General Manager Of Kalamazoo Valley Plant Growers Co-op Resigns

The general manager of Kalamazoo Valley Plant Growers Co-op has resigned, Ron Sportel, chairman of the Co-op’s board of directors has confirmed. A search committee has been formed and efforts are underway to find a replacement.

According to Sportel, former general manager Ron Lebiecki had held the general manager position (first on an interim basis, then permanent) for a total of about three and one-half years. Before being general manager, Lebiecki had been controller for the Co-op. Sportel said that Lebiecki decided to return to the accounting field, and resigned the general manager position.

The Co-op hopes to have a new general manager in place for the spring 2004 growing season, Sportel said, but he added that he realizes this may not be possible. “The Co-op has a tremendous staff, and we are confident we will be able to go forward,” he said.

The Kalamazoo Valley Plant Growers Co-op was formed in 1967 with 18 original greenhouse growers. Today, the group has 55 members. Chairman Sportel is the owner of one of the members, Sportel’s Greenhouses.