CCM, which furthered his education and work ethic in the produce industry. After two years with CCM, he went to work for “Produce America.” Produce America was the buying office for Fresh Point Inc., a fruit and produce distributor. When Fresh Point was bought out by Sysco in January of 2000, Cory joined Ruby Robinson Co., Inc.
Dave Plinck - Atlanta
dave@rubyrobinson.com
Dave has thirty years of produce experience. For the last twenty-one years he has worked as a west coast broker, first at Papazian, then at Produce America, and now at Ruby Robinson Inc. and Produce Alliance, LLC . He also has four years experience as a field inspector, and five years working Papazian Nogales vegetable deal.
Gary Sanders – Atlanta
gary@rubyrobinson.com
Gary has thirty-eight years of produce experience. For thirty years he executed sales for Sunkist, where he became an assistant district manager in the Atlanta office. The last eight years he has done brokerage in all citrus growing areas, Texas carrots and mixed vegetables, and pineapples and avocadoes in all growing areas.
Josh Schaffel – Chicago
joshs@rubyrobinson.com
Josh graduated from Northern Illinois University in the summer of 2002 with degrees in Sociology and Psychology. After spending years in management within the telecommunications field, Josh decided to bring his skills to Ruby Robinson & Produce Alliance. Though he is the newest member to the team, joining in September 2011, his long history of customer focus and dedication will allow him to excel in his new role. When not at work, Josh enjoys golf, his season Bears tickets, and traveling through Europe; having spent time in Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Austria, and Prague.
Adam Shifrin – Chicago
adams@rubyrobinson.com
Adam attended Indiana University, and graduated in 2006 with a BS in Public and Environmental Affairs. While in college, Adam began his career as an intern with a leading corrugated packaging company in Chicago. Upon graduating, he joined the company full time and worked his way to the role of Sales Director. In April of 2011, Adam joined Ruby Robinson, and has brought his experience servicing his customers and forming strong relationships with both customers and shippers to the produce industry.
Bertha Vasquez – Chicago
Bertha.vazquez@rubyrobinson.com
After graduating from High School in Guayaquil – Ecuador, Bertha moved to Italy for four years to study Italian and travel several countries in Europe. In 2000, she came to the United States and started working as server while attending college pursuing a Business Associate degree. In 2005, she started working in the warehousing business introducing her to the produce industry managing several accounts for the Union Pacific Distribution Systems (UPDS) in their Chicago terminal; after working there for 6 years Bertha decided to join the Ruby Robinson – Produce Alliance team with the same excitement and determination that distinguish her to achieve and accomplish all tasks she is given.
Ron Vogt – Salinas
ron@rubyrobinson.com
Ron, a Salinas native, began his buying career twenty years ago with Sysco. Since then he has built his experience through companies such as Albert Fisher Group and Marotri Farms, where he focused on melons and new customer development. Ron was recruited back to Salinas and has spent the last ten years managing the Salinas office for Ruby Robinson, Inc. He buys for retail, wholesale, and foodservice accounts. Ron’s experience has given him the ability to create year round buying programs, negotiate yearly contracts, and customize label programs depending on his client’s needs.
Jeffrey Weisman – Chicago
jeffreyw@rubyrobinson.com
Jeff attended the University of Iowa and double-majored in Health and Sports Studies and Theatre Arts. Upon graduating in May of 2008, Jeff moved to LA and worked in the entertainment industry. He was fortunate enough to have a few short plays produced, with one receiving publication. He is excited to enter the produce industry and is thrilled to be back in his beloved hometown of Chicago. Jeff is aggressive, hard-working, and willing to grind it out for his customers day and night, seven days a week. Additionally, Jeff is a certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Jeff Williams – Atlanta
jeffw@rubyrobinson.com
Jeff has seven years of produce experience. He mainly focuses on brokerage in west coast commodities and eastern carrots.
