About the Founder​

Theresa Nolan

Theresa Nolan grew up in the produce business in North Carolina, where her father was a grower and shipper of apples and vegetables.  Having gained a deep understanding of grower/shipper concerns from her upbringing, Theresa now operates her own produce merchandising company, The Nolan Network  (TNN) founded in 1987. 

Currently the company represents The Transfresh Corporation.  Past clients include the Giumarra Companies, Inc.,  ZESPRI International, Heartland Fruit New Zealand Limited,  DNE World Fruit Sales (DNE), Seald Sweet International, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Fyffes, ENZA Fresh, ZESPRI, The David Oppenheimer Company, The Maine Potato Board, Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc., The California Tomato Commission, The California Avocado Commission, the California Kiwifruit Commission and the California Artichoke Advisory Board.  

Theresa is on the board of directors of the New England Produce Council and is a member of the attendance and Expo committees for the South East Produce Council.  She also has served on both the Produce Marketing Association’s Consumer Education and Exhibit Advisory Committees.

In 2010 Theresa created the James and Theresa Nolan Family Foundation to honor the memory of her husband who died during a protracted legal battle over an ethical matter.  The foundation has a mission of promoting business ethics and currently offers three $5000 scholarships through the New England Produce Council, Eastern Produce Council and Southeast Produce Council. In 2016 the Southeast Produce Council Awarded Theresa a Lifetime Membership Award for her long and distinguished career in the produce industry.

Before starting TNN Theresa represented what was then called the California Strawberry Advisory Board (CSAB) as their first ever full-time merchandising manager, covering the eastern United States and Canada.  Prior to working for the CSAB, Theresa was a product manager for Western Publishing Company, with responsibility for their adult and children’s trade books including Betty Crocker Cookbooks and the Red Book of Coins.  She earlier taught French and Spanish in the Charlotte Mecklenberg school system.

Theresa has an M.B.A., with an emphasis on marketing, from the University of Wisconsin (1980), a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Central Florida (1977) and a B.A. in French Education from North Carolina State University (1972).  She completed her language degrees with studies in French at l'université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France and l’université Paul-Valéry, Montpellier, France and Spanish at universities in Oviedo and Sevilla, Spain.  

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