Brian R. Lohmann was recently promoted to vice president, chief financial officer and general manager of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida.
“Brian has proven his leadership capabilities and the ability to juggle several different projects efficiently. His understanding of the big picture of our business is critical in continuing to lead the cooperative successfully into the future,” Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative CEO and President Antonio L. Contreras said.
Lohmann joined the cooperative in 2008 and was promoted to vice president and chief financial officer in 2015. Following the company’s internal reorganization, in addition to his current duties, he will be the general manager overseeing all the administrative functions of the business, as well as the environmental, safety and security area.
Prior to joining the cooperative, Lohmann worked for Pioneer Growers Inc. as director of replenishment. He started his career in public accounting with Deloitte & Touche in Jacksonville, including ex-patriot service in Saudi Arabia. He owned and operated his own accounting firm in Belle Glade for 13 years. A native Floridian, who has spent virtually his entire life in the Glades region of Palm Beach County, Lohmann graduated from the University of Florida in 1988 with a degree in accounting. He also has been very active in the community, where he sat on the Glades Day School Board of Trustees from 2002-18 and served as chair or vice chair for most of his tenure. He was appointed to the Palm Beach County Health Care District board by the Palm Beach County Commission in 2011 and served as vice chair and chair of the finance committee.
Following the retirement of Kathleen Durrell Lockhart, manager of environmental affairs, the cooperative also recently announced the addition of Grant J. Lanham as vice president for environmental, safety and security.
Lanham was an environmental, health and safety (EHS) compliance specialist for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles from 2015 until he accepted this position. He is no stranger to Florida’s unique regulatory climate, as he worked at Pratt & Whitney in West Palm Beach from 2008-15. He started his career in wastewater pollution control and later managed a project to install a fluid tracking system for chemicals and oils at DaimlerChrysler Corp. He earned his master’s degree from Liberty University in 2009 and graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in 1992.
“Kathy served the cooperative for more than 25 years, and we wish her the best in her well-earned retirement,” Contreras said. “Although we will miss her institutional knowledge about our many environmental issues that she handled so well, we are pleased to welcome Grant. His solid background and reputation seem to be a great fit for the cooperative.”
This year, the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida and Florida Crystals partnership launched a new value-added enterprise —Tellus Products LLC, which produces renewable, compostable food service products made from the fiber of the sugarcane stalk called bagasse.
