ELAINE THOMPSON
SALES EXECUTIVE, PMR, INC.
Thompson’s career began 45 years ago when most women in the frozen and refrigerated industry were working as secretaries or retail salespeople. She was eventually hired as a regional manager for a Mexican food company, and when she became a broker in the early ‘90s, she represented that company (now worth more than $16.8 billion). “Each time I made a move, they moved with me, so I’ve represented them for more than 30 years now,” says Thompson, who takes a lot of pride in the relationships she’s built with both manufacturers and retailers.
In 1991, Thompson was named president of the Southern California Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Council (SCFRC), and she’s served on the organization’s board of directors off and on since then. Since 2017, Thompson has chaired SCFRC’s golf tournament, which has awarded scholarships worth more than $313,000 in the past five years. As a cancer survivor, she’s also active in several other charities as well.
Her best advice to women in the industry is to stay true to themselves. “Be diplomatic, yes, but never compromise your core values.”
