MoreCheck out who’s movin’ on up-and out-in the refrigerated and frozen food sector.
ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Solar Energy Industries Association, Washington, D.C.
Arno Harris, chief executive officer of Recurrent Energy, was named chairman. Previously, Arno founded Prevalent Power in 2001, a commercial solar sales and installation business, which he sold to Energy Innovations. Arno transitioned to solar from the high-tech industry, where he held founder and executive roles for start-ups such as RedEnvelope, Wine.com and Novo Media Group. Patricia Nugent, the director of policy and business development for Dow Solar, a business unit of the Dow Chemical Co., was appointed vice chairwoman. She has been with Dow since 1987, and has held diverse roles in research and development and new business development. Nugent was the co-founder and charter officer of a national consortium supporting the EPA in setting standards for immunochemistry use in regulatory methods.
Private Label Manufacturers’ Association, New York
Greg Baskin, director of specialty products for Hormel Foods, was elected chairman of the board of directors of PLMA. Other members elected to the board include Howard Kirschenbaum, vice president of sales, Trinity Packaging Corp., as first vice chairman; and Greg Dragan, vice president and general manager, Ralston Foods, as second vice chairman. Elected to the board for three-year terms through 2015 are Christian Strong, Perrigo Co.; Mark McCumby, PL Developments; Charlotte Marsh, Windsor Foods; Dave Olson, ConAgra; and Clay Dockery, Massimo Zenetti Beverage USA. Tyler Cook, Lance Private Brands, was elected to fill an unexpired term on the board ending in 2014.
The Center for Association Leadership, Washington, D.C.
Corey Rosenbusch, vice president of the Global Cold Chain Alliance, earned a Certified Association Executive credential, the highest professional credential in the association industry. To be designated, an applicant must have a minimum of three years experience in non-profit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and non-profit management.
PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:
Sara Lee Corp., Downers Grove, Ill.
Sally Grimes was appointed chief innovation officer of the newly named Hillshire Brands Co., effective July 9. Grimes will oversee the company’s innovation process, including identifying strategies, business opportunities and new technologies and developing new capabilities with partners, new business models and new industry structures.
ConAgra Foods Inc., Omaha, Neb.
W.L. (Bill) Hutton joined on as president of ConAgra’s international arm, Consumer Foods International. He will be responsible for developing strategies that align with the company’s ambition to double its international business. Prior to joining ConAgra Foods, Hutton was vice president and general manager of PepsiAmericas Inc., Poland/Baltics. Hutton also had prior assignments from PepsiCo in China and Canada.
PepsiCo, Inc., Purchase, N.Y.
Larry Thompson rejoined the company as executive vice president, government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective July 30, succeeding Maura Abeln Smith, who chose to leave the company to pursue other opportunities. Thompson will be responsible for PepsiCo's worldwide legal function, government affairs and public policy organizations. He also will oversee the company's global compliance function and the PepsiCo Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm. Thompson was senior vice president of government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary from 2004-2011.
Vermont Farmstead Cheese Co., South Woodstock, Vt.
Valerie Traynor was named senior vice president of specialty foods, responsible for all current and future products. Traynor brings more than 20 years of research and marketing expertise, including nine years in specialty foods retail as executive marketing director at Whole Foods Market. Most recently, she was owner and president of a marketing and consulting firm specializing in the natural and organic foods industry.
Dole Food Co., Westlake Village, Calif.
Jim Kelley joined Dole North American Marketing Group as senior business manager, responsible for leading development of strategy, tactics and new products aimed at expanding sales to foodservice, convenience stores, vending and industrial channels. Kelley is replacing Stuart McAllister, who moved to field sales director.
SUPPLIERS:
Pioneer Valley Refrigerated Warehouse Inc. (DBA: Pioneer Cold), Chicopee, Mass.
Bryan Hedge was appointed chief operating officer, responsible for overseeing all operational areas of the company with the goal of creating maximum value for shareholders, while prioritizing customer, employee and organizational requirements. Hedge has held the role of vice president, operations since joining Pioneer Cold in 2007. He has more than 25 years of experience managing supply chain operations, including procurement management, warehouse management, inventory management, transportation management, facilities management, distribution network design and analysis and site selection.
POWER Engineers, Inc., Hailey, Idaho
Don Hodapp joined the food and beverage facilities team, responsible for working with the company’s project teams on a national basis to provide integrated process, packaging and facility solutions to its clients. Hodapp brings more than 28 years experience in business development, engineering (process, packaging and plant) and operations.
Primus Builders, Woodstock, Ga.
Ian Smith was named vice president, process planner, responsible for spearheading the firm’s process planning and programming assignments. Smith maintains more than 30 years experience specializing in the engineering and management of complex processing projects. He has completed a broad range of food and pharmaceutical projects for clients in the United States and Europe. Most recently, Smith was a senior project manager at a regional office of a national A/E firm serving food processing and pharmaceutical clients.
ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Solar Energy Industries Association, Washington, D.C.
Arno Harris, chief executive officer of Recurrent Energy, was named chairman. Previously, Arno founded Prevalent Power in 2001, a commercial solar sales and installation business, which he sold to Energy Innovations. Arno transitioned to solar from the high-tech industry, where he held founder and executive roles for start-ups such as RedEnvelope, Wine.com and Novo Media Group. Patricia Nugent, the director of policy and business development for Dow Solar, a business unit of the Dow Chemical Co., was appointed vice chairwoman. She has been with Dow since 1987, and has held diverse roles in research and development and new business development. Nugent was the co-founder and charter officer of a national consortium supporting the EPA in setting standards for immunochemistry use in regulatory methods.
Private Label Manufacturers’ Association, New York
Greg Baskin, director of specialty products for Hormel Foods, was elected chairman of the board of directors of PLMA. Other members elected to the board include Howard Kirschenbaum, vice president of sales, Trinity Packaging Corp., as first vice chairman; and Greg Dragan, vice president and general manager, Ralston Foods, as second vice chairman. Elected to the board for three-year terms through 2015 are Christian Strong, Perrigo Co.; Mark McCumby, PL Developments; Charlotte Marsh, Windsor Foods; Dave Olson, ConAgra; and Clay Dockery, Massimo Zenetti Beverage USA. Tyler Cook, Lance Private Brands, was elected to fill an unexpired term on the board ending in 2014.
The Center for Association Leadership, Washington, D.C.
Corey Rosenbusch, vice president of the Global Cold Chain Alliance, earned a Certified Association Executive credential, the highest professional credential in the association industry. To be designated, an applicant must have a minimum of three years experience in non-profit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and non-profit management.
PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:
Sara Lee Corp., Downers Grove, Ill.
Sally Grimes was appointed chief innovation officer of the newly named Hillshire Brands Co., effective July 9. Grimes will oversee the company’s innovation process, including identifying strategies, business opportunities and new technologies and developing new capabilities with partners, new business models and new industry structures.
ConAgra Foods Inc., Omaha, Neb.
W.L. (Bill) Hutton joined on as president of ConAgra’s international arm, Consumer Foods International. He will be responsible for developing strategies that align with the company’s ambition to double its international business. Prior to joining ConAgra Foods, Hutton was vice president and general manager of PepsiAmericas Inc., Poland/Baltics. Hutton also had prior assignments from PepsiCo in China and Canada.
PepsiCo, Inc., Purchase, N.Y.
Larry Thompson rejoined the company as executive vice president, government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary, effective July 30, succeeding Maura Abeln Smith, who chose to leave the company to pursue other opportunities. Thompson will be responsible for PepsiCo's worldwide legal function, government affairs and public policy organizations. He also will oversee the company's global compliance function and the PepsiCo Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm. Thompson was senior vice president of government affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary from 2004-2011.
Vermont Farmstead Cheese Co., South Woodstock, Vt.
Valerie Traynor was named senior vice president of specialty foods, responsible for all current and future products. Traynor brings more than 20 years of research and marketing expertise, including nine years in specialty foods retail as executive marketing director at Whole Foods Market. Most recently, she was owner and president of a marketing and consulting firm specializing in the natural and organic foods industry.
Dole Food Co., Westlake Village, Calif.
Jim Kelley joined Dole North American Marketing Group as senior business manager, responsible for leading development of strategy, tactics and new products aimed at expanding sales to foodservice, convenience stores, vending and industrial channels. Kelley is replacing Stuart McAllister, who moved to field sales director.
SUPPLIERS:
Pioneer Valley Refrigerated Warehouse Inc. (DBA: Pioneer Cold), Chicopee, Mass.
Bryan Hedge was appointed chief operating officer, responsible for overseeing all operational areas of the company with the goal of creating maximum value for shareholders, while prioritizing customer, employee and organizational requirements. Hedge has held the role of vice president, operations since joining Pioneer Cold in 2007. He has more than 25 years of experience managing supply chain operations, including procurement management, warehouse management, inventory management, transportation management, facilities management, distribution network design and analysis and site selection.
POWER Engineers, Inc., Hailey, Idaho
Don Hodapp joined the food and beverage facilities team, responsible for working with the company’s project teams on a national basis to provide integrated process, packaging and facility solutions to its clients. Hodapp brings more than 28 years experience in business development, engineering (process, packaging and plant) and operations.
Primus Builders, Woodstock, Ga.
Ian Smith was named vice president, process planner, responsible for spearheading the firm’s process planning and programming assignments. Smith maintains more than 30 years experience specializing in the engineering and management of complex processing projects. He has completed a broad range of food and pharmaceutical projects for clients in the United States and Europe. Most recently, Smith was a senior project manager at a regional office of a national A/E firm serving food processing and pharmaceutical clients.
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