ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), Stone Mountain, Ga.
Steve Monroe, manager of export sales at Sanderson Farms, waselected chairman of the board for 2016-17, succeeding outgoing chairman Jim Wayt, managing director of Intervision Foods. Wayt will also remain on the executive committee as past-chairman. Also elected to the executive committee were Marc Killebrew, vice president of international sales at Tyson Foods, as first vice chairman; and Butch Johnson, director of Globex International USA, as second vice chairman. Joel Coleman, vice president and general manager of international sales at Butterball, was re-elected secretary-treasurer. Rounding out the executive committee are Ryan Downes, sales manager at Farbest Foods, as new at-large member; and Scott Chapman, vice president of industry relations at Lineage Logistics, as associate member-at-large. Neil Carey, director of international sales for Simmons Prepared Foods, was re-named chairman of the marketing committee. New board members to marketing committee include Mark Barrett, vice president of U.S. division for Lamex Foods; Mike Briggs, partner at Vilas and Co.; Bill Duggan, vice president of Maersk Line; Daniel Fripp, manager of commodity and international sales for Foster Farms; Fabio Sandri, president and CEO of Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., Jay Maxwell, export sales manager of Jennie-O Turkey Store; John Patchoski, international sales coordinator of Koch Foods; Martin Piffaretti, vice president of export sales for Eastern Poultry; and Sujith Niyangoda, managing director of e&e Global. Board members elected to 3-year terms ending in 2019 are Barrett, Briggs, Downes, Duggan, Fripp, Sandri, Thomas Isaf, vice president of Interra International; Jeff Johnson, vice president, international of Deb-El Foods; Kent Puffenbarger, sales manager at Prestage Foods; and Bobby Wilburn, director of sales and marketing for Peco Foods. Board members elected to terms ending in 2018 are Coleman, Killebrew, Maxwell, Monroe, Patchoski, Piffaretti, Wayt, Saher Rizk, chief executive officer of Mirasco; Mark Blanchard, chief executive officer of NOCS; and Greg Hinton, vice president of sales for Rose Acre Farms. Board members elected to 3-year terms ending in 2017 are Carey, Chapman, Johnson, Niyangoda, Mike Little, director of export sales for Mountaire Farms; Randy Meyers, senior vice president of sales for OK Foods; Thierry Murad, global product manager of poultry for AJC International; Jay Simpson, director of global commodity and trading exports for Perdue Foods; Greg Tench, sales manager at Mar-Jac Poultry; and Chaz Wilson, chief operating officer of Grove Services.

American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), Champaign, Ill.
Karen Schmidt, professor of animal sciences and industry at Kansas State University, was elected vice president –dairy foods division for a 1-year term before becoming president of the organization. She joined the faculty at the University of Georgia in 1990 with a research and teaching appointment, where she taught several classes in dairy products evaluation, dairy products processing, introduction to food science and food quality control. In 1994, she moved to Kansas State University to an appointment of teaching and research, where she taught numerous classes, including dairy foods: products and processing, food plant management, food product evaluation, fundamentals of milk processing and quality assurance of food products.Brandon Nelson, director of innovation and technical services for Daisy Brand LLC, was elected to a 3-year term as director – dairy foods. Nelson was a research scientist at Schreiber Foods for two years before joining Daisy Brand in 2007. While at Daisy, he has assembled a research team with expertise in microbiology, sensory science, rheology, analytical chemistry and dairy processing to conduct sound research used to develop and improve fermented dairy products. Barry Bradford was elected to a 3-year term as director — production division. Bradford joined the faculty at Kansas State University in 2006 with a 40% teaching/60% research appointment, and has subsequently been promoted through the ranks to full professor. Bradford’s research focuses on dairy cattle nutrition and metabolic physiology, with a particular emphasis on attempting to translate novel findings in fundamental metabolic physiology to practical applications in animal agriculture. Bradford teaches more than 170 students annually in courses that include fundamentals of nutrition, physiology of lactation and dairy cattle nutrition.

United Fresh Produce Association, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Jennifer McEntire was appointed vice president, food safety and technology, succeeding Dr. David Gombas, who retired from the association June 1 after 11 years leading its food safety program. McEntire most recently served as vice president for science operations at the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and was chief science officer at The Acheson Group, where she helped build the organization with former FDA associate commissioner David Acheson providing consultation to a broad range of food industry clients. McEntire was also senior staff scientist at the Institute of Food Technologists, where she managed FDA’s contract, including exploring traceability across the food industry. She has also held positions as a visiting scientist at the Food and Drug Administration, an intern at the National Food Processors Association and a USDA National Needs Fellow in Food Safety at Rutgers University.

New York Apple Association, Inc. (NYAA), Fishers, N.Y.
Jim Allen announced plans to retire as president and CEO, effective Jan. 2, 2017. During his tenure, Allen earned a reputation as a passionate industry supporter who advocated for nationwide industry cooperation rather than regional competition. He joined NYAA in 1996 as retail program director, and was named to the association’s top job four years later. As NYAA’s senior executive, he represented over 675 apple growers across New York, overseeing all promotional, grower education, communications, market research and public and government affairs activities. Prior to joining NYAA, Allen led export sales and procurement for Sun Orchard Fruit Co., and worked in procurement and sales for Keystone Fruit Marketing.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS/DISTRIBUTORS:
Category Partners, Aurora, Colo.
Mark Degner was named a member of the board of directors. Degner boasts over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and consulting to both the consumer packaged goods and produce industries. In 1999, he founded and served as president and CEO of FreshLook Marketing, and was engaged in sales, marketing, client services, innovation and finance. Prior to FreshLook, Degner served as vice president, U.S. marketing for Information Resources (IRI), providing sales tracking and category management solutions. Over his 13-year career at IRI, he held a number of management positions developing solutions and applications utilizing retailer scanner sales data. Before IRI, he worked for Willard Bishop Consulting Ltd.

Publix Super Markets, Lakeland, Fla.
Carol Jenkins Barnett, chairman and president of Publix Super Markets Charities, voluntarily stepped down from the board, as a result of being diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease.

The Kroger Co., Cincinnati
Valerie Jabbar was promoted to president of the company’s Ralphs division, taking over for Donna Giordano, who announced plans to retire, effective July 23, after 44 years with the company. Jabbar currently serves as vice president of merchandising for Ralphs. Giordano joined the company's King Soopers banner as a courtesy clerk in 1972. She was named store manager at King Soopers in 1982, and later held various director-level positions in advertising, bakery, general merchandise, grocery and pharmacy. In 1999, Giordano was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing of King Soopers.  She was promoted to president of QFC in 2002, before being named to her current role in 2011. Jabbar began her career with the company in 1987 as a clerk in the Fry's division. She held numerous leadership roles at Fry's, including assistant store director, category manager and drug and general merchandise coordinator. From 2002-2010, she served in a variety of drug and general merchandising leadership roles at Kroger's general office and in the Fry's division. She was named Fry's district manager in 2010, and was promoted to serve as vice president of merchandising to the Mid-Atlantic division in 2012. Jabbar was promoted to her current role in the Ralphs division in 2013.

Muffin Town, a division of J.S.B. Industries, Chelsea, Mass.
Erik Lenocker was hired as Western foodservice sales manager, responsible for managing all sales functions for schools and other foodservice clientele in the western part of the United States. Lenocker maintains over 23 years of experience in school foodservice sales, and has extensive knowledge of nutrition requirements and legislation for California and nationwide. Previously, he worked as a sales manager and market development manager K-12, where he developed K-12 food products.

General Mills, Minneapolis
Jeffrey Harmening was named president and COO, effective July 1, 2016, responsible for all company operations, including U.S. retail, international, convenience stores and foodservice segments as well as sales and channel development, global supply chain, innovation, technology and quality functions.  Harmening is a 22-year veteran of General Mills, having most recently served as the executive vice president and COO of the $10 billion U.S. retail segment since May 2014. Previously, he was chief executive officer of Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW), the company's joint venture with Nestlé, where he was responsible for the nearly $2 billion global cereal business that distributes products to more than 130 countries outside of North America. Harmening also served as president of the General Mills cereal operating unit and in various U.S. marketing roles.

SUPPLIERS:
PRO*ACT, Monterey, Calif.
The produce supply chain management company announced Mark Frankenberg as vice president of client development, working with members of PRO*ACT’s senior management team and its distributors to create and strengthen strategic client relationships. Frankenberg most recently was vice president of business development for CDI Customized Distribution, where he achieved significant sales increases and led several business expansions. Prior to that, he was with Sysco Corp.’s SYGMA Network, starting in a sales position and working his way to become vice president of sales and new business development.

Innovative Plant Solutions (IPS), Hibbing, Minn.
Steve Farris joined as vice president of the newly created sister company to Premium Plant Services. In this role, Farris is responsible for all company operations, including supervising 12 employees and overseeing process development, safety and sales. Farris brings nearly a decade of industrial cleaning experience. Before joining IPS, Farris served as the hydro division manager for New Age Cryo, and previously worked for Premium Plant Services, where he served in various roles, including crew supervisor. 

G&G LED, Albany, N.Y.
Bruce Kenison was named national sales director, responsible for continuing the company’s growth in the food processing and manufacturing industries, while expanding relationships and creating new business opportunities within the transportation, agricultural, warehousing and facilities management marketplaces.Prior to joining G&G, Kenison spent 15 years as national sales manager at Cast Lighting, where he supervised and trained the company’s national sales staff, identified new distribution opportunities and penetrated numerous unconventional markets with zero account loss. Under his tenure, Cast Lighting increased sales from $0 to more than $10 million in just five years. Kenison has also held executive positions with several leading consumer products, insurance and telecommunications companies. For example, he was regional sales manager at Diamond/Triumph Auto Glass, where he spent 10 years managing sales staff, representing the company’s New England region, and developing and implementing comprehensive marketing and pricing strategies. 

NuTec Corp., New Lenox, Ill.
New to the company’s Certified Advantage program are Brian Milam as Eastern regional account manager and Henry Serrano as Southwestern regional account manager.

Cimcorp, Canada
Bruce Bleikamp was appointed sales manager to the company’s new U.S. office in Norcross, Ga. Bleikamp will look to expand Cimcorp USA’s sales and service activities to customers in consumer packaged goods, food and beverage and retail and e-commerce. Bleikamp, who maintains 25 years of experience in designing and implementing material handling solutions for distribution, e-commerce and manufacturing operations, has worked extensively with automated storage, conveyor, sortation, palletizing and guided vehicle systems across a wide range of industries and applications.

Bunting Magnetics Co., Newton, Kan.
Wendy Doll was named new territory manager, supporting customers in portions of California and Nevada and the entire states of Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. Doll brings 15 years of experience in manufacturing sales and support and familiarity with western United States. Previously, Doll worked in multiple sales, customer service and account management roles for business-to-business manufacturing companies. In these positions, she honed her selling skills and expertise in industrial products, and built numerous relationships with manufacturer representatives, OEM customers and end-user customers.

Mangan Software Solutions (MSS), Long Beach, Calif.
Ronak Patel joined as director of business development, tasked with leading a global sales and marketing team to develop business opportunities around the globe for the upcoming SLM v2 software suite and SPInspector. Patel maintains extensive SIS, management and software experience, having spent the past decade in various roles at technology companies like Trinity Integrated Systems, FMC Technologies and Invensys.

Blacoh Industries, Riverside, Calif.
Rocky Jensen was appointed production manager and lean facilitator, responsible for maintaining superior standards for manufacturing safety, quality and efficiency, including ISO-compliant workflows, supplier scorecards and other lean production methodologies. Jensen brings 30 years of experience, previously serving as manufacturing manager at Wilden Pump & Engineering/PSG’s Grand Terrace facility.