ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:

International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, D.C.
John Kelly was promoted to director of international affairs, responsible for supporting IDFA's efforts on international trade and import and export issues, while overseeing the association's sweetener and trade committees. Kelly has promoted the interests of the U.S. dairy industry during meetings held in conjunction with negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in Vietnam, Leesburg, Va., and Auckland, New Zealand. He continues to advocate for increased access for U.S. dairy products in important markets such as Canada and Vietnam, as well as for provisions that would protect the continued use of common cheese names and facilitate dairy trade.

American Culinary Federation, St. Augustine, Fla.
Joseph Leonardi, executive chef at Somerset Club in Boston, was selected 2016 ACF Culinary Team USA manager. Leonardi joined the club's staff after serving eight years as department chair and assistant professor at Johnson & Wales University. He served as ACF Culinary National Team USA's captain from 2010-2012, when the team competed at the Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung International Culinary Exhibition and garnered two silver medals and the second-highest score in hot food, and at the 2010 Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup when the team won two gold medals and placed third overall. Meanwhile, J. Kevin Walker, a certified master chef and executive chef at The Vintage Club, was selected as ACF Culinary Youth Team USA manager. Walker is one of only 67 ACF-certified master chefs in the nation. Prior to joining The Vintage Club, he worked at several prestigious clubs and hotels, including Cherokee Town and Country Club and Four Seasons. He was inducted into the American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of ACF in 2008, and awarded AAC's Chef Good Taste Award for furthering the culinary industry and upholding the traditions of classical cuisine in 2011.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:

Weight Watchers International, Inc., New York
James Chambers was named president and COO, effective Jan. 4, 2013. In this new role, Chambers will oversee the company's global business operations, including all domestic and international meetings and WeightWatchers.com businesses. Chambers joins the company as a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of general management, cross-functional operational management and executive leadership experience in varied consumer-focused global industries.

The Kroger Co., Cincinnati|
Lynn Gust was appointed president of Fred Meyer Stores, based in Portland, Ore. Gust has been senior vice president of operations since 2011. Throughout his more than 40 years with Kroger, he has served in a variety of leadership roles, including vice president of the food group and senior vice president of the store operations group.

Icelandic Group, Iceland
Jon Gardar Gudmundsson rejoined the company as managing director of corporate development. Gudmundsson was chief financial officer of the subsidiary Icelandic Iberica in Spain from 1999-2003, and most recently, was managing director of Glacier Securities LLC. Ciao Bella, Florham Park, N.J. Natural food industry veteran Carlos Canals was named chief executive officer. Canals joins Ciao Bella following his tenure as president of UNREAL Brands. Prior to that, Canals served as president and CEO of Tribe Mediterranean Foods after spending three years as president and CEO of Kashi. He’s also held various positions in marketing, general management and strategic planning with the Kellogg Co.

High Liner Foods, Canada
Shelly Jamieson was appointed to the company's board of directors. Jamieson brings extensive management experience, both industry and government, including four years as Ontario's Secretary of Cabinet, Head of the Ontario Public Service and Clerk of the Executive Council, and two years as Ontario's Deputy Minister of Transportation. She is currently chief executive officer at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, an independent organization funded by the federal government to accelerate action on cancer control for all Canadians, and also serves on the National Advisory Board of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Canada.

SUPPLIERS:

Cashco, Inc., Ellsworth, Kan.
Laura Rathbun was promoted to purchasing manager, responsible for the purchase of raw materials and components. A Cashco employee for the past 20 years, Rathbun spent the last 11 years as a buyer.

Norfolk Southern Corp., Norfolk, Va.
Elizabeth Kennedy Lawlor was named resident vice president government relations, responsible for coordinating the company's government relations activities in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Lawlor joined Norfolk Southern in 2010 as manager of government relations.

Fristam Pumps USA, Middleton, Wis.
Kenneth Meulemans joined the company as customer service manager, responsible for overseeing and managing the customer service department, including applications engineering, and focusing on process improvements and teamwork. Meulemans comes to Fristam with four years of manufacturing, engineering and process experience.

OPTIMA consumer GmbH, Germany
Martin Sauter was appointed managing director, responsible for heading the company branch in Geschwister-Scholl-Straße at the Solpark, one of Schwaebisch Hall’s industrial zones, where a new office complex is presently nearing completion, and will continue to supervise global sales to the food, chemical and cosmetics sectors.