Management Team

As President and CEO, Bob Underwood leads Transpacific Food with integrity, innovation, and consistency. Bob stands out as an industry expert, thanks to his vision for developing strong relationships and understanding what it takes to offer an exceptional berry product. This expertise was honed during his years studying agriculture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and from over 30 years of experience in managing farms on the west coast and interacting with farmers and educators globally. That time in the field gave Bob a familiarity with sustainable farming practices and the knowledge necessary to integrate the different vertical phases of the berry business.

With over 13 years as a food and beverage financial controller, David Ortman came to Transpacific Food in 2017 with a proven track record of business development, relationship management, financial analysis, and reporting. Additionally, his background in business ownership, systems development, and operations oversight has given him passionate and specialized expertise in leadership, accounting, and financial management.

Jody White brings more than 25 years of food manufacturing production and processing experience to his work at Transpacific Food, as well as a strong understanding of GMPs and HACCP. During his career, he has worked in Lean Manufacturing, which seeks to minimize waste without sacrificing production, and developed a 5S program using lean manufacturing methodology. Using this experience, Jody understands how to maximize productivity while staying within the parameters of a food safety product.

Jody is motivated by a sense of urgency and commitment to quality so that Transpacific Food customers always receive a consistent and repeatable product exactly when they expect it. 

Laura Tegman graduated from Mt.Hood Community College with an Associates Degree from their legal secretary program. In the years since, she’s worked as a legal secretary and office manager for her family business, who also oversaw payroll, AP/AR, and contracts. Laura is detail-oriented and great at follow-through, which is a tremendous asset for the Transpacific Food team. Laura uses these skills to build relationships with our vendors and customers because she believes that creating an environment of trust is an essential component of mutual success.

Meredith Underwood has been the Sales Manager at Transpacific Food since 2012 and learned the berry business from some of the most talented and experienced people in the industry. She firmly believes that business is about creating healthy relationships, which provide opportunities to build strong partnerships, not just sales.

Meredith formed some of her favorite memories while growing up on a berry farm. From riding around with her dad, picking and sorting berries, working in the processing plant, and managing the U-Pick stand, it’s safe to say that berries are in her blood.

You can reach Meredith at: Sales@transpacificfood.com.

Before joining Transpacific Food, Michelle Underwood spent 20 years working primarily in higher education. As a result, she is very familiar with staff training and recruitment and has specialized experience in developing company culture, conflict resolution, and strong interpersonal skills. After years of supporting her husband, Bob, in the business, Michelle stepped into the role of Human Resources Director in 2017. Two years later, she expanded her responsibilities by becoming Marketing Manager. A firm believer in “business is about the people,” Michelle works hard to develop a culture where employees feel valued, respected, and part of something bigger than themselves. 

Scott Mallett has spent 20 years working in food production as a pastry chef, Le Cordon Bleu professor, and quality assurance manager. Within his role at Transpacific Food, he enjoys using his passion for science, food, management, and teaching to create a methodical approach to QA, all while training and inspiring those he leads. 

Rob Hails brings with him more than 20 years of experience in a manufacturing facility, primarily in a Purchasing and Inventory role. The past 7 years he has primarily been in the Vitamin/Supplement and beverage industries. Rob understands the importance of having accurate inventory, in order for production to meet the needs of its customers. Using his past experience, Rob will make sure controls are in place to support the growth of both Transpacific Food and its customers.