Dr. Wendy Jin, the Executive Director of the USDA-APHIS-PPQ Science and Technology, Scott Pfister with USDA-APHIS-PPQ Laboratory Director, and Dr. Greg Simmons, USDA-APHIS CPHST Laboratory came to California to visit with science and technology personnel, projects, and cooperators, which included the Citrus Research Board and the Citrus Pest and Disease Program Committee. Dr. Jin’s background is in genetics and has worked in both private industry and government. She assumed the Executive Director position in May and expressed a strong desire to find a cure for HLB by working closely with the citrus industry.
While in California they visited lab facilities in Riverside and Sacramento, attended the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program Committee meeting, and met with CRB’s research team on projects. CCM President Casey Creamer was invited to participate to continue the close collaboration between the organizations within the citrus industry.
Pictured in the photo (left to right) are: Ed Civerolo, Ph.D, CRB Research Consultant; Justin Brown, CRB Vice-Chairman; Jim Gorden, CRB Board Member; Greg Simmons, Ph.D., USDA-APHIS-PPQ CPHST Laboratory; Scott Pfister, USDA-APHIS-PPQ Otis Laboratory Director; Wendy Jin, Ph.D., USDA-APHIS-PPQ Science and Technology Executive Director; Casey Creamer, CCM President/CEO; Melinda Klein, Ph.D., CRB Chief Research Scientist and Dan Dreyer, CRB Chairman.
