Our Team
Keith Veselka
CEO
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Keith grew up in Houston, Texas and brings with him the spirit of a self-assured, bold and true, Texan. His strong character stands on its own, makes no bones about what he can deliver, and never compromises on his promises.
Keith received his degree (Law & Justice) in 2004 from Central Washington University and spent 7 years as a United States Air Force Nuclear Operations Officer and Flight Commander. The skills that enabled him to serve his country as an Air Force officer uniquely enable him to lead NWFM orchard operations. Intelligence, attention to detail, integrity, and determination to get the job done help Keith manage any challenge so his customers can sleep well at night.
Keith also currently serves as a Commissioner on the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC) & Co-chair of the Technology Committee. While also helping provide scholarships to students by serving as a Executive board member of the Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF) and in the past served as President of the Yakima Pomological Club.
Greg Newman
Agronomy
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Born and raised in Yakima Valley, agriculture was a part of daily life for Greg. With over 24 years of experience in horticulture and crop consulting, Greg has seen his share of the ups and downs in production. He finds satisfaction in the challenge of finding solutions and collaborating with growers to produce a great crop even when nature throws a curveball.
Greg has the invaluable combination of insight, experience, tenacity, and courage to tackle the toughest challenges.
Scott Jacky
Orchard Design and Development
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Scott was born and raised on a farm in Eastern Washington. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Washington State University (Go COUGS!) and, shortly after, his Professional Engineer license in the states of California and Washington.
He started his career designing bridges and then moved on to the construction industry, where he spent 13 years. In 2009, Scott moved to Yakima and served as the General Manager of Valley Fruit Orchards until 2019.
These days Scott spends the majority of his time combining his engineering, construction, and agricultural knowledge in designing and managing orchard development projects. Having been an orchard manager Scott has the advantage of knowing the grower’s needs and is always looking for a way to speed up installation and reduce labor costs for his clients.
When not working on orchard development projects, Scott enjoys getting out in the orchards and discussing horticultural practices with the rest of the NWFM crew.
Tim Hull
Administration, Safety, and Compliance
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Tim is charged with Food Safety, Compliance, Administration, and Special Projects.
Tim grew up on a working, tree fruit operation and graduated from Wheaton College, Illinois with a B.A. in Economics. Tim brings a broad perspective to his position with experience in facilities management, fleet management and small business systems development.
Jones Patton
Director of Facilities and Equipment
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As a Yakima Valley native, Jones brings a strong connection to agriculture, shaped by years of hands-on experience in the field. His background spans finance, equipment management, and agtech, with time spent leading field operations and collaborating with international teams to keep things running smoothly and efficiently.
Outside of the professional realm, Jones is an active community member, volunteering with the POM Club, First Tee of Yakima, Rotary, and the Yakima Elks. He holds OSHA10 and CPR certifications, is currently working toward his Project Management Certification, and enjoys hands-on work as a hobby carpenter.
A passionate traveler, he has visited 46 countries across 6 continents and spent a year studying abroad at the University of Granada in Spain. He’s a fan of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, runs on coffee, and if he had to pick an emoji for the day, it’d be the golfer 🏌️— because that’s where you’ll find him whenever he gets the chance.
Alma Arias
Human Resources Manager
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As a Yakima Valley born and raised, Alma carries a deep connection to the tree fruit industry and has been immersed in it since her teenage years, starting as a farmworker.
She graduated from CWU with a business admin degree specializing in HR. Since then, she has gained over 8 years of progressive experience managing all aspects of the employee life cycle.
Outside of the professional realm, she finds comfort in the outdoors, embracing the joys of hiking and camping.
Julie Monteith
Accounting Manager
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Julie was born and raised in Toppenish, WA and after obtaining her degree in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University and a few years working in Seattle, she was drawn back to the Yakima Valley to raise her family.
Julie brings over 30 years of accounting and financial experience to NWFM with a strong understanding of cost accounting and payroll. One of Julie's top priorities is creating individual monthly financial analyses for clients to assure that expenses and income are in alignment with agreed budgets. This is a key component to the successful management and operation of farms and ranches managed by NWFM, LLC
Carmelo Garcia
Area Manager
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Carmelo spent his adolescence in Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, where he did his basic studies.
At the age of 21, he moved to Washington state where he started his new life in the orchards of Zirkle fruit company. He worked there for 20 years where he learned about apples, cherries, and blueberries. It is this knowledge that he uses today at NWFM.
Victor Camacho
Assistant Manager
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As a key member of NWFM LLC leadership, Victor is a well-versed and progressive ranch manager. The satisfaction of being in the field and cultivating a crop from before bloom to harvest is his passion and it shows in the production successes he has demonstrated year over year.
Instead of relying on past success to drive to the future, Victor takes each season and orchard as an opportunity for learning and improving on current practices.
Noe Ayala
Area Manager
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Noe was born in Mexico but immigrated to the United States as a young boy. He graduated from high school and attended college and aviation school in the Tri-Cities Washington area.
His passion has always been to work outdoors, and help the environment, and the impoverished communities in our beautiful state of Washington. Noe has always liked challenges, always thinking of productive, effective results, and producing good financial returns for everyone in our industry. That is why he am proud to be part of the NWFM family.
Rachel Arroyo
Quality Control Director
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Born and raised in the heart of the Yakima Valley, Rachel Arroyo has deep roots in the local community. A graduate of Selah High School and a proud mother of two sons, Rachel brings over 20 years of experience in the agricultural industry to her role at NWFM.
Her career has been defined by hard work and determination, starting with hands-on roles in the field and progressing into leadership positions. As Quality Control Director, Rachel is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards across all NWFM operations. Her extensive experience and deep understanding of the industry allow her to bring a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to her work.
When she’s not ensuring quality excellence at NWFM, Rachel enjoys spending time on the water. Whether paddleboarding or relaxing by the lake, she finds inspiration and balance in nature.
Guillermo Arzaga
H2A Programs Manager
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Guillermo was born in Mexico, but he and his family moved to Yakima when he was 10. He worked in the fields growing up and graduated from Davis High.
Guillermo started in the Ag industry 15 years ago, processing payroll for a fruit company with multiple orchards; he was given additional responsibilities and eventually moved into a Human Resources (HR) role. Guillermo enjoys working with people and has worked in different capacities within HR for the last 12 years. He brings knowledge and experience in policies, hiring, H2A, benefits management, as well as employee safety.
In his spare time, Guillermo enjoys dancing and spending time with family, especially playing basketball and fishing with his sons.
Grayson Andrews
Inventory Specialist
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Born and raised in Yakima, Grayson grew up with grandparents who farmed apples, pears, and cherries so he had always had an interest in agriculture and being out in the orchard. He graduated from CWU with a Business Sports Management degree, specializing in Analytics and a minor in accounting.
In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors playing basketball, soccer, and baseball.
Nayely Garcia
Office Assistant
Ricardo Vasquez
HR Coordinator
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Born and raised in the Yakima Valley, Ricky brings hands-on experience in human resources, with a background supporting local medical clinics, including a women’s health nonprofit and the Farm Workers Clinic in Grandview. His experience includes employee onboarding, interviewing, and HR data entry. At NWFM, he’s excited to continue developing professionally—gaining deeper insight into HR policies, workplace safety, and the agricultural industry, while building strong connections with the workforce.
Outside of work, Ricky enjoys being outdoors, especially hiking and walking. He’s a dedicated sports fan with a passion for basketball, football, soccer, hockey, and boxing. His favorite teams include the Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle Kraken, and Gonzaga Basketball. In addition to sports, he has a keen interest in aquatics and keeps saltwater fish as a hobby.
Alejandro Plascencia
Construction Manager
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At the age of 15, Alejandro began working in agriculture by picking a variety of fruits and performing year-round orchard tasks such as thinning and pruning. In 2008, he transitioned into orchard infrastructure, focusing on the installation of irrigation and trellis systems.
He joined NWFM in 2021 as an equipment operator and was later promoted to Construction Manager. Alejandro takes pride in his work and enjoys being part of a team that supports innovation and growth in the agricultural industry.
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and three kids, embracing nature through family activities. He’s also a sports fan who especially enjoys watching football.
Kimberly Howard
CFO
Martin Garcia
Ranch Foreman
Theresa Sanchez
Orchard Manager
Mateo Solis
Foreman