44th Annual APMA Forum - 2025

The 2024 APMA Forum was a resounding success, drawing together approximately 475 HR and Safety professionals from the agricultural sector. The Monterey Plaza Hotel was a beautiful location for the 43rd annual event that was held January 24-26. The picturesque backdrop of an ocean-front location offered participants a delightful experience.

This remarkable event could not have been possible without the immense support of our sponsors, whose dedication we deeply appreciate. With a record number of exhibitors, the Forum buzzed with incredible energy. It was heartwarming to see our members engage with different companies, enjoying activities like vendor bingo, and benefiting from the unique offerings of our sponsors. Highlights included Western Growers Insurance Services‘ wellness knowledge game room with exciting prizes, MiSalud‘s health testing, and acupressure massages co-sponsored by Ag Health Benefits Alliance.

The first day kicked off with an in-depth panel discussion on H-2A, featuring leading industry experts. During lunch, Dan Gallegos from Sunview Vineyards brought laughter to the crowd with his annual interactive activity. The day continued with top notch information on Wage & Hour by Erica Rosasco and Michael Blankinship from Rosasco Law Group, and a session on Joint Employment presented by Adam Siegel from Jackson Lewis, Santiago Martin Jr. from Paragon, and Gladys Wotring from JG Boswell Company.  We finished Wednesday on a high note with the President’s Reception featuring delicious appetizers and splendid wines produced by our members – Valley Farm Management and Ramos Torres Winery.

The second day began with an address from Jason Resnick, APMA President and Western Growers’ Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Roger Isom, President/CEO of the CA Cotton Ginners and Growers Association and Western Agricultural Processors Association, provided a notable keynote addressing pressing industry challenges. The day was packed with 20 sessions covering employment law, management, safety, and HR.  Additionally, the event was marked by the celebration of the 2023-2024 HRPA graduates, where we had the pleasure of recognizing 70 accomplished professionals. The ceremony was presided over by our esteemed program instructors: Lourdes Gonzalez from Gowan Company, Karen Timmins and Priscila Cisneros from Western Growers, David Nikssarian from Nikssarian Insurance, and Fred Martinez from Zenith Insurance Company.

The last day of the conference featured the annual Labor and Employment Law Update.  The session was provided by Jonathan Siegel from Jackson Lewis and Seth Mehrten from Barsamian & Moody who sharded an abundance of valuable insights and information for 2024 and beyond.  Early birds that day had the opportunity to partake in the second annual yoga session, leading up to the eagerly awaited Forum raffle, featuring items kindly donated by the participants.

The Forum, set against the beautiful backdrop of ocean sunrises and sunsets, was a delightful gathering of both returning and new attendees. A heartfelt thanks to the APMA Board of Directors for orchestrating such a successful program and attracting a host of expert presenters. Our Diamond sponsors, including Barsamian & Moody, Jackson Lewis, James G Parker Insurance, MiSalud, Pan American Insurance, Sendola, UnitedAg, Western Growers, and Zenith Insurance Company, deserve special gratitude for their unparalleled support.

We are immensely grateful to our participants for contributing to the success of this event. I am looking forward to welcoming you at the APMA’s Annual Retreat, to be held at the  Pendry Hotel in San Diego on October 10 & 11, 2024.