IRVINE, CA - New Year’s resolutions won’t be the only things for Western Growers (WG) to celebrate come January, as a new Chief will also be joining the association in a couple of months. Naming its first Chief Operating Officer in history, WG has appointed Steve Mangapit to the executive team. In this role, he will be focused on implementing operational efficiencies, improvements, and innovations.

Mangapit joins Western Growers from AP | Keenan, where he served as Vice President, a press release stated. There, he was responsible for three business units: Employee Benefits TPA, Healthcare Analytics, and Large Group Agency Operations (Benefits).

Previously, Mangapit worked at WG for four years with Western Growers Assurance Trust/Pinnacle Claims Management. In 2010, he served as Director of Administration and was promoted in 2013 to Assistant Vice President, Operations.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and a MBA (Finance) from the Lee Business School at UNLV. Mangapit is married with two young children.

“By virtue of his past service with us, only Steve brings the expertise and the all-important depth of knowledge about our own business structure, objectives, processes, and opportunities, and his most recent professional experience has propelled him to now take on this great responsibility,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Puglia.

Cheers to a new chapter for both Western Growers and Steve Mangapit!

Western Growers