OUR TEAM
ERIC VENTURINI
Executive Director
Eric Venturini stepped into the role of Executive Director of the Wild Blueberry Commission in February of 2020. He is a proud alumnus of the University of Maine and worked for years in fisheries before transitioning to agriculture. Eric first became involved in Maine’s wild blueberry industry as a graduate student at the University of Maine studying agriculture, wild blueberries, and pollinators. For three years he worked at a non-profit in close partnership with the USDA-NRCS in Maine and is a published scientist with papers on topics ranging from climate change, wild blueberry pollinators, to wild blueberry marketing. Eric serves on a number of boards and committees across Maine and the US to represent the interests of Maine's wild blueberry producers.
JENNIFER MCGINLEY MASKALA
Director of Programs
Jennifer McGinley Maskala is the Director of Programs for the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine. She was born in Bangor, has a BS in Business Administration from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, and is completing her MBA at the University of Maine. Her career experience includes leadership, operations, process improvement, business development, sales, and marketing for several national companies. She is passionate about driving positive change and improving the lives of Mainers. Jennifer is very excited to collaborate with growers, processors, and other industry partners to improve the economic viability of Maine Wild Blueberry production and conserve Maine Wild Blueberry land and its resources.
SHIVANI PATEL
Administrative Specialist
Shivani was born in Mumbai, India. She has a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance, a Masters in human resource management, and is fluent in four languages. As a new Mainer, Shivani is excited to learn more about Maine's wild blueberries. She is deeply passionate about her career, specializing in human resource management and administration. With five years of experience and professional qualifications, she brings a high level of expertise to the Commission. On the personal side, Shivani regularly indulges in her love for travel, enjoys going for long drives, listening to music, and continuously seeks opportunities for self-improvement.
