ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:

Where Food Comes From, Inc. (dba IMI Global, Inc.), Castle Rock, Colo.
This resource for third-party verification of food production practices named former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) executive James Riva as vice president of global alliances. Previously, Riva was the division director of the USDA's livestock, poultry and seed program, quality assessment division, where he was responsible for standards, technical services and a national workforce of graders and auditors focused on conformance to various agricultural standards for meat, poultry and eggs as well as ISO-type accreditations. Previous positions include deputy director, branch chief, agricultural marketing specialist and quality systems auditor.

American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA), Fairfax, Va.
Rob Sincavich, president of Team Sledd, will assume the chairman position, succeeding 2014 chairman Mark Davenport, Core-Mark Distributors, Inc. Sincavich is a progressive industry leader who will help AWMA keep pace with economic realities and the influence of technology, manage increased governmental pressure and track state legislative initiatives that affect distributors.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:

Dean Foods Co., Dallas
Marc Kesselman joined as executive vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary and government affairs. He comes from PepsiCo, Inc., where he was senior vice president and general counsel of Frito-Lay North America and PepsiCo's food businesses in North and South America. Kesselman brings a unique combination of corporate law and high-level government experience. At PepsiCo, he oversaw a wide variety of complex commercial, transactional, litigation, regulatory and government affairs issues relating to PepsiCo's food business in North and South America. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Kesselman served as general counsel of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and served as deputy general Counsel in the White House Office of Management and Budget, where he handled a wide range of regulatory, budgetary and legal policy matters, mediated interagency disputes and formulated presidential executive orders.

United Producers Inc. (UPI), Columbus, Ohio
John King will serve as business development officer for UPI Credit Services, acting as a resource for UPI loan officers in developing new lending business with existing borrowers and developing new lending relationships. King has over 20 years of ag lending experience, including 10 years as a senior credit officer for Producers Credit Corp. King owns and operates Kingsway Angus, and has been involved with Future Farmers of America, the Ohio Angus Association, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and the Ohio State Fair.

SUPPLIERS:

Smartcool Systems Inc., Canada
Dalton Larson was appointed independent director to the board, taking over for Craig Jolly, whoresigned. Larson commenced his professional career as a full-time member of the faculty of law at the University of British Columbia. After teaching law for five years, he went into practice as counsel, where he represented clients dealing with general civil matters, regulatory, environmental, utilities, transportation, corporate, labor and employment disputes. He then became a partner in a major law firm for 10 years before leaving the practice to become a full-time arbitrator and mediator dealing with disputes in the labor relations, civil and commercial areas. Meanwhile, chief executive officer TheodoreKonyi joined the board of directors as chairman, both appointments effective Jan. 16.

Kendall  Packaging Corp., Mequon, Wis.
Cynthia Hwang was hired as marketing coordinator, responsible for supporting the company’s marketing, public relations, sales efforts and customer programs. Previously, Hwang worked in corporate marketing with Bentley World Packaging, where she was responsible for corporate communications, tradeshow management and website content.  

U.S. Venture, Appleton, Wis.
Bill Renz was promoted to general manager for its newly-created U.S. Gain division, which manages the GAIN Clean Fuel compressed natural gas brand. In his new role, Renz will continue to focus on the company’s expansion efforts across North America, provide strategic oversight to U.S. Gain’s plans to build and operate more than 100 GAIN stations within the next two years and oversee U.S. Gain’s sales, operations and engineering functions.
 

Partner Logistics, The Netherlands
As part of the company’s new business plan to incorporate both frozen food storage and distribution, Johan Krediet was appointed supply chain manager, responsible for overseeing integrated warehousing and transport projects, and establishing and managing relationships with distribution partners.Krediet has worked with small and medium enterprises in both the logistics and transport industry for 27 years.
 

Tornado Industries, West Chicago, Ill.
Sean Martschinkewas promoted to marketing manager, responsible for getting the company’s new website fully populated and finding new and effective ways to promote its products. Martschinke, who has been with the company for nearly 10 years, is a CIMS ISSA Certification Expert (I.C.E.).

Locus Technologies, Mountain View, Calif.
Environmental, health and safety industry veteran Paul Wrench joined as vice president of sales, responsible for creating and implementing the overall sales strategy, developing the team and driving market expansion both domestic and internationally. Wrench has 22 years of sales management experience. Previously, he held senior executive sales roles at Enviance and HIS.

Phoseon Technology, Hillsboro, Ore.
John North was appointed the company's vice president of worldwide sales, responsible for applying his extensive sales experience to help worldwide customers implement consistent sales processes to win more deals, strategically manage accounts. North brings a wealth of experience in worldwide sales and business development. For example, he has developed profitable sales and marketing programs worldwide, built teams in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia and maintains a deep understanding of Asian culture and business practices.

IN MEMORIUM: DON DALTON, U.S. POULTRY & EGG ASSOCIATION

Don Dalton, retired president of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Tucker, Ga., passed away Jan. 19 at his home in Mayflower, Ark., just days before the 2015 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE).  

As a leader in the poultry industry in the 1970s, Dalton was vice president and general manager of Valmac Industries, which was later acquired by Tyson Foods. During those years, he served on the board of directors of what was then Southeastern Poultry & Egg Association, now U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). He was elected chairman in 1978.

In 1989, Dalton joined the staff of the association as vice president of government relations and the International Poultry Expo. He was named president in 1992, following the retirement of long-time executive director Harold Ford.

During his years with the association, the International Poultry Expo (now IPPE) extended its long run as the world’s largest poultry industry event. Dalton initiated a USPOULTRY food safety and live production program to provide technical assistance to member firms and work more closely with government agencies. He also established an environmental management department to assist poultry companies with increasing environmental challenges.

He was also instrumental in creating the U.S. Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation, named for his predecessor, which funds the recruitment of students for careers in the poultry industry as well as funding for vital industry research.

“We have lost a true patriot, a great leader, a patient mentor and a very dear friend,” says John Starkey, Dalton’s successor and current president of USPOULTRY. “Our hearts go out to Pat and their family at this difficult time. Don will be greatly missed by many.”