SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — Retiring President of the Tea Association of the USA Joseph P. Simrany on Wednesday basked in the warm wishes of a global tea industry he has served for nearly 23 years.
Simrany, with wife Carol and his adult children, told the audience he is recovering from a recent heart attack and praised incoming President Peter Goggi for not missing a beat during his absence.
“This has been a labor of love, and while the years have gone by so fast, the memories are the best of my life. Thank you for the opportunity,” he told the crowd of 150 that rose spontaneously in applause.
Chairman Barry Cooper recounted some of Simrany’s many accomplishments and memorable exploits in his travels on behalf of the Association. A slide show depicting two decades of service representing the American tea industry at events on goodwill visits with international business and government leaders.
The event was also an occasion to celebrate winners of the Gold Medal Tea Competition with the top recognition going to Udaya Kumar of Billamalai Tea Estate, India for its Blue Gate Green Twirl Tea.
Click here to see entire list of winners.
Cooper asked for a moment of silence in memory of Andy Holliday, President & CEO at A. Holliday & Company Inc. Holliday died Sunday on a trip to Italy with his wife.
Cooper handed the gavel to incoming Chairman John Smith, vice president at Henry P. Thomson, Inc. Smith later sat with Tea Biz for a discussion of his vision for the organization. Look for a Q&A next week.
Revelers continued the celebration well into the night.
