Pfenninger Succeeds Schwartz As Exec. V.P. of BSDF & ASSBT

Paul Pfenninger

Tom Schwartz

Paul Pfenninger is the new executive vice president of the Beet Sugar Development Foundation (BSDF) and the American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists (ASSBT), effective July 1. He replaces Thomas Schwartz, who has served in those capacities since 1988.  Schwartz retires effective July 31, but will remain in a consultancy capacity to facilitate the transition.

​Read our entire issue and back issues. Click here.

Pfenninger is well known across the sugarbeet industry, having retired this past year as Michigan Sugar Company’s vice president of agriculture. His entire beet career encompassed 38 years, including a decade as vice president of agriculture for Monitor Sugar Company prior to its growers and those of Michigan Sugar coming together in 2004 to purchase Michigan Sugar and becoming a grower-owned cooperative.  

Pfenninger is a past board member and president of both BSDF and ASSBT, as well as the West Coast Beet Seed Company.  He likewise has been an instructor in both the Beet Sugar Processing School and Beet Sugar Agricultural School of BSDF.

As executive vice president of BSDF and ASSBT, Pfenninger will interact with the numerous agricultural and processing organizations integral to the beet sugar industry.  He’ll work closely with the McGinnis Institute of Sugar Beet Technology agricultural and processing schools, as well as with directors and members of both the ASSBT and BSDF.  Pfenninger also looks forward to continuing the close working relationship with the USDA Agricultural Research Service and the land grant universities in sugarbeet-producing states.  Advancing sugar-beet production and beet processing through science and education re-mains, he emphasizes, the overall goal of the Beet Sugar Development Foundation and the American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists.

Pfenninger will be coordinating BSDF and ASSBT activities through the groups’ Denver, Colo., office while maintaining his residence in Michigan. He can be reached through the Denver office (303-832-4460) or by emailing to Paul@bsdf-assbt.org.

​​Read our entire issue and back issues. Click here.