ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Produce Alliance, Chicago
Bill Bastian joined as vice president of business development, sales. Bastian comes aboard with over 30 years of produce know-how and a background in all aspects of the business, from owning and running his own produce company, GW Produce, to managing sales functions and serving as a general manager at Produce Alliance member house LaGrasso Brothers. He most recently served as vice president of sales at a national produce procurement company.

Contract Packaging Association (CAP), Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.
Ron Puvak was appointed managing director, responsible for overseeing the association’s current activities and creating a plan for long-term growth. Puvak maintains a 40-plus-year track record in management, development of packaging technology and promotion of new innovation and business development. Puvak has been with Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI) for the past 11 years as the director of marketing and new business development, where he helped brand owners achieve packaging objectives. Before joining PTI, he was responsible for new business development at AGR International, and was the managing director of The Packaging Conference. Puvak has also maintained leadership roles in a number of societies and associations, including the Society of Plastics Engineers Blow Molding division and the International Society of Beverage Technologists.

Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA), Chicago
John Ross, president of Inmar Promotion Network, was named president and CEO, succeeding current IGA chairman, president and CEO Mark Batenic. Ross will begin his tenure mid-October. Batenic will remain chairman of the board until his retirement Dec. 31, 2018, transitioning in January 2019 to non-executive chairman. Batenic, who joined IGA in 2006 as president and CEO, has worked aggressively with his team to better position IGA retailers in the modern retail environment. Prior to joining Inmar, Ross headed the emerging media lab for Interpublic Group and founded and served as chief executive officer of IPG’s shopper sciences, where he led the media brands’ retail practice, working with worldwide retailers and brands on branding, shopper marketing, media strategy and innovation. Ross’ early career was in retail in-store operations, merchandising, e-commerce and marketing. Before joining IPG, he spent 11 years with Home Depot in various marketing roles, including e-commerce, branding, global marketing and advertising. Ross also launched Home Depot into international markets, developed marketing plans to launch the chain into new categories like major appliances, supported the development of proprietary brands and saw the chain more than double in size.

Idaho Grower Shippers Association, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Mary Hasenoehrl of Gross Farms has become the association’s first female to represent potato growers. Randy Hardy, owner of Hardy Farms, and Nick Blanksma of Legacy Farms will serve their second 3-year terms.
 
 

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS/DISTRIBUTORS:
Sysco Corp., Houston, Texas
Sheila Talton was elected to the board of directors, effective Nov. 17. Talton currently serves as president and CEO of Gray Matter Analytics. From 2011-2013, she served as president and CEO of SGT Ltd., and from 2008-2011, Talton served as vice president, office of globalization for Cisco Systems, Inc. Prior to that, she held other leadership positions at Cisco Systems, Electronic Data Systems Corp. and Ernst & Young, LLP. Additionally, Talton serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including Chicago's Northwestern Hospital Foundation, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Chicago Urban League.

Mann Packing, Salinas, Calif.
Sylvia Le was named to the newly created role of business applications manager, where she will lead a team of analysts to develop applications that support company goals. She worked for Mann Packing from 2011-2014, and most recently worked with Mann’s as a consultant. Le brings more than 17 years of experience, and has supported JD Edwards’ business projects in her last two positions. Also, Ben Marrow was appointed desktop support technician, where he will provide technical support and troubleshooting services to end-users for both computer hardware and software. He comes from Liberty Technical Solutions, where he worked as a technician since 2011.

Schwan’s Food Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Schwan’s Co., Bloomington, Minn.
Helene Clark was named vice president of marketing, taking over for Jacob Berning, who is transitioning to Schwan’s new executive integration team. Clark will be responsible for overseeing the execution and direction of the company’s product, channel and integrated marketing strategies. She also leads the sales planning team. Clark joined the company in 2014 as the K-12 school channel leader and was eventually promoted to vice president of the channel. Additionally, Robert Dircks was named K-12 school channel leader, managing the company’s K-12 sales, marketing, finance and sales planning teams.

Ready Pac Foods, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bonduelle, Irwindale, Calif.
Scott McGuire was promoted to chief supply chain officer, responsible for overseeing agricultural operations, transportation, demand planning, scheduling and customer service. McGuire maintains nearly 30 years of logistics and supply chain management experience. He joined ready Pac Foods in 2015 as vice president of sales and operations planning, where he was responsible for building the company’s sales and operations planning process, long-term business development strategy, demand forecasting, inventory and expenses management, customer service and transportation and logistics capabilities. Previously, he ran his own consulting practice, Joseph Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions, where he provided consulting services for various consumer packaged goods clients, including Nestlé USA. Prior to that, he served as Nestlé USA’s national director of transportation and logistics for the company’s direct-store delivery division, and served as service and distribution director for Pepsico’s Frito-Lay division.

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers (OSRG), Wenatchee, Wash.
Dan Davis joined as organic category manager. His career launched in 1999 at Allan Brothers, where he held positions such as quality control manager, shipping manager and general manager. In 2008, he became production coordinator/grower representative for CF Fresh/Viva Tierra Organic, where he oversaw organic-specific programs in several commodities. Davis joined OSRG in March. Meanwhile, Brent Shammo was named national marketing representative, bringing with expertise in retail marketing, produce analysis and procurement. Shammo joined OSRG May 1.

Great Lakes Cheese, Hiram, Ohio
Brad Belanger was named director of foodservice, taking over for Ned Dorman, who is retiring, effective Aug. 1, 2018. Previously, Belanger was senior director corporate accounts for Saputo Dairy Foods, and brings broad foodservice experience, including national account, broadline and broker management. Dorman’s Great Lakes Cheese career spans 22 years, in which he led to the company’s collaborative and comprehensive foodservice program.

SUPPLIERS:
Vycom, Scranton, Pa.
Kevin Duffy joined as vice president of sales and marketing, responsible for developing the company’s overall sales and marketing strategy. Previously, Duffy was the manager - business development at Eastman Chemical Co., where he gained extensive plastics technology experience in a variety of roles. He was responsible for launching Eastman’s new TRĒVA engineering bioplastic products, including building the sales funnel and the marketing and commercial strategy. Duffy also worked in engineering and sales for Rehrig Pacific Co.

ScanTech Sciences, Inc., Norcross, Ga.
Dwayne House was appointed chief executive officer to oversee and manage the company’s new electronic cold-pasteurization (ECP) food treatment center in McAllen, Texas. House maintains over 25 years of international transactional and operational experience.

Tiger Cool Express (TCX), Overland Park, Kan.
Steve Van Kirk will lead as new chief executive officer, effective immediately, replacing Tom Finkbiner, who previously announced his intent to retire. Prior to joining TCX, Van Kirk was president of Swift Intermodal, a position he held for five years. He also spent 12 years at Schneider National, leading several commercial, logistics and intermodal groups.  Van Kirk also achieve experience in shipper requirements during his 5-year tenure with Procter & Gamble.  He also served as an infantry officer in the United States Army for 12 years, attaining the rank of Major. 

OPTIMA consumer GmbH, Germany
Christoph Held was named managing director, taking over for Rainer Feuchter, who will be withdrawing from the operations business by end of the year. Held maintains many years of experience at well-known machine packaging companies.

Hayssen Flexible Systems, a Barry-Wehmiller company, Duncan, S.C.
Douglas McGraw will begin serving as president, effective Sept. 25. McGraw brings to the role extensive experience leading domestic and international businesses in both consumer durables and packaged goods. He also maintains a strong track record of achieving profitable growth by leveraging lean operational practices and deploying strategic vision and exceptional coaching and leadership. McGraw most recently served as chief operating officer of Topa Equities Ltd. Prior to that, he held key leadership roles at P&G, Graco and Masco Corp.

MacGregor Partners, LLC (MGP), Raleigh, N.C.
Matt Toburen, vice president of distribution solutions and innovation, will head up the Swisslog partnership for MacGregor. Toburen joined MGP in spring of 2017, and brings a balance of customer-facing experience and deep industry knowledge, having delivered analytics and IT consulting services for multiple customers in the logistics space. As head of technology of an arts and crafts wholesale distributor, Toburen led the company through a holistic technology transformation, including a WMS implementation and a state-of-the-art order fulfillment system designed to better serve omni-channel customers and compete against the “Amazon” effect.

Food Process Solutions (FPS), Canada
Steve Kelley joined as director of business development. Formerly the president and CEO of Charlottetown Metal Products Ltd., Kelley maintains a history of success delivering high-quality solutions to the food processing industry.

tna, Dallas, Texas
Steven Wolfe was named new general manager for North America, responsible for supporting tna's long-term growth strategies and ensuring that regional food manufacturers receive the highest level of on-the-ground support. Wolfe maintains over 25 years in the manufacturing industry, including optimizing processes, reducing lead times and improving customer satisfaction.
 

IN MEMORIUM: KELLY HATTAN, DAILY’S PREMIUM MEATS

Kelly Hattan, president of Daily’s® Premium Meats, Merriam, Kan., passed away Sept. 20.

Hattan became president of Daily’s Premium Meats in 2014, when Seaboard Foods sold 50% ownership to Triumph Foods.

Under his leadership, Daily’s Premium Meats experienced substantial sales and production growth, including the construction and opening of a new bacon processing plant in St. Joseph, Mo., in 2016.

Hattan joined Seaboard Foods in 2007 as vice president of sales for Daily’s Premium Meats. He was later named vice president of processed meats for Seaboard Foods, tasked with strategically aligning the processed meats division for continued growth.

Before coming to Seaboard Foods, Hattan served as the director of sales for Tyson Foods from 2002-2006. He later joined Doskocil as a regional manager in 1998.

Before Doskocil, Hattan worked at Hormel from 1990-1998, as account executive in Nashville, Tenn., and territory manager in eastern Pennsylvania, covering the Philadelphia and Harrisburg markets.

Funeral arrangements are pending.