Staff Reports
U.S. Sugar on Monday announced that Brannan Thomas, a Belle Glade native, will be its new Community Relations Manager.
Thomas will “manage the company’s community support and initiatives, serving the Glades and coastal communities where the people of U.S. Sugar live, work, and enjoy,” a press release said.
“From his roots in Belle Glade, his high school, college and coaching football career, to his professional career working with South Florida businesses, Brannan Thomas is completely and uniquely qualified for this position and a wonderful addition to our team,” said Judy Sanchez, Senior Director for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs.
She added: “U.S. Sugar is rooted in traditional values, so it is only fitting that we’ve hired someone who grew up locally and embodies the same values and sweet nature as the people in our Glades farming communities. At the same time, he’s young, bright, enthusiastic and brings a wealth of new ideas.”
Thomas said, “After working with businesses of nearly every size across the South, I can think of no better way to give back to the region where I was raised than by working for a company that does so much for our area.
“I am eager to hit the ground running to make sure that U.S. Sugar’s generous community spirit continues to be shared in every area of the many towns, groups, organizations and worthwhile endeavors that we support.”
Most recently, Thomas served as Director of Business Development for Transworld M&A, a corporate sales and advisory firm based in Fort Lauderdale.
He brings nearly 5 years’ experience working in the franchise and business sales industry, having also served as the Southeastern Vice President for United Franchise Group in West Palm Beach.
Thomas’ community involvement includes extensive coaching experience working with athletes in Palm Beach County.
For three years, Thomas coached varsity football and middle school baseball at the King’s Academy in Royal Palm Beach and previously coached defensive backs at Cheyney University in Cheyney, Pennsylvania. Cheyney is the nation’s first historically black college and university (HBCU).
He is a graduate of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he earned a degree in environmental science.
Thomas also graduated and lettered in football, basketball and baseball at Glades Day School in Belle Glade. He has volunteered heavily at The Lighthouse Café, a Christian feeding ministry in Belle Glade. He is married and expecting his first child in August.
U.S. Sugar is a farming company that grows sugarcane, citrus, sweet corn and other winter and spring vegetables in South Florida. The company was founded in 1931 by a visionary leader who hailed from a long line of farmers. Since the beginning, the company’s success has been rooted in traditional farming values and respect for the land.
Today, the company provides more than 2,500 good-paying American jobs, and its local farmers provide nearly 10 percent of all sugar produced in the United States, up to 250 million glasses per year of premium Florida orange juice and nearly half of Florida’s sweet corn crop.
