The year 1989 began a three-year period of rapid change for the IPC. Three of the market relations directors in the field; Milt Maclin, Dick Rath, and Frieda Poulos retired to be replaced by Larry Whiteside, Don Luchka, and Jim Grimm. Barbara Bertelli also left and Don Odiorne was hired as vice president for foodservice and Jack Hansen as vice president for retail merchandising. Sharyl Strongman was added to the staff as foodservice specialist and later promoted to foodservice market relations director.

The Anderson Rothstein advertising agency in San Francisco was hired to handle foodservice advertising, and DDB Needham was replaced in the consumer-advertising sector by Young and Rubicam. Oglivy Mather, the New York public relations agency that had purchased DAY, was replaced by Creamer, Dickson & Basford to carry out the national PR. and consumer-education programs.

William White replaced Don Luchka on the field staff, and William Savilonis, Jr., went to work as the fifth field person.

During the period, the IPC budget continued to increase and the IPC offices were moved to new quarters at 6th and Bannock in Boise. The IPC, in concert with the potato industry and Department of Agriculture, developed a crisis-management program and the machinery was set in motion to obtain registration of the Idaho® potato trademark in several foreign countries. Following up on trademark violations remained an important activity.

This period of change and growth, planned by the Idaho Potato Commission, was to assist the industry in the promotion and marketing of larger crops of "Famous Idaho® potatoes" in an environment of ever-increasing competition.


MEMBERS: IDAHO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE
ADVERTISING COMMISSION, IDAHO ADVERTISING
COMMISSION, IDAHO POTATO AND ONION
COMMISSION, IDAHO POTATO COMMISSION

From To
Harry E. Young, Idaho Falls 3/37 7/39
L. R. Halverson, Blackfoot 3/37 7/39
Victor Smith, Burley 3/37 7/39
Joe P. Marshall, Twin