Litehouse president steps down, former Pinnacle exec joins Hain Celestial, Cargill appoints new leaders, and more
ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS: Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), Washington, D.C. Betsy Booren will join as senior vice president of science and technology. Booren currently serves as a senior policy advisor on regulatory compliance, food safety, nutrition and related topics at Olsson Frank Weeda. Previously, she was vice president of scientific affairs at the North American Meat Institute and president of the Foundation of Meat and Poultry Research and Education. Brandon Partridge will join as senior vice president of member engagement. Partridge currently serves as senior vice president, industry development at the American Frozen Food Institute. Previously, Partridge held roles at Nestlé USA, The Tipton Group, the Cheese Importers Association of America and founded Skyland Foods. Katie McBreen joined as vice president of communications and research. Previously, McBreen worked at the National Retail Federation, where she led strategic campaigns around industry and advocacy priorities, including the defeat of the border adjustment tax. She also managed the organization’s strategic and executive positioning, crisis communications, advertising and media relations efforts. McBreen has also held roles at the U.S Chamber of Commerce, Gallatin Public Affairs and the White House. And, Katie Denis was named senior director of industry narrative. Denis joined from the U.S. Travel Association, where she led “Project: Time Off.” She’s also held roles at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Vehr Communications and in the U.S. House and Senate.
The OPC Foundation, Scottsdale, Ariz. Stefan Hoppe was named president and executive director, taking over for Thomas Burke, who resigned. Hoppe will assume responsibility for worldwide adaption of the OPC standards and the further development of the organization. Hoppe joined BECKHOFF in 1995, where he developed OPC classic server, and in 2006, developed what is said to be the world’s first OPC UA server integrated into an embedded controller. In 2008, he initiated and chaired the PLCopen OPC UA Companion working group, where results were adopted in process industries and discrete manufacturing by multiple international vendors. In 2010, Hoppe was elected for president of OPC Foundation Europe. Since 2014, he has served as vice president of the OPC Foundation.