Welcome to the Wm Manis Company Web Site

Let Us Tell You About Our Staff

The staff at William Manis Produce Marketing provides its customers with experienced, professional representation. Each member of the sales staff brings a unique perspective to the job. Each comes from a background which when integrated, produces a think-tank of knowledge and judgment, and many connections.

Take a moment and meet your friends and suppliers, the sales staff of William Manis Produce Marketing.

Rick Sullivan President,
Chief Executive Officer
Rick and his family moved here from Iowa fourteen years ago. Rick was a high level executive with a mid-west supermarket chain. Rick was a satisfied customer of the William Manis Company, and ultimately purchased the firm when Bill Manis retired. Rick’s background established the foundation on which William Manis Produce Marketing can understand the nuances associated with chain supermarket supply. Rick has no private office but rather can be found daily on the phones with the rest of the staff. He is a hands-on manager who oversees a staff of qualified, experienced sales associates.

Lloyd Rosen
Vice President, Marketing Director
Lloyd is a veteran of over 35 years in the business. He is the second of three generations who have earned their living from dealing in fresh fruits and vegetables. In his capacity as Marketing Director, he focuses his efforts on developing programs with growers and customers in order to expand the horizons of the company. Import/Export activities, “Ultra” branding, advertising, and sales management fall within Lloyd’s areas of responsibility. Lloyd is a professional who has served in many capacities over the years. He owned his own business in South Florida for many years, and has been a broker, distributor, sales agent, importer, and exporter. He is qualified to offer exceptional, experienced representation to all those with whom he interacts.

Michelle Scott
Senior Sales Associate
Michelle is a native Floridian. She was born in Homestead. In 1985 she started in the produce business, working for Sunshine Packing, selling Florida tropical fruit such as limes and avocados. After hurricane Andrew hit in August of ’92, there was no more Florida tropical fruit to sell, and there was no more Sunshine Packing to work for. It was then that the William Manis Company, a customer of Michelle’s, contacted her and brought her on board. Michelle brought with her, her expertise in tropical products, and has since expanded her skills to include Florida citrus, strawberries, and watermelons. She is the senior sales associate of the firm.

George Dean
Sales Associate
It has been said that George was born in an orange grove. A native Floridian from Winter Haven, in the heart of citrus country, George has spent his whole life in the citrus business. He has held positions as a field supervisor, a packing house supervisor and has had extensive experience running maturity tests on fruit and working harvesting crews. George spent time as a buyer for National Tea Co., as well as a salesman for a citrus packing house. George has spent many seasons working the watermelon and vegetable deals along the eastern seaboard.

Greg Livingston
Sales Associate
Greg and his family moved from Springfield, Illinois to the east coast of Florida in 1985. During their time in Vero Beach, Florida, Greg sold citrus and watermelons for Sunnyfresh, Inc. He worked as a buyer for Shurefine International, where he was responsible for supplying their member stores. Over the years Greg’s produce sales have expanded to include melons of all varieties, onions, strawberries, and other vegetables.

Rick Michels
Sales Associate,Manis Marketing IT Manager
Rick has extensive experience in the trade having started with the Tobi Company in Tampa in the early 90's. There he received an extraordinary education as a supplier to Publix Supermarkets, one of the largest chains in the United States. Rick has been on the other side of the phone as a division buyer for some of the most particular chain supermarkets in the Midwest as well as in Florida. Rick is our information technology specialist, and as such, has a unique ability to address our customers diverse needs relative to EDI, network infrastructures and network design.

Sonny Casca
Sales Associate
Sonny is a real legend in the business. He is a dinosaur who is one of the best horse traders in the business. He owned National Produce in Miami in the old days when there were no fax machines or cel phones. His word was and is his bond. The greatest tribute that can be made to Sonny is to simply say " He is a real produce guy". He served as sales manager at Mendlson Zeller where he supervised the movement of over 29 million packages per year. Sonny is proud to say that his son is perpetuating his legacy as owner of Red Blossom Farms, a California shipper of over 10 million cases of strawberries.

Matt Spafford
Manis Logistics Manager
Matt Spafford is a friendly, dedicated individual with sixteen years experience in the freight industry. Matt was the logistics manager for Hillandale Egg Company and was responsible for eight of their production plants. When Hillandale decided to eliminate their in house company fleet, Matt was retained as a consultant to control all of Hillandale's freight movement. In 2004 Matt opened his own freight forwarding company and now brings all of his experience into a business process that is successful for both his customer partners as well as his carrier partners.

Mick Urness
Manis Special Services Manager
Mick served as owner of Midland Technology, Inc., a government contracted service business. After retiring from Midland Technology Mick was awarded a government contract to provide logistic management training for senior government administrators. In this endeavor Mick managed a team of twenty five instructors all PhD's or PhD candidates and reactivated the Midland Technology charter in 1998. Mick also was awarded ConAgra's Best Small Carrier Award in 2001 and 2002.


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