The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its Board of Directors. PFMA welcomes Thomas Gumkowski, Vice President of Business Development for Tripifoods, Inc., and Jason Bassett, Director of Government Affairs for Sheetz.
“We are extremely excited and grateful to add these two individuals to our Board of Directors,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of PFMA. “We look forward to continuing the good work of the association with Thomas and Jason lending their expertise to the group.”
Thomas Gumkowski is vice president of business development for Tripifoods, Inc. His career began with S.M. Flickinger Co. in Buffalo, NY where he started as a Buyer for their Food Service Buffalo Division. He attended Canisius College where he earned both his BA and MBA. At S.M. Flickinger he advanced to several positions and became the General Manager of their Buffalo Food Service Division.
Gumkowski held senior management positions with several distribution organizations servicing the Northeast in the areas of Food Service, retail supermarkets, bakery, paper & packaging, and the convenience business segments. In 2013 he moved into his current role at Tripifoods, Inc. as their Vice President of Business Development.
He and his wife Helen live in Orchard Park, New York, and have three grown children. Avid Buffalo Bills fans, they enjoy sports, traveling and are active volunteers for their church and in their community.
Jason Bassett is a devoted father and avid golfer who recently joined Sheetz as their senior government relations manager. He received a degree in political science from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Prior to joining Sheetz, Jason spent 12 years as the director of government affair for Kum & Go, LC. He worked in Washington, DC, in both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government as a career employee and political appointee at the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and on legislative staff of U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe. After his time in government, Jason was the legislative director for the American Frozen Food Institute.
Bassett will soon be relocating to the Columbus, Ohio area. He is dad, all-time quarterback, golf instructor, baseball coach, master grilled cheese maker, and financier to Elizabeth (15), Landon (12), and Zack (10).
PFMA is led by a 37-member Board of Directors that includes retail and associate members.
This volunteer group shapes the association’s agenda. Members are elected to unlimited three-year terms.
