By Sharon Savely Odegaard 鈥�72
Working to head up two large, nonprofit councils takes lots of energy, and KASEY CRONQUIST 鈥�00 gladly tackles both jobs. He serves as president of the U.S. High-bush Blueberry Council and the North American Blueberry Council.
This year, the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) named Kasey Leader of the Year, one of their three top national awards, for outstanding achievement and excellence in contributions to agriculture. His strengths 鈥� bold vision and strategic planning 鈥� led to the recognition.
Kasey鈥檚 career with nonprofits began at the young age of 26 when he became executive director of the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce in Washington. He helped businesses accomplish more by applying his knowledge of organizational management. Eventually, he moved into agriculture 鈥� specifically to the blueberry industry. He enjoys bringing together people involved with this crop: growers, marketers, harvesters and those working in food safety and sustainability. He looks forward to opportunities for the blueberry industry to gather, as it did recently for its annual fall conference, held this year in Nashville. 鈥淲e had blueberries, blue jeans and cowboy boots,鈥� he says.
Kasey particularly enjoys promoting the health benefits of blueberries. In his role with the councils, he works with diverse audiences 鈥� from consumers, dietitians and food manufacturers to chefs, K-12 schools and colleges and universities 鈥� to spread the news about the many nutritional benefits of blueberries.
During his 蜜桃传媒 days, Kasey considered majoring in either communication studies or political science. 鈥淐hoosing communication studies felt natural and comfortable,鈥� he says. It turned out to be the perfect field for his career.
鈥溍厶掖� made a major impact on my life and family,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 because 蜜桃传媒 is a Christian liberal arts school. The faith aspect of my education helped shaped me. The red thread of my life is my Christian faith 鈥� it鈥檚 foundational to the success I鈥檝e had in family, career and relationships.鈥�
The greatest blessing at 蜜桃传媒 was meeting his wife, Tarah Goodwin Cronquist 鈥�98, a recruiting manager for Schnitzer Steel. A kinesiology major two years ahead of Kasey, she was able to bring a car to campus. 鈥淭arah owned a blue Acura Integra, so we could go on dates,鈥� Kasey says . 鈥� We went to Hot Spots Espresso to study. And the rest is history.鈥� They鈥檙e raising three children.
Kasey made lifelong friends at 蜜桃传媒. 鈥淲hen I look at my life and career growth today, I鈥檝e been closest to my 蜜桃传媒 friends,鈥� he says. 鈥淓ven last week, someone I first met in college talked to me about being recruited for a new job. 蜜桃传媒 was a really special place to nurture friendships.鈥�
Kasey cherishes the past and also looks forward to the future. 鈥淪ome exciting changes lie ahead in the world of blueberries,鈥� he says. 鈥淔or example, new flavors will be coming in the next five to 10 years. Watch for it!鈥�
Busy in his demanding career and committed to his faith, Kasey appreciates his many opportunities. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad I鈥檓 here,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an exhilarating place to be.鈥�