Joanne McNeely Zaritsky, the former Marketing Director of the Gulf State Marketing Coalition, was regularly on Capitol Hill walking the halls of Congress for Gulf Seafood. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor
As a joint Gulf state seafood marketing effort sails into the sunset, the program’s Marketing Director has left for a job in the private seafood sector. Joanne McNeely Zaritsky, the former Marketing Director of the Gulf State Marketing Coalition, has joined St. Petersburg, FL based domestic seafood processor Captain’s Fine Foods as its new business development director to promote its USA shrimp product line.
McNeely Zaritsky has joined St. Petersburg, FL based domestic seafood processor Captain’s Fine Foods as its new business development director to promote its USA shrimp product line. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
Captain’ Fine Foods, sister company to Trans-Global Products, processes and packs Key West Pink Shrimp, Texas Brown Shrimp and East and Gulf Coast White Shrimp. McNeely Zaritsky new responsibilities will include providing marketing, training and seafood web content for supermarkets, restaurants and distributors.
t’s exciting to be able to help local fishermen by selling wild shrimp grown in a safe, natural environment to retailers, restaurants and distributors,” said the 25-year vertebral with expertise in marketing, sales and consumer perception. “Those who worked with me in the past know my strong ethics, honesty and integrity. I am joining a company that shares these same qualities.”
McNeely Zaritsky, a 25-year veteran with expertise in marketing, sales and consumer perception, was the former Bureau Chief of the Florida’s Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing Bureau for 22-years. Under her guidance, the Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition worked with the five Gulf States to increase demand for Gulf seafood in the marketplace and restore consumer confidence in Gulf seafood products. The retail/restaurant partnership programs she oversaw had increased sales from 30% to more than 1,000%.
The Gulf Seafood Marketing Coalition was formed after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2011 with a $5 million grant to the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation from the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. Funding for the program was the result of an Oil Disaster Recovery Program with a supplemental funding opportunity made available to the Commission by the U. S. Congress through NOAA Fisheries.
Response to Deepwater Horizon
The Coalition was established to coordinate all efforts and provide a cohesive vision and overarching strategy to showcase Gulf Coast Seafood. The Gulf Coast produces a majority of the nation’s oysters, domestic shrimp, and domestic hard and soft-shell blue crab. The Gulf Coast seafood’s taste profile is superior because of the nutrient-rich environment.
Joanne listens as Gulf Oyster Industry Council and Gulf Seafood Institute Board Member Chris Nelson (right) explains current state of Gulf seafood to Louisiana Senator David Vitter. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
The initial Coalition was a five-member board appointed by marine fisheries agencies from each of the Gulf states. The Coalition grew to a 22-member board consisting of a broad cross section of marine fisheries industry experts in the Gulf. The Boars is charged with the responsibility of re-positioning Gulf seafood in the marketplace after the Deepwater Horizon disaster so as to ensure the economic stability of the fishing industry and to draw attention to the assets and opportunities of the Gulf as well as its rich fishing culture and coastal heritage.
Focusing on expanding global market share for wild seafood from the Gulf of Mexico, the coalition represented all components of the seafood distribution chain, including commercial fishermen, processors, wholesalers, associations, sea grants, tourism boards, restaurants, retailers, chefs and charter boat sectors.
“The Gulf State Marketing Coalition grant expires within the next few month,” Dave Donaldson, Executive Director of the Commission, told Gulf Seafood News. “At that time the coalition will be disbanded.” Photo: GSMFC
“The Gulf State Marketing Coalition grant expires within the next few month,” Dave Donaldson, Executive Director of the Commission, told Gulf Seafood News. “At that time the Coalition will be disbanded.”
According to Donaldson, McNeely Zaritsky was selected Marketing Director in 2010. She has been the backbone and driving force behind the Coalition and the resulting public relations initiative over the past four years. In addition to being an ambassador for the Gulf and for Gulf seafood in particular, she has served in a strategic planning role in helping the Coalition as it developed the necessary goals and objectives that were required to change negative perceptions of Gulf seafood after the oil disaster.
“Her professionalism, her vision, her tenacity, and her enjoyment of seafood have been important elements in making a difference in how people look at wild caught seafood,” said Donaldson. “She has been instrumental in generating an awareness, indeed positive perceptions, about Gulf seafood in areas of the country where none existed before. And, lest we forget, Joanne has led the race to show the consumer the many ways that seafood can become a tasty, easy to cook, enjoyable part of the everyday dinner table in America.”
“I believe in the work that Joanne and the Coalition performed,” said Gulf Seafood Institute’s President Harlon Pearce, who worked closely with her during the past five years. “It is a shame that additional funding could not be found to keep its good work going. The traceability it promoted through innovative programs was directly responsible for increasing Gulf seafood sales in major supermarkets around the country.”.”
Captain’s Fine Foods
Captain’s Fine Foods was founded by Trans-Global Products that has more than 32-years in the seafood business. Trans-Global Products is a top supplier of crabmeat, along with a variety of frozen seafood products. In addition, Trans-Global’s group of companies have a U.S. tuna vessel fleet and foreign seafood processing plants.
“Joanne brings wealth of knowledge, experience and relationships in the seafood industry to Captain’s Fine Foods,” said Mac Chen, President of Trans-Global Products, Inc. “We look forward to Joanne sharing with the retail industry about our new domestic shrimp offering as well as educating retailers, restaurants and consumers on the benefits of USA shrimp from Captain’s Fine Foods.”
“Joanne brings wealth of knowledge, experience and relationships in the seafood industry to Captain’s Fine Foods,” said Mac Chen, President of Trans-Global Products, Inc. “We look forward to Joanne sharing with the retail industry about our new domestic shrimp offering as well as educating retailers, restaurants and consumers on the benefits of USA shrimp from Captain’s Fine Foods.”
For the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Coalition has been instrumental in driving new and exciting initiatives related to delicious Gulf seafood. Its hard work in promoting the best-tasting seafood in the world has driven the collective marketing efforts of all Gulf states.
“Over the last few years, Joanne has demonstrated the tenacity and organizational prowess to take forward-thinking ideas and turn them into realistic marketing home runs,” said Bobby Champion, Jr., the Lone Star State Coordinator for Shrimp Marketing.
“As this opportunity ends so ends our opportunity to continue to work with Joanne,” said Donaldson. “But we will take this time to thank her and the Marketing Coalition for the many ours of hard work and dedication they have all put into making this a successful program – one that without question has made the Gulf a better place not only in the short term after the oil disaster but hopefully far into the future. Our hope is that before the newness of the “Eat Gulf Seafood” concept has worn off, opportunities for continuing the great work of the Coalition and people like Joanne will become apparent.
“I have loved working for the Gulf seafood industry and look forward to helping the retail and restaurant industries sell a boatload of shrimp from USA,” said McNeely Zaritsky about her new job.
Joanne did not “jump ship” as you said, the ship was torpedoed. Mike Voisin and I were responsible for getting Joanne to come work for the Foundation. She is a pro’s pro. I’m sorry I didn’t make the cut of people who were asked to say something about her good work. I don’t need the publicity, but I think it petty. Such are the vagaries of life. Have a good day.
Bob, your correct, my sea analogy in the lead might have been a little too creative for most – but I have to have a little fun in this work. As for your comment I never got it.
To Joanne:
We appreciate your untiring efforts supporting our
“Wild Caught Shrimp”
It is advocates like you never giving up; always striving to make our industry the best! thank you.
Oh, remember my brief case (a few years ago) and how valuable you told everyone it was. Well it is well preserved and protected.
God Bless You
Janie