IN THIS ISSUE: DID YOU KNOW?
MORRISON TRIVIA! How much do you know about Morrison & Company?
PROPACIFIC FRESH:
35 YEARS OF INNOVATION AND GROWTH In 1983, friends Bruce Parks and Jim Duggan
expertise in serving schools, hospitals, and
met “on a tailgate over beers” and agreed to
other institutions and large buyers. Their
merge their produce distribution businesses.
geographic markets expanded along with
Known
their product lines and target buyers.
then
as
“Chico
Produce,”
the
combined firm began joint operations in a 100-year-old building in Chico, California, that
was
previously
occupied
by
Levy
Zentner Produce Company, from which it distributed fresh produce to restaurants and other
MORRISON SNAPSHOTS The season has been busy for our team. See what Morrison & Company has been up to.
local retail businesses. In 1990, the company moved
to
a
large
property it acquired in nearby Durham. By the late-1990s
the
retail
landscape was changing, and the leaders of the company
recognized
they needed to reinvent the business in order to grow and thrive. Initially
Though the company had felt certain the Durham facility would be sufficient for the foreseeable future, the success of the new business model proved them wrong. By 1997 the company had built an additional 30,000 square feet
of
4,000
cold
storage,
square
feet
of
office space, and a new 16,000 square foot truck repair facility. In 2016, a
new
13,000
square
foot freezer was built to support
the
continued
growth of its frozen food product line. By the end of the 1990s,
the company expanded their offerings to
“Chico Produce” was no longer a fitting name
include dairy, cheese, eggs, oils, and canned
for a business that was about much more
CLIENT CORNER
goods, and later continued their product
than produce. It was now distributing top
There is always a lot going on with our
line expansion to include meat and frozen
quality fresh and frozen foods well beyond
food products. In addition to restaurants
Chico, south to Fresno and into Oregon and
and retailers, the company honed their
Nevada. The company changed its operating
clients. Catch up on our latest client news.
PROPACIFIC, CONTINUED ON INSIDE LEFT PAGE
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NEWSLETTER | SUMMER 2018
PROPACIFIC, FROM COVER PAGE ProPacific Fresh continues to look ahead. The
Morrison & Company is pleased to have
company has invested several million dollars
assisted ProPacific Fresh transition a new
in technology improvements including new
accounting team, providing continuity during
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Order
a year-end review, software conversion, and
Management System, and Transportation
key departmental changes. We have also
Management System software, as well as
helped assess and develop improvements
Warehouse Management System software
to accounting systems and controls. We are
with
thankful for the opportunity to be part of the
voice-directed
company
strives
order
for
a
picking. “perfect
The order
innovative ProPacific Fresh story!
percentage,” measured daily, with orders delivered to the right place, with the right product, at the right time, and at the right price. The company has also implemented world-class human relations practices to help their team with both professional name to “ProPacific Fresh” in 2000 to reflect
and personal growth. According to CEO
its expanded product lines and geographical
Richardson, “People make our company;
service areas.
their commitment makes it all happen.”
Jim Duggan passed away in 2006, while Bruce
ProPacific Fresh’s Durham Pentz Truck
Parks retired in 2013. Today the company is
Center,
owned equally by Bruce’s sons Nate Parks,
their own fleet of vehicles, is now a full-
President & COO, Justin Parks, Executive VP
service truck repair and maintenance center
- Operations & Transportation, and by CEO
serving the transportation and agriculture
Terry Richardson. (Nate, incidentally, was
industries throughout the North State—
drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1997 and
which now make up the bulk of its work. In
later played with the Oakland Raiders and
total, ProPacific Fresh today employs around
San Francisco 49ers.)
150 people.
originally
established
to
serve
Morrison’s Tim Peters with ProPacific CEO, Terry Richardson
TRIVIAL PURSUIT, MOCO STYLE All work and no play makes for a dull day, so our weekly team meetings usually include a round of “MoCo Trivia” (MoCo is our slang for Morrison & Company). The winner gets a gift card (Lowe’s and Amazon are favorites) and bragging rights for the week. It’s also a fun way to learn more about the company and the people we work with. So what do you know about Morrison? Try these: 1.
What company was Morrison’s first client?
2.
What company was our first recruiting client?
3.
What client once used the marketing slogan “A can a week, that’s all we ask”?
4.
What client is pictured on our wall with the MoCo team in lab coats and hard hats?
Of course there are questions about the team: 5.
Our website includes a picture of Toni riding an animal. What is it?
6.
Our Spring 2017 newsletter featured the Morrison team volunteering where?
7.
According to the Morrison newsletter feature on Tim, what superpower would he choose?
8.
In what city did Michelle work as an au pair?
And it wouldn’t be trivia (or Morrison) without a little randomness: 9.
What was Morrison’s largest grant award?
10. In our lobby is a certificate recognizing Morrison’s “Contributions to the North State Business Community” by whom? 11. Which of our visiting pastors once served as the Easter Bunny at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll? Sixteen-plus years makes for a lot of fun and a lot of trivia. The gift cards probably don’t hurt either!
ANSWERS 1: Sunsweet Growers. 2: California Olive Ranch, the largest US producer of olive oil. 3: Blue Diamond Growers. 4: Crystal Dairy/Foster Farms. 5: Longhorn steer. 6: Oroville Dam evacuation site. 7: Teleportation; Cuts down on commute time! 8: Rome, Italy. 9: $9.2 mm to Citrus Research & Development Foundation, University of Florida. 10: California State Legislature. 11: Chad Fransen, Orchard Church.
MORRISON SNAPSHOTS
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE MORRISON TEAM?
MORRISON & COMPANY WITH ROTARY The Tricerris enjoyed a wonderful meal at the annual Rotary omelet brunch, which raises funds to benefit the community. Meanwhile,
Brent,
Michelle,
and
Chico
Carolyn and her husband, Brian, had a little R&R in Cabo. A week later Janae and Michelle followed suit. It looks like Cabo is
BIRTHDAYS! Birthdays come in waves in our office. This quarter we were able to celebrate with Tim, Shawn, Hilary, and Michelle as they gain another year of wisdom. Happy Birthday!
the place to be!
Unified’s Kim Hernandez, received the CUSD Superintendent’s award for their leadership in the Rotary Chico Children’s project. This project provided clothing and toiletries to 43 of the most at risk students within the school district. Great job Brent, Michelle, and Kim!
CHICO CHAMBER SUMMER BASH, HONORING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHUBERT’S ICE CREAM & CANDY The Morrison team just loves getting out and spending time with our community. Throw Shubert’s in the mix, and we’ll be first in line! This year’s bash featured Kinder’s BBQ and the Kelly Twins Dueling Pianos. What more could you ask for?
MORRISON’S SUMMER BBQ Every summer our team gathers at Brent’s house to celebrate as one big family. The event always brings something new and fun for our team and their families to enjoy. This year we had cornhole toss, giant Jenga, horseshoes, face painting, pony rides, a petting zoo, and a scavenger hunt. Oh, and don’t forget the giant unicorn! We are grateful for every member of our team and all of our extended Morrison & Company family members.
BUTTE COUNTY FARM BUREAU SUMMER BBQ
KEEPING UP AND STAYING CURRENT
It looks like we have an auctioneer in the
Shawn and Jesse of our People Solutions
making here. Savannah, the understudy, and
team
the Morrison team enjoyed a fun evening at
Resource
the Butte County Farm Bureau Summer BBQ,
State Legislative & HR Conference where
enjoying good food, great activities, and
they learned about important California and
even better company.
federal legislation and employment issues
attended
the
Society
Management’s
for
2018
Human
California
that are or will be impacting business in the future. Shawn later presented on the topic of Change Management at this year’s National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) Far Western Chapter’s 62nd Annual Meeting. Brent, Geoff, and Tim attended, learning the latest on tax, accounting, and business management practices affecting coops and other businesses.
MORRISON & COMPANY
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P H O N E : 5 3 0 . 8 9 3 . 4 7 6 4 • FA X : 5 3 0 . 8 9 3 . 4 9 7 8 PL ANNING & FE A SIBILIT Y • INTERIM /OU T SOURCE RECRUITMENT • PEOPLE SOLU TIONS • GR ANT S
FOLLOW US!
C L I E N T CORNER The Morrison Client Corner is a regular feature of our newsletter.
If you’re a client of ours, we’d love to stay up to date with what is going
Here, you’ll find updates on what a number of our clients are up to,
on within your organization and invite you to share your highlights
their achievements and milestones, and the generally great things
in this space. Feel free to send any press releases, newsletters, or
happening in their companies or organizations.
happenings to Michelle at MGenova@morrisonco.net.
NORTH VALLEY AG SERVICES, ON FARM TRAINING North
Valley
Ag
Services,
in
WILCO TO OPEN ANOTHER LOCATION IN REDMOND, OREGON
Fulton
Wilco, a service, supply, and marketing
Extension,
cooperative serving growers in the
Tehama County, provided two on-
Pacific Northwest, recently announced
farm irrigation training days, made
plans to add a new store in Redmond,
possible
collaboration of
U.C.
with
Allan
Cooperative
from
Oregon by mid-year 2018. Redmond will
USDA’s Risk Management Education
be the 20th Wilco store and 3rd location
Partnerships Program grant (Written
in Central Oregon. Wilco’s portion of
by Morrison & Co.). The purpose
the building is nearly 39,000 square feet
of the training was to help growers mitigate production and
with over 20,000 square feet of retail
financial risks through irrigation best practices. The first
space, 5,000 square feet of covered
through
funding
training was devoted to almonds and focused on topics like
greenhouse, a full service dog grooming
almond production responses to deficit irrigation, experiences
shop, with the remainder dedicated to warehouse space with a
with aerial imagery, applying irrigation water uniformly and
full service load out. Outside the warehouse is 12,000+ square feet
efficiently, chemigation to maintain high irrigation system
yard space for fencing, gates, soils and equipment. The sales floor
performance, and managing soil variability. The second training
features convenience True Value hardware and Benjamin Moore
focused on walnuts. Topics included walnut response to when
paint, Purina feeds and livestock supplies, a lawn and garden
irrigation begins, demonstration use of a pressure chamber,
department, pet supplies and premium pet food brands. The
emerging methods of detecting crop water stress, and unmanned
facility will also include a 5,000 square foot space dedicated to
aerial vehicles in irrigated agriculture. Check out the video at:
clothing that focuses on work wear and footwear. To read more
vimeo.com/275687505
about Wilco Co-op visit their website at www.wilco.coop.
SIERRA GOLD NURSERIES GROWER DAY
EXPLORE BUTTE COUNTY While there is always something
Sierra Gold Nurseries hosted an
going on in Butte County, summer
Orchard Grower Appreciation Day
definitely brings in more outdoor
on April 20th, 2018 in Yuba City,
activities.
CA. This one-day Open House
has added some pretty handy tips,
included a trade show, lunch and
tricks, and ideas to their website.
behind the scenes nursery tour of
From Hiking Upper Bidwell Park and
the on-site tissue culture lab, cold
kayaking on the North Fork of the
storage facility and greenhouses.
Feather River to eating and drinking
To learn more about Sierra Gold Nursery, visit their website at www.sierragoldtrees.com
Explore
Butte
County
down the Sierra Oro farm trail, there’s always something to do. Check out www.explorebuttecounty.com for more fun vacation ideas.
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NEWSLETTER | SUMMER 2018