Lisa McNeece has taught me many things over the past 15 years—in ways she may not even recognize. At the top of that list are grace, strength, and compassion. With a career defined by longevity, leadership, and growth, Lisa will be the first to tell you that the path has been shaped by a continual cycle of learning and unlearning, all in pursuit of discovering and refining the best versions of ourselves.
As Lisa reflects on her more than 35 years with Grimmway Farms, currently as Senior Vice President, Foodservice and Ingredient Sales, the industry mentor and maven discerns, with both passion and patience, the moments that most shaped who she became as a leader—not just what she achieved, but how she learned to lead.
“What shaped me most as a leader were the experiences that required me to grow beyond just doing my job. Being part of a company built by the Grimm family meant learning early on that integrity, consistency, and taking care of people are not optional; they are foundational,” Lisa begins. “At the same time, the produce industry itself played a significant role. It’s an industry built on relationships, trust, and showing up for one another, especially during challenging times. Between the values instilled at Grimmway Farms—now Grimmway Produce Group—and the broader industry relationships I was fortunate to build, I learned that leadership is less about individual achievement and more about how you show up, how you treat people, and the trust you build over time.”
Longevity and grace are two things that aren’t always easy to sustain together, especially over a lifetime in fresh produce. This is an industry many gravitate toward—or else run from. That hard edge of the knife and the flat of the blade is what drives many to reshape themselves over time. Lisa explains that she has had to learn—and unlearn—how to lead with both strength and humility.
"I learned that leadership is less about individual achievement and more about how you show up, how you treat people, and the trust you build over time.”
Lisa McNeece, Senior Vice President, Foodservice and Ingredient Sales, Grimmway Produce Group
“I may consider this to still be a work in progress,” she reflects. “Early in my career, I thought strength meant proving yourself, having the answers, moving quickly, and always staying in control. What I have learned over the years, especially working alongside an amazing Grimmway team, is that I have come to see strength differently. It’s quieter. It’s listening more than speaking, staying grounded in your values, and trusting the people around you. I had to unlearn the idea that leadership means carrying everything alone. Humility comes naturally when you’ve been part of something bigger than yourself for so long. You come to realize that what endures is the team, the culture, and the relationships you build along the way.”
Relationships are often the invisible backbone of a long career. For Lisa, there were many people who showed up for her along the way—many who helped shape the trajectory of her journey—but, true to form, Lisa knows there are too many to name.
“There are so many individuals across the produce industry who helped shape me along the way. When I look back, it would almost feel selfish to name a few, knowing how many others played a role in my growth,” Lisa describes. “What I can say is that this industry is full of people willing to share their time, their perspective, and their trust, and I was fortunate to learn from many of them. Each interaction, each relationship, added something that helped shape not just my career, but how I lead today.”
For professionals coming up in the industry today—ambitious, fast-moving, and eager—Lisa offers her perspective on what they may be underestimating when it comes to building a meaningful, lasting career.
“In a world that moves quickly, I think what is often underestimated is the value of consistency. At Grimmway, relationships and reputations have been built over decades. It’s not how fast you can move, but how dependable you are, how you show up, how you treat people, and whether others can count on you over time,” Lisa tells me. “The produce industry, and really any industry, is built on trust. Trust is not built in big moments; it is built quietly, day after day, with consistency.”
Like many of us, no matter where we are in our careers, we all wish for the chance—even if just to entertain it—to sit down with our younger selves and lay out the cards that might help guide our way. For Lisa, if she could sit down on day one at Grimmway with her less experienced self, she would have much to tell her about navigating challenges, building trust, and staying grounded over decades—not just years.
“I would tell her to relax—a little,” she smiles. “This is a place where people build careers over decades, not months. I would tell her there will be challenges. Some may feel big at the time, but those are the moments that will shape you the most. Don’t avoid them, don’t take them personally—just learn from them. On building trust, I would reiterate what I have done my entire career: do what you say you are going to do. Be consistent. Show up the same way every day. People notice that more than anything else. As far as staying grounded, I would remind her that it is always about people. The relationships you build, how you treat others, how you carry yourself…that’s what lasts. Titles will change, roles will evolve, but your reputation and your relationships are what you carry with you over the long haul.”
After 35 years, what stands out most is not just the length of Lisa McNeece’s career, but the way she has carried it—with quiet strength, steady grace, and an unwavering commitment to people that continues to shape everyone fortunate enough to learn from her. 
