ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Chelan Fruit Cooperative, Chelan, Wash.
Chief executive officer Reggie Collins will transition from his current position to an advisory position, effective Jan. 1, and will work with Chelan Fresh Marketing on business and strategic opportunities. Collins joined the cooperative in 2000, starting as the assistant general manager and ascending to the position of CEO in 2004, where he merged Trout – Blue Chelan with MAGI, creating what is said to be one of the largest apple, pear and cherry cooperatives in the industry. Collins was also instrumental in the creation of Chelan Fresh Marketing with Gebbers Farms. Mark Stennes, assistant general manager, was named interim CEO, effective Jan. 1.

RadTech, Chevy Chase, Md.
Eileen Weber, UV product manager for Red Spot Paint & Varnish Co., Inc., was elected president, serving a 2-year term. Weber assumes the position from Lisa Fine, who is now the group’s immediate past president. JoAnn Arceneaux, technical manager of new product development for Allnex USA Inc., was elected incoming president. Newly elected board members include Jeffrey Klang, global R&D manager for Sartomer; Jim Raymont, director of sales for EIT LLC.; and P.K. Swain, chief technology officer and vice president of technology of Heraeus Noblelight America. Board members elected for a second term include Susan Bailey, business development manager, digital, Michelman; Michael Gould, technical key account manager for RAHN USA; David Biro, director of paste, ink, screen and industrial, North America, Sun Chemical; and Chris Seubert, research engineer for Ford Motor Co.

International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C.
Officers of the new IDFA Executive Council consist of Dan Zagzebski, president and CEO, Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc., as chair; David Ahlem, president and CEO, Hilmar Cheese Co., Inc., as vice chair; Stan Ryan, president and CEO, Darigold, Inc., as secretary; and David Nelsen, vice president, manufacturing, Albertsons Cos., as treasurer. Mike Reidy, senior vice president, corporate affairs, Leprino Foods Co., was elected immediate past chair. Elected to the fluid milk board is Jeffrey Kaneb, executive vice president, HP Hood LLC, as chair; and Ed Mullins, executive vice president and CEO, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., as vice chair. Elected to the ice cream board is Mike Wells, president and CEO, Wells Enterprises, Inc., as chair; and Rich Draper, chief executive officer, The Ice Cream Club, Inc., as vice chair. Elected to the cheese board is Louie Gentine, chief executive officer, Sargento Foods Inc., as chair; and Doug Simon, president, Agropur U.S. operations, as vice chair. Elected to the yogurt and cultured products board is Philippe Caradec, vice president, public affairs and sustainable development NORAM, Danone North America, as chair; and Tim Walls, executive vice president, Schreiber US, Schreiber Foods, Inc., as vice chair. Elected to the ingredients board is Andrei Mikhalevsky, president and CEO, California Dairies, Inc., as chair; and Terry Brockman, president and COO, U.S. division, Saputo Cheese USA Inc., as vice chair.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS/DISTRIBUTORS:
Pre Brands, Chicago
Ryan Youngman was named chief sales officer, charged with leading Pre's sales strategy, partnerships, organization and execution via the company’s new partnership with FDM Sales Management. Youngman is a 20-plus-year veteran of the natural products industry, having led multiple emerging consumer brands, including Brad's Raw, Cocoroons and Kohana Cold Brew Coffee through hyper-growth stages as well as having held leadership roles in retail (Whole Foods) and distribution (United Natural Foods Inc). 

GreenSpace Brands Inc., Canada
Paul Cherrie was appointed as the seventh member of the board of directors. Cherrie maintains extensive food industry experience, having held senior positions within Kraft Foods’ beverage, confectionary and dessert business units. After Kraft Foods, Cherrie worked as president of Concord Confections, where he oversaw the sale to the Tootsie Roll Co. for $217 million. Cherrie went on to lead several other non-food-related consumer products companies in other acquisitions and eventual divestitures.

Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Emeryville, Calif.
Eric Lindberg was named chief executive officer and MacGregor Read was appointed vice chairman. Both Lindberg and Read previously served as co-CEOs. Lindberg joined Grocery Outlet in 1996, and began his tenure in operations before advancing through positions in retail marketing and procurement. Read joined Grocery Outlet in 1996 after multiple years in the food industry. He advanced through several internal positions over 22 years with Grocery Outlet, including procurement, retail merchandising, real estate and construction before being named co-CEO with Lindberg in 2006. In addition, RJ Sheedy was promoted to president of Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, tasked with overseeing purchasing, planning, marketing, strategy, IT and supply chain. Sheedy joined Grocery Outlet in 2012 as chief merchandise, marketing and strategy officer. And, Pamela Burke will assume the role of chief administrative officer, overseeing legal, risk, internal audit, safety and human resources. Burke joined Grocery Outlet in 2015 as executive vice president of legal, HR and general counsel. All executive changes are effective Jan. 1.

SpartanNash, Byron Center, Mich.
Arif Dar was named chief information officer, effective Jan. 2, taking over for David deS. Couch, who is retiring, effective Feb. 2. Couch joined the company in 1987, and has served as chief information officer since 2013. Dar is responsible for the development and execution of the enterprise-wide IT strategy, ensuring alignment with the enterprise's overall business strategy and providing strategic direction and oversight for the design, development, operation and support of IT systems and programs. Dar has served as chief information officer for SC Johnson and Sons since 2015. He has also held executive IT positions at Maple Leaf Foods, Bombardier Transportation, General Motors, Tyco International and General Electric.

SUPPLIERS:
Universal Forest Products, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Joan Budden, president of Priority Health, was appointed to the board of directors, effective Jan. 1. Budden maintains 30 years of healthcare experience. She joined Priority Health in 2009 as chief marketing officer, and was named to her current role in 2016. Before joining Priority Health, she served in a number of leadership and executive management roles, including as a vice president at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Pelican BioThermal, Minneapolis
James Klingelhoefer joined as director of sales, Americas, responsible for leading and managing the U.S.-based sales team. Klingelhoefer maintains more than 12 years of experience in various leadership, sales and customer support roles at both FedEx and World Courier, where he most recently served as North American sales director, responsible for revenue generation and retention and leading a team of regional sales directors.

UNEX Manufacturing, Inc., Lakewood, N.J.
Brian C. Neuwirth was promoted to president, effective Jan. 1, taking over for Brian Neuwirth, who has served as president for 42 years and will become chairman of the board. Brian C. Neuwirth has been in the material handling industry for over 15 years. Previously, he served as vice president, sales and marketing, responsible for building and maintaining the UNEX brand and leading a team of sales and marketing professionals. He has also held sales and sales management positions at the company.

ITS Logistics, Reno, Nev.
Scott Pruneau was appointed chief executive officer, effective immediately, replacing Dan Allen, co-founder and acting CEO. Pruneau is a 25-year veteran of the supply chain industry. He previously served as executive vice president and chief commercial officer. Before joining ITS Logistics, he served as chief business development officer for Redwood Logistics; executive vice president of operations for Freightquote; president of CRST Logistics, and held various leadership roles with Knight Transportation and C.H. Robinson. Pruneau also served as a board member for the Transportation Intermediaries Association.

IN MEMORIUM: RONALD MINIAT, THE MINIAT FAMILY OF COS.

Ronald Miniat, chairman emeritus of The Miniat Family of Cos., South Holland, Ill., passed away Dec. 20, 2018.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Miniat joined the family business in the early 1950s, working alongside his brother, Eddie, and his dad, Ed, Sr., when the business consisted of peddling meat to local butchers. More than 60 years later, the business is in its fifth generation with over 900 employees and a customer list that includes some of the most-recognized brands in the world.