Katie O’Connor-Zeno, 36
Senior Director of Marketing, Garrett Brands, Chicago, IL
June 12, 2026 | 3 min to read
SHORT BIO
Hometown: Valparaiso, IN
Hobbies: Cooking, Gardening
Family/Community: Married, 2 stepchildren
Motto in life: Build boldly, move with intention, and leave everything better than you found it.
O’Connor-Zeno began her career in the produce industry at Produce Alliance in 2016 as a marketing and design coordinator. Over the next eight-plus years, she advanced into leadership roles as marketing manager and eventually marketing director.
During her tenure, she led initiatives that strengthened the company’s digital presence, increased social engagement year-over-year, and elevated brand visibility.
She collaborated closely with growers, distributors, and internal teams to align marketing with business goals, while also developing press releases, educational content, and video storytelling to highlight the value and versatility of fresh produce. In 2025, she became vice president of marketing and product development for Planet Harvest, where she led product development, brand strategy, and cross-functional marketing efforts.
In 2026, she moved to her current position, where she continues to innovate in the food space and contribute to the growth and evolution of the food industry.
Q: How did you begin working in the produce industry and why?
I almost went to culinary school right after high school, but quickly realized that cooking was more of a labor of love and personal passion than a professional path. I spent some time in digital media and radio, but eventually felt the pull to do something with food, funny enough, while I was a vegetarian at the time.
One serendipitous scroll led me to the Produce Alliance website, and the rest is history. Since then, I’ve fallen head over heels for produce, this industry, and the people who are in it. I live it, breathe it, cook with it, and talk about it constantly (just ask my husband).
What started as a curiosity quickly grew into a full-blown passion, and I’ve never once looked back. This industry is vibrant, nourishing, and truly feels like home.
Q: How has the industry changed during your tenure?
The produce industry has evolved in some big and fascinating ways since I first started. Technology has played a major role, everything from traceability and logistics to data-driven forecasting has become more sophisticated, and that’s brought a whole new level of efficiency and transparency to how we operate.
Consumer behavior and how they see fresh food has shifted, too. People are more curious and conscious about where their food comes from, how it’s grown, and what it means for their health and the planet. That’s pushed the industry to be more innovative, more sustainable, and more storytelling-focused, which, as a marketer, I love.
Q: What challenges and opportunities do you see for the future of the industry?
I believe sustainability is, hands down, one of our greatest challenges and most exciting opportunities. From water scarcity and packaging waste, we’re being pushed to rethink how we grow, move, and market produce in smarter, more responsible ways.
The good news is that innovation is on our side, with advancements in regenerative farming, supply chain efficiency, and compostable packaging that are opening doors for real, lasting impact. If we lean into collaboration and stay committed to progress, we have the power to lead the food industry toward a more sustainable future.
NOMINEES
