ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:

American Frozen Food Institute, McLean, Va.
Dr. Maia Jack joined as director of regulatory and technical affairs. Jack most recently managed a food science consultancy business, providing strategic counseling on international food chemical policies and issues management. She also held food science positions at the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Human Genome Sciences and the National Institutes of Health. Ron Davis was named coordinator of communications and government affairs. Davis previously worked at the Alliance for American Manufacturing and Cliffs Natural Resources. Austin Faganel was promoted to coordinator of conferences and member services. Faganel joined AFFI in December 2012, and has been working as a staff assistant.

National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association, Harrisburg, Pa.
Scott Haws, vice president of retail/deli sales at Land O’Lakes, Inc., was elected chairman of the board. Haws has served on the board since 2005 as vice chairman of refrigerated from 2010-2011, as secretary from 2011-2012 and as chairman-elect from 2012-2013.He is also a member of the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats and Honorable Order of Golden Penguins. Other officers sworn in are David Welch, Winn-Dixie Stores, chairman-elect; Scott Rouse, Tyson Foods, secretary; Ray Tarnowski, Philadelphia Warehouse & Cold Storage, treasurer; Dave Jones, Kellogg Co., vice chairman – frozen; and John Farmer, Dairy Farmers of America, vice chairman – refrigerated. Newly elected to the board of directors are Shawn Buckner, Meijer; Ken Cassara, Wegmans; Dave Cichocki, Kraft Foods; Richard Gillis, Lactalis Retail Dairy; Ken Lahey, ConAgra Foods; Philip Payment, HAC; Kevin Schwab, Pictsweet; and Mike Witt, Supervalu.

International Dairy Foods Association, Washington, D.C.
IDFA and its three constituent organizations—the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA)—elected new officers and voted on new board members. Leading each association for the next year will be IDFA chair Patricia Stroup, head of procurement, global milk products procurement, Nestlé S.A.; IDFA vice chair and MIF chair Jeff Kaneb, executive vice president, HP Hood LLC; IDFA secretary and IICA chair Mike Wells, president and CEO, Wells Enterprises, Inc.; and IDFA treasurer and NCI chair Mike Reidy, senior vice president, corporate affairs, Leprino Foods Co.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:

Chobani, Inc., New Berlin, N.Y.
Andreas Sokollek was named senior vice president of supply chain and operations, responsible for overseeing all new product launches, production planning and materials management initiatives. Sokollek brings more than 24 years of operations excellence and project management experience.

AdvancePierre Foods, Cincinnati
Tom Lavan was named the new president of the company’s retail division. Lavan is a consumer packaged goods executive with more than 25 years of experience in all facets of sales, marketing, distribution and new product development with both private label and branded products. He has held leadership positions in a variety of settings, including start-up, private equity-backed and Fortune 50 companies. For more than 14 years, Lavan was in leadership roles with ConAgra Foods, most recently as president of the Wolfgang Puck consumer products division, managing and growing the organic/all-natural Wolfgang Puck brand worldwide. Prior to that, he was president and COO of Spartan Foods of America.

SUPPLIERS:

Harpak-ULMA, Taunton, Mass.
Bill Chastain was promoted to senior vice president, responsible for the ULMA Packaging Automation (UPA) and RAMA product lines as well as the newly added weigh-price-labeling solutions from DIGI. He will also supervise the Ball Ground, Ga., operation, which includes the flow and shrink packaging product group. Chastain has extensive experience in all facets of the packaging industry.

Eriez, Erie, Pa.
Eric Confer was promoted to product manager-separation, effective Oct. 18, responsible for overseeing and handling separation inquiries and orders, product development and improvements, marketing, training and sales forecasting, as well as other functions. Since joining Eriez in 2006 as a technical sales representative, Confer has been cross-trained on a broad assortment of products, with a strong focus on separation products sold to light industries. Additionally, he served as team leader and project manager for the Eriez Orange University mobile training and education center.

Cleveland Crops, Cleveland, Ohio
Paul Keida was named processing manager. Keida, a food scientist and food microbiologist by education, comes to Cleveland Crops with a 35-year career in food processing, manufacturing and packaging, product development and product commercialization. While serving as senior vice president of research and development, engineering and quality assurance for Borden Foods, he developed and commercialized an average of 35 new products per year. Meanwhile, David Snodgrass was brought on as farm manager, responsible for bringing organization and synergy to the 10 farming locations around Cuyahoga County. He has more than 20 years of experience as a greenhouse coordinator, garden manager and horticulturist.

IFCO Systems US, LLC, Tampa, Fla.
Fred Heptinstall was appointed senior vice president, global business development, responsible for evaluating opportunities for geographic expansion into undeveloped global markets, new product applications and services and acquisition opportunities. He will participate in IFCO’s strategic global business development and will represent IFCO in relevant industry organizations. And, Dan Walsh was named president of the North American business. Walsh comes from within the Brambles family of companies. During his 15 years with the group, he has held a variety of leadership positions in general management, strategy, sales and customer service throughout CHEP’s global product divisions and regions, including the RPCs business.

Raymond Corp., Greene, N.Y.
Gary Kirchner was appointed vice president of sales, responsible for the sales and service centers as well as national accounts. Kirchner brings more than 30 years of sales experience, including seven years in the material handling industry. Previously, Kirchner served as director of sales at Carolina Handling, and has held several leadership positions, including vice president of sales for ColorGraphics and general manager for Enovation.

Seegrid, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Dori Kozak was hired as marketing manager, responsible for managing the marketing and public relations efforts in Europe and the Middle East. She will also manage the expansion of Seegrid flexible AGVs into other worldwide markets as well as oversee marketing campaigns, public relations, media relations, trade events, advertising, promotions and lead generation.