ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:

National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Washington, D.C.
Dr. Daniel Kovich was appointed assistant director of science and technology, focusing on food and feed safety and animal handling issues. Kovich comes to NPPC from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, where he managed state animal welfare and control programs, including animal control officer training and technical support, animal care inspection services, emergency animal sheltering and regulatory enforcement activity. He previously was staff veterinarian for animal health and welfare in the department’s Office of Veterinary Services and served as a foreign animal disease diagnostician.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:

Allen Harim, Seaford, Del.
Poultry industry veteran Jack Coleman was named senior director of marketing and sales, responsible for leading development, execution and oversight of marketing strategies, building customer relationships and trade awareness and partnering with the senior executive team to grow business. He will assist in support for the overall vision and long-term business strategy, including product planning, distribution and pricing strategies. For the past six months, Coleman worked with Allen Harim as a contracted business coach, working with the executive team to assist in the development of Allen Harim's short and long-term strategic plan. Coleman has served in senior management sales and marketing roles in the poultry and food manufacturing industry for 35 years.

Jensen Meat Co., San Diego, Calif.
Patricia Lavigne was appointed vice president of executive account, responsible for leading corporate marketing, key account management and customer service. Lavigne was previously executive accounts manager, serving as the primary interface for key corporate clients such as Walmart, Sam’s Club, Kroger and Sysco. Lavigne will also be tasked with developing the company’s brand position and go-to market strategy, as the company expands into the foodservice industry.

SUPPLIERS:

Cashco, Ellsworth, Kan.
Dan Ray was appointed director of EPC management, responsible for sales growth in North America through engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for both Cashco and VCI brand products. Ray began his career in the process control industry in 1981. Prior to joining Cashco in 1986 as engineering lab manager, he served as an instrumentation technician and then shop manager for ITT Barton Industrial Sales.

Plug Power Inc., Latham, N.Y.
Paul Middleton was appointed new chief financial officer, replacing pending-CFO Chris Hutter, who walked away from the position for personal reasons. Middleton has a proven background in strategy, mergers and acquisitions, controls and risk management for manufacturing and technology companies. He comes from Rogers Corp., where he worked for over 12 years in a number of senior financial leadership roles, including principal accounting officer, treasurer and interim CFO.

Omnitracs, LLC, Dallas
Dean Crokewas promoted to vice president of the newly renamed Omnitracs Analytics business unit, formerly known as FleetRisk Advisors. With more than 30 years of experience in risk management and operations positions within the insurance and trucking industries, Croke will drive the strategic vision and lead day-to-day operations, spearheading the development of the company’s new maintenance model and supporting the existing driver retention, safety and worker’s compensation platforms. Prior to joining Omnitracs Analytics in 2005, Croke held roles at Circadian Technologies Inc. and Lancer Insurance Co. 

DEL Ozone, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Mike Hawkins was named the company’s next president, effective Nov. 10, taking over for Joel Peterson, who announced his retirement. Hawkins was selected for the position based on his expertise in sales strategies, his wealth of business knowledge and his 10-plus years of industry experience.Since joining DEL Ozone, Hawkins helped strengthen and maintain the company’s OEM market position through his responsibilities as the director of OEM sales, successfully pursuing and capturing key OEM market opportunities.

NACCO Materials Handling Group (NMHG), Greenville, N.C.
The parent company of Hyster Co. and Yale Materials Handling Corp. announced that its vice president of aftermarket, Paul Laroia, indicated plans to retire at the end of the year. Laroia joined Hyster in 1970, and by the age of 25, had become the youngest manager in the company, overseeing advertising and sales promotions for the European headquarters. Later, he became the director of group marketing and Latin American operations, and from 2005-2009, served as president. Laroia is the brains behind the Hyster UNISOURCE aftermarket   parts program, a one-stop-shop for forklift parts and accessories.