ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:

Colorado Egg Producers Association, Denver, Colo.
Brandy Gamoning, marketing manager at NestFresh, was named vice president, effective immediately. Gamoning will be responsible for increasing the consumption of eggs in Colorado, as well as raising global awareness of locally produced eggs.

National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI), Washington, D.C.
New members were appointed for the 2014-2016 term. They are as follows: Dr. Michael Crupain, Consumer Product Safety and Sustainability; George Wilson, Wilson & Associates, LLC; Dr. Tanya Roberts, Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention; Kurt Brandt, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union; Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, South Dakota Animal Industry Board; Dr. Krzysztof Mazurczak, Illinois Department of Agriculture; Michael Frances Link Jr., Ohio Department of Agriculture; Dr. Manpreet Singh, Purdue University; Dr. Randall Phebus, Kansas State University; Dr. Patricia Curtis, Auburn University; Brian Sapp, White Oak Pastures, Inc.; Sherri Jenkins, JBS, USA, LLC; Dr. Betsy Booren, American Meat Institute; and Dr. Alice Johnson, Butterball, LLC.

Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA), McLean, Va.
Dolores Alonso joined as senior director of membership and business development, responsible for developing new benefit programs, strengthening existing member relationships and growing association membership. Prior to joining FPSA, Alonso served for 15 years as the managing director of member services and marketing for the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA), where she was responsible for membership engagement and retention, product development, international exhibitions, non-dues revenue growth, brand development and strategic alliances.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:

SkyPeople Fruit Juice, Inc., China
Yongke Xue, currently chairman of the board, will also serve as chief executive officer, effective Dec. 24, replacing Hongke Xue, who resigned from his position as the Company's Chief Executive Officer, also effective December 24, 2014. Yongke Xue served as chief executive officer from 2008-2013 and has extensive knowledge of the company that is vital to the execution of its strategic plan. Meanwhile, Norman Ko announced his resignation, effective Dec. 23, citing personal demands. John Smagula also resigned from the board, effective Dec. 23, citing the demands of other responsibilities. Smagula has been a director of the company since 2010. Lastly, Johnson Lau was appointed independent member of the board of directors and chairman of audit committee. Lau is the chief financial officer of SGOCO Group, Ltd., and has over 17 years of experience in the accounting profession.

Tyson Foods, Inc., Springdale, Ark.
Rex Holstein was promoted to vice president, commodity purchasing, replacing Clark Irwin, who will retire in mid-January. Holstein began his career with Tyson in 1994, and has worked in a variety of roles, including human resources, warehousing and accounting. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading the commodity purchasing team in the procurement and risk management of various inputs, including feed ingredients, energy and cooking oil.

Grupo LALA, Mexico
Scot Rank, retiring CEO of Walmart de Mexico and Central America, was appointed chief executive officer, effective June 30, succeeding current CEO Arquimedes Celis, who announced his intent to retire after leading the company for the past 14 years. Rank has held senior leadership positions in Walmex for the past 10 years, in which he increased sales by 230% and operating profits by 280%. Prior to this role, he served as senior vice president for self-service, responsible for Walmart, Bodega Aurrera and Superama. Rank also worked in Mexico for the McKinsey & Co. consultancy firm and in the consumer goods industry at The Coca-Cola Co. and at Grupo Crisoba (Scott Paper Mexico).

Bi-Lo Holdings, Jacksonville, Fla.
The parent company of Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie chains announced that Randall Onstead will be departing as president and CEO, effective March 1. A successor has been selected, but will not be named until a later date.

Performance Food Group, Inc., Richmond, Va.
Dr. Brad Morgan was named senior director of protein. Morgan brings more than 20 years of leadership experience, research and education within the meat industry. He began his career as a professor in the animal science departments at several universities, including the University of Nebraska, Colorado State University and Oklahoma State University. Previously, he was as director of beef operations atZoetis Corp. He’s currently the president of the American Meat Science Association.

SUPPLIERS:

Smartcool, Canada
Theodore Konyi, founder, returned as chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1, 2015. George Burnes, who has led the company as president and CEO for many years, will stay on as president and will continue to be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the company.

Spartan Motors, Inc., Charlotte, Mich.
Daniel Slater joined as president of the emergency response business, effective Jan. 5, 2015. Slater was most recently vice president and general manager of Terex Cranes, Inc., and president of the manufacturing performance solutions group of RWD, Inc. He has also held manufacturing management positions with BMW Manufacturing Corp., Toyota Motor Manufacturing USA and Volkswagen of America.   

Tna, Dallas, Texas
Sonia Loezawas appointed general manager, Latin America, responsible for managing the Mexico City office and assisting Latin American customers with finding the best start-to-finish packaging and processing solutions. Academically trained in chemical pharmacobiology, Loeza brings over 12 years of knowledge in various fields, including speciality processing equipment in the food, agri-food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Kendall Packaging Corp., Pittsburgh, Kan.  
Jack Trostle was hired as plant manager for the company’s headquarters facility, responsible for overseeing plant operations, ensuring the achievement of production objectives, maximizing efficiencies and lowering costs while maintaining high-quality standards. Trostle has over 31 years of managerial and supervisory expertise in manufacturing operations. Prior to coming to Kendall Packaging, Trostle was plant manager at ExxonMobil Chemical Films. He maintains extensive knowledge of converting, films and film manufacturing.

Ball Corp., Broomfield, Colo.
Manette Snow was promoted to the newly created position of vice president, diversity and inclusion, responsible for further developing and embedding diversity and inclusion best practices throughout the company. Snow will also help accelerate Ball's global efforts to attract, retain and develop diverse employees to meet current and future business needs, lead the company's efforts to broaden diversity awareness, evaluate and revitalize existing diversity and inclusion initiatives and enhance employee resource groups. Snow joined Ball in 2007, and most recently served as vice president, total rewards and analytics.

IN MEMORIUM: DAVE BUSH, CALIFORNIA DAIRIES, INC.

Dave Bush, senior vice president and chief operations officer of California Dairies, Inc. (CDI), Visalia, Calif., passed away suddenly Jan. 5.

“Dave was a valued member of the executive leadership team at CDI, and his knowledge and expertise were well-recognized throughout the dairy industry,” says Andrei Mikhalevsky, president and CEO. “He made many significant contributions to the operations of CDI over the 15 years he spent here, including providing operational guidance during the merger that led to the creation of CDI and advocating for changes to allow CDI to become a major exporter to international markets. He was also an integral contributor to the development and execution of CDI’s strategy. He will be deeply missed by everyone at CDI, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this tragic time.”