Board of Directors
Deanna Jurgens is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Armanino Foods. She brings over two decades of leadership experience across the food, beverage, beauty, and wellness industries. Prior to joining Armanino, Ms. Jurgens served as Chief Sales Officer of Bonduelle Fresh Americas, where she led a successful business turnaround, delivering double-digit branded growth and significantly improving profitability. She previously held senior leadership roles including President, North America and Global Chief Growth Officer at Beyond Meat, where she spearheaded international expansion and commercial partnerships, and Chief Global Sales Officer at Rodan & Fields, where she led digital transformation and global revenue growth. Ms. Jurgens began her career at PepsiCo, rising to Senior Vice President at Frito-Lay, where she was the first senior female to lead the company’s largest operating business unit. Ms. Jurgens is known for building high-performing teams, driving transformational growth, and leading with purpose.
James Ford, CFA, Chairman of The Board. Prior to becoming Chairman in August 2025, Mr. Ford has been a director since June 2024. He is President and Managing Director of First Ballantyne, LLC, a U.S. fixed income boutique broker dealer specializing in credit, structured products, distressed securities, municipals, and mortgage-backed securities. Mr. Ford has been President of First Ballantyne, LLC since 2014 and has worked at the company since 2008. During his tenure, he represented the company in several distressed restructurings, including Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO), the Puerto Rico Port Authority, and the Puerto Rico Government Development Bank (GDB-DRA). Prior to First Ballantyne, LLC, Mr. Ford worked in the hedge fund and money management industry. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Deb Armanino LeBlanc is a founding family member of Armanino Foods and served in key leadership roles from 1986 until her retirement in 2016. Her contributions were central to the company’s growth and long – standing reputation, with responsibilities spanning customer relations, product development, operations, and national and international sales including her role as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Since 2016, Deb has continued to support the company and values as a member of the Board of Directors, where she brings generational insight, strategic continuity, and a deep commitment to preserving the legacy and vision of Armanino Foods.
Al Banisch has served as a Director at Armanino Foods since March 2019, and current chairs the Compensation Committee. Mr. Banisch brings three decades of experience in the food industry, the most recent 18 years leading consulting engagements with companies ranging from the world’s largest multinationals to innovative start-ups. Prior to his recent retirement, he served as Executive Vice President at Mattson, the country’s premier food & beverage innovation firm, personally leading client engagements and overseeing the company’s client service team. Before that he held similar responsibilities as Managing Partner at Sterling-Rice Group, the globally-recognized brand strategy and innovation firm, where he also served on the Board of Directors. Mr. Banisch began his career in the food business at the H. J. Heinz Company, serving for 12 years in marketing and general management roles. Among his accomplishments were driving record market share on the US retail ketchup business, and implementing best practices for the condiments category globally. Between roles in the food industry, Mr. Banisch leveraged his leadership skills as Senior VP at Visa, where he led the US credit card business, and as Senior VP for Strategy & Marketing at Centura Health, then Colorado’s largest hospital and health care system. Mr. Banisch earned B.S. and MBA degrees at Carnegie Mellon University.
Mr. Micek serves on our Board of Armanino Foods, as well as Chairs the Audit Committee. John Micek III has served as a member of Jaguar Health board of directors and the board of directors of Napo since April 2016 and a member of the board of directors of Napo Therapeutics since March 2021. From 2000 to 2010, Mr. Micek was managing director of Silicon Prairie Partners, LP, a Palo Alto, California based family-owned venture fund. Since 2010, He was also a board member and the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Enova Systems. From March 2014 to August 2015, he served as interim Chief Financial Officer for Smith Electric Vehicles, Inc. Mr. Micek is a cum laude graduate of Santa Clara University and the University of San Francisco School of Law where he was an Articles Editor of the Law Review. His CA law license where he specialized in financial 11 services is currently inactive. Mr. Micek has served as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, teaching Corporate Governance and Ethics at the graduate school of Economics course at the University of San Francisco.
Mr. Muscato is a senior leader with a 35-year successful track record in the United States and Europe growing and scaling public and private equity owned companies in the food & beverage industry. Mr. Muscato was elected to the Board in June, 2024. He currently serves as President, CEO & Board Director of Country Pure Foods, Inc. a leading U.S. provider of premium beverage solutions to the retail and away from home channels. Prior to joining Country Pure Foods, he was CEO/President of Harry’s Fresh Foods, Inc. and CEO/President of Diamond Crystal Brands, Inc. Mr. Muscato’s career began in retail marketing with the H.J. Heinz Company, where over 20 years he advanced to senior leadership positions including Group Vice President of North American Foodservice Sales & Marketing and Managing Director – European Foodservice. He has also served as a Board Director for several food companies, including Ferraro Foods, Kettle Cuisine, Michael Angelo’s Gourmet Foods, and Buzzard’s Roost Spirits. Mr. Muscato holds a B.S. in Management from Canisius College and an M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University.