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

ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Site Selectors Guild, Mount Prospect, Ill.
Michelle Comerford, managing director of Austin Consulting, an objective in-house site selection and economic development firm in Austin, Texas, was named a member. The Site Selectors Guild is an exclusive organization comprised of the premier site selectors in the world. Applicants must meet a thorough list of criteria, including the ability to demonstrate experience in handling the most complex locational issues successfully on behalf of clients. Membership is by invitation only.

Food Safety Net Services, San Antonio, Texas
Dr. Amit Morey was appointed to the science and technical team. Morey has a strong background in food safety, microbiology, chemistry, processing technologies and product quality pertaining to the seafood, poultry, beef and pork industries. He has worked on several emerging microbial intervention technologies, including UV light application for decontamination of food contact surfaces and modified atmosphere packaging. He is also well versed with GMPs, HACCP, standard protocols and methods.

PROCESSORS:
Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn.
William (Bill) Burke, Jr., president of Burke Marketing Corp., a Nevada, Iowa-based division of Hormel Foods, announced his retirement. David Weber, Southeast regional sales manager for Hormel Foods’ foodservice segment, was named as his replacement. During his 39-year career, Burke has held a variety of roles for Burke Marketing, which was founded by his father, Bill Burke, Sr. In 1986, he advanced to sales and general manager, and in 1991, was named president.

The J. M. Smucker Co., Orrville, Ohio
David Lemmon was elected vice president and managing director, Canada. Lemmon has been with the company for 17 years. He has been instrumental in successfully implementing the company's growth strategy in Canada and helping the company achieve a leading market share position in several Canadian food and beverage categories.

SUPPLIERS:
Kingspan Insulated Panels North America, Deland, Fla.
Joe Brash assumed the position of president, replacing Ralph Mannion, general manager, who will assume the role of managing director for Kingspan Environmental & Renewables, another division of the company. Brash has been with Kingspan for several years, most recently as managing director of the Central and Eastern European business (CEMEI).

Toray Plastics (America), North Kingstown, R.I.
Lauritz Goodrich was named national sales manager for the Torayfan polypropylene film division, responsible for overseeing the North American sales team and stimulating growth in both OPP and PET film among strategic customers and key accounts in the packaging sector. Goodrich joined Toray in 2007 as a strategic alliance manager, responsible for bringing value-added OPP and PET innovations to end users.

Pilgrim Software, Inc., Tampa, Fla.
Heather Valentine was appointed executive vice president of sales, marketing and product management, responsible for establishing and achieving revenue goals and strategies and developing and guiding marketing and product management strategies to support Pilgrim’s growth, revenue and profitability goals. Valentine brings to this position extensive domestic and international sales leadership experience focused on the healthcare and life science information technology markets, including selling to multiple industries within highly regulated environments and establishing partnership alliance organizations.

Key Technology, Walla Walla, Wash.
Govert van Drunen was named channel sales manager at Key Technology BV, the company’s European operation, responsible for automated inspection, specialized conveying and product preparation systems sales. Van Drunen brings 25 years of experience in the food processing industry and has spent the past 12 years managing international sales of food processing equipment in the potato, vegetable and fresh-cut produce industries.