Check out who’s movin’ on up-and out-in the refrigerated and frozen food sector.

ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), McLean, Va., and the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA), Harrisburg, Pa.
The Distinguished Order of Zerocrats, an organization of industry members whose mission is to maintain the tradition of promoting the image and advancement of the frozen food industry, selected three food industry leaders as the 2012 Frozen Food Hall of Fame inductees. The 2012 inductees are Nevin Montgomery, retired president and CEO of NFRA; Dr. H. Reid Wagstaff, retired vice president, government and environmental affairs for J.M. Smucker Co.; and the late Benjamin Zdatny, former vice chairman and COO of the Di Giorgio Corp. The inductees will be honored at the Grand Awards Reception & Banquet on Oct. 9 at the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention in Washington, D.C.

Wheat Foods Council, Ridgeway, Colo.
Brent Robertson, a wheat farmer in Perkins, Lincoln and Chase counties, Neb., was named the 2012-2013 chair. He is a member of the Nebraska Wheat Board and for the past year, served as the WFC’s vice chair.

Natural Products Association, Washington, D.C.
Cara Welch was promoted to senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, responsible for overseeing NPA’s quality assurance programs, including the NPA Natural Seal and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Certification for dietary supplements and advising members on regulatory, safety, nutrition and health issues, among others. Elizabeth Hurst was appointed director of government relations, responsible for monitoring state and local policy proposals, helping direct government relations activity at the state and federal level and advocating on Capitol Hill on behalf of NPA members. In addition, Meg Mader was promoted to director of marketing, responsible for developing more consistent and cohesive messaging for the marketing of GMP seminars and coordinating NPA’s presence at industry events.

American Meat Science Association (AMSA), Champaign, Ill.
Dr. Robert “Bob” Delmore, professor of animal science at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif., was named president-elect to the board of directors. Delmore has been an active member of AMSA since 1991, serving on numerous committees and chairing the 2010 AMSA 64th Reciprocal Meat Conference.

Global Cold Chain Alliance, Washington, D.C.
GCCA India Director Atul Khanna was nominated as the vice chairman of the Logistic and Supply Chain Committee of the newly formed National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) in India. Founded in February, the NCCD is a public-private organization responsible for developing the cold chain in India. It is led by a 22-member Governing Council, including government officials, representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, produce growers, cold chain equipment manufacturers/suppliers and others involved in the cold chain.

Organic Trade Association, Washington, D.C.
Marni Karlin, who has served as counsel for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights since 2009, joined OTA as its associate director for legislative and legal affairs. She will be combining her passion for food and agricultural policy with her legal and legislative knowledge. In other OTA news, Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farm and Zea Sonnabend of CCOF received the Organic Leadership Awards for 2012. The awards, presented during OTA’s Awards Gala, recognize outstanding individuals who have shown leadership and vision in furthering the goals of the organic movement. Hirshberg received the award for growing the organic industry, while Sonnabend helped grow organic agriculture. Nominated by their peers, they were chosen unanimously by OTA’s board of directors.

Northwest Food Processors Association, Portland, Ore.
Dean Stearman, vice president and CIO of DePaul Industries, was elected to the board of directors. Stearman will also serve on the NWFPA executive committee and as 1st chair of NWFPA Education Research Institute (ERI).

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:
Ralcorp Holdings, Inc., St. Louis
Ronald Wilkinson, corporate vice president and president of Ralcorp Cereal Products, announced plans to retire, effective Sept. 30. Wilkinson has held the corporate vice president position since October 1996.

Weight Watchers International, Inc., New York
Nicholas Hotchkin was hired to serve as chief financial officer, effective Aug. 20. Hotchkin will be responsible for overseeing the global finance and accounting operations of the company. Most recently, Hotchkin was senior vice president of finance for the U.S. retail division of Staples.

SUPPLIERS:
Kingspan Insulated Panels North America, Deland, Fla.
Steven Huck was appointed regional sales manager for the cold storage division, responsible for helping serve the growing demand for insulated metal panels as well as Hercules insulated doors for cold storage projects and customers in the Midwest region. Huck will lead sales efforts in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Additionally, Andrea Peters assumed the role of marketing director, responsible for overseeing all internal and external marketing and communications efforts in North America.

Bush Truck Leasing, Cincinnati
Allan Young joined on as vice president of national sales, while John Hanes will serve as the vice president of sales and operations for the Midwest and West divisions.