United Potato Growers of America announced Nov. 16 that its executive board unanimously chose Mark Klompien as the organization’s new president and CEO, replacing the retiring Jerry Wright.
Before joining United, Klompien served four and a half years as president of the Idaho Grower Shippers Association. Prior to his time with the IGSA, he was the vice president of supply chain management at Idahoan Foods. He also spent 18 years at Basic American Foods and six years at Lamb Weston.
Klompien has spent virtually his entire life in potatoes, from growing up and working on his father’s seed potato farm in Montana to his lengthy career in the potato processing industry. He has worked firsthand with all of the grower/shippers in Idaho, as well as most other potato-producing states.
Klompien has served as the chairman of the Potato Executive Committee for the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry (IACI), and also served as a board member and executive committee vice-chair of IACI. He served on the College of Agriculture advisory board for the University of Idaho and on the board of the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association.
Klompien and his wife Valerie make their home in Idaho Falls, Idaho. When announcing his retirement in August, Jerry Wright indicated he would continue in his role as CEO until the board of directors found a suitable replacement. Along with principal United founder Albert Wada, Wright was a key organizer and recruiter for potato growers in Idaho, Colorado, the Columbia Basin, the Klamath Basin and Wisconsin.