ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
The United Vegetable Growers Cooperative, Salinas, Calif.
Eric Schwartz was named the organization’s first chief executive officer. Schwartz is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in fresh, processed and frozen fruit and vegetables and frozen meals. He also brings a depth of experience in branded and private label products in both domestic and international settings. Some of his past positions include CEO of Patterson Vegetable Co. and president of Dole Fresh Vegetables.
PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:
Stater Bros., San Bernardino, Calif.
John Ciraulo was promoted to vice president of the meat division, replacing Kevin Schubert, who will retire in March. Ciraulo has been a member of the Stater Bros. "family" for more than 28 years, and has progressed through a range of both retail and marketing positions. In his new position, Ciraulo will oversee the marketing and retail operations of the company's meat and seafood divisions.
Campbell Soup Co., Camden, N.J.
Dave Biegger was named senior vice president, global supply chain, responsible for engineering, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, customer service, quality and facilities. Biegger succeeds David White, who will retire from the company after 10 years of service. Biegger joined Campbell in 2005 as vice president, strategic planning, global supply chain. In 2007, he was promoted to vice president, North America supply chain, where he has consistently delivered significant cost savings through network optimization efforts, while also implementing key initiatives related to world-class manufacturing. In his new role, Biegger will also maintain responsibility for the Campbell North America supply chain.
Kroger Co., Cincinnati
Jay Cummins was named president of Smith's Food and Drug Stores, succeeding Mark Tuffin, who was named senior vice president of retail divisions in December. Cummins brings more than 40 years of retail experience. He began his Kroger career as a clerk in 1972, and has since served in store and district management and in grocery merchandising for the company's Food 4 Less division. In 2002, Cummins was named vice president and general manager of the Food 4 Less Midwest division, where he led the expansion of the Food 4 Less price-impact warehouse store format in the Chicago area. In 2004, he was named president of the Food 4 Less division, and to his current position in 2007. Meanwhile, Joe Fey was named president of the Mid-Atlantic division, succeeding Cummins. Fey brings nearly 40 years of retail experience. He began his Kroger career as a meat clerk in 1972 and was quickly promoted to a variety of leadership positions, including store management, deli/bakery merchandising and meat/seafood merchandising in both the company's Central division and corporate office. In 1999, Fey was named vice president of merchandising for the Dillons division. He was named vice president of merchandising for the Michigan division in 2008, where before being named president of QFC in 2011.
Sargento Foods Inc., Plymouth, Wis.
Marty Rowe was named president of the company’s food ingredients division, effective immediately. Rowe, who joined Sargento in 2004, most recently was vice president of sales—strategic channels in the consumer products division, and was named Sales Manager of the Year for the consumer products division in both 2006 and 2007. Rowe and his team were also instrumental in Sargento receiving the Supplier of the Year Award from Walmart in 2007. Meanwhile, the consumer products division welcomes five new members. Joy Judski was named director of sales. A seasoned sales and marketing professional, Judski comes from Lactalis Retail Dairy, where she spent more than 12 years advancing through a number of different positions, including her most recent, director of trade marketing and category management. Stephen Lowther was appointed senior marketplace insights manager, responsible for planning and directing marketplace measurement and advanced analytics activities. Lowther comes from the Clorox Co., where he served as global insights manager. His career also included several roles at Information Resources, Inc., most recently as director of the analytics insights group. Annette Lorenz was joined as national accounts sales manager, a key member of the Kroger Customer Team responsible for the Sargento Enterprise Sales Plan and the downstream execution in the Midwest and Southeast regions. Her responsibilities include developing strong customer relationships, coaching and motivating sales agency partners and executing trade plans and corporate initiatives. Lorenz comes from Hormel Foods Corp., where she served in a variety of roles, most recently as senior customer executive. Lynn Webb was named national customer business manager, responsible for managing the sale of Sargento products, developing markets and building customer relationships. With more than 15 years in the consumer packaged goods industry, Webb has worked for McCormick & Co. along with Campbell Soup Co. Webb’s accolades include the Platinum Mile Award, which recognizes her mile-long gain in retail shelf space. She’s one of only five sales professionals in the United States to earn that achievement. Lastly, Chelsie Niehoff was appointed associate marketing manager—alternate channels, and will partner with the club channel sales team to develop and execute marketing plans for Sargento Club Channel customers. Niehoff comes from Sun Products Corp., where she was assistant brand manager.
Ready Pac Foods Inc., Irwindale, Calif.
Ali Leon returned as senior director of marketing within the foodservice division, responsible for the development and execution of short and long-term plans that leverage consumer, culinary and customer insights and future trends. Leon’s skills will be used to focus on delivering business/financial requirements and leading cross-functional teams to ensure delivery of products that meet consumer and customer needs. Bringing more than 30 years of sales, marketing, product development and operations experience, Leon has a successful record in developing and introducing innovative new products and crafting sales and marketing plans to meet company objectives. Previously, Leon was the vice president of business development and national accounts at Fresh Connect LLC, where she helped discover and develop new business opportunities in national chain foodservice and retail accounts on behalf of the company’s grower and shipper partners.
Oregon Cherry Growers, Salem, Ore.
Kent Spalding was appointed vice president of sales and marketing. With more than 30 years of experience at consumer product companies, primarily targeted in food and beverage, Spalding will be responsible for leading strategic marketing, product development, business strategy and sales growth. His background includes positions with the Quaker Oats Co., Hunt Wesson, Dole Packaged Foods and Bayer AG Healthcare. He also served as vice president of marketing for Weetabix North America and thinkThin LLC, and has held senior management positions at Spins Syndicated Data and The Touch Agency.
Tampa Maid Foods, LLC, Lakeland, Fla.
Chef Eric Cleveland was added to the company’s national accounts division, responsible for the development and expansion of national accounts. Cleveland joined Tampa Maid in 2009 as director of culinary services, which is now taken over by Mike Grimes. Grimes will be responsible for development and management of all culinary functions as they relate to recipes, new product ideas and presentations, sales literature, product training and product images in the marketplace. Grimes began his culinary career after 10 years as an advertising professional, and was most recently with Publix as their corporate recipe development manager.
SUPPLIERS:
Dotmatics, San Diego, Calif.
Richard Lingard was appointed head of commercial operations. Lingard brings significant scientific and management experience, having worked in the life sciences industry for more than two decades. Previously, Lingard was a director at Thomson Reuters, where he ran the sales organization in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, leading partnership development and establishing a partner ecosystem to give Thomson Reuters' content a variety of new and valuable routes to market.
Stellar, Jacksonville, Fla.
Alberto Gutierrez was named senior architect, food facility services, responsible for assisting the design team with all Latin American food facility projects. He has more than 28 years of professional architecture experience. Monica Sanchez was appointed architect designer, food facility services. Sanchez has more than 12 years’ experience in national and international commercial, industrial, distribution and residential building design. Lastly, Max Spriggs was appointed senior refrigeration designer, food facility services, responsible for coordinating design with 3D modeling software.
Schneider Packaging Equipment Co., Inc., Brewerton, N.Y.
Barry Rinaldi was named director of business development, responsible for leading the overall coordination and leadership of all sales and marketing efforts as well as creating and maintaining partner and customer relationships with the company. Rinaldi has more than 25 years of experience in the packaging industry, including work with the Loveshaw Corp. (an ITW company) and as owner/founder of S&R Machinery.
Norfolk Southern Corp., Norfolk, Va.
Amy Miles and James Squires were elected directors. Miles has served as chief executive officer and a director of Regal Entertainment Group Inc. since 2009. Before that, she served as executive vice president, CFO and treasurer. Miles joined Regal Cinemas Inc. as senior vice president finance in 1999, after working with Deloitte & Touche and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC. Squires was named Norfolk Southern president in 2013, responsible for the corporation’s administration, finance, law and corporate relations and planning and information technology divisions. Prior to that, he served as executive vice president administration, executive vice president finance and CFO, senior vice president law, vice president law and in various law department staff positions beginning in 1992.
Interroll Atlanta LLC, Hiram, Ga.
Dave Schut was named subsystems manager, responsible for leading a group of engineers, designers and project managers as they vet new opportunities, create proposals and develop the most appropriate solutions for customers. Roman Hagan was named subsystems engineer for sorters, responsible for producing sorter system layouts, detailed designs and application testing for new opportunities. Scotty Bryant was appointed subsystems engineer for dynamic storage, assuming the responsibility for engineered drawings, engineering R&D, application testing and local IT admin. Lastly, Cindy Graham joined as inside sales specialist, responsible for managing sales orders, creating quotes, maximizing revenue opportunities, closing sales leads received for existing accounts and working in close cooperation with engineers and regional sales managers to increase sales.
CSX Corp., Jacksonville, Fla.
Bryan Rhode was appointed regional vice president of state government affairs, responsible for the company’s executive branch, legislative and community initiatives in Virginia and overseeing similar efforts in Maryland and Delaware. Prior to joining CSX, Rhode served as Virginia secretary of public safety, where he provided oversight for 11 state agencies and advised the governor on public safety policy issues. Rhode also previously served as deputy secretary of public safety and as commissioner of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Label Technology, Inc., Merced, Calif.
David Bankson will assume the role of chief executive officer, succeeded his father John Bankson, who will remain as chairman of the company’s board of directors.
Philadelphia Scientific, LLC, Montgomeryville, Pa.
Terry Orf was appointed technical sales and applications specialist. Orf has worked in the material handling industry for nearly 20 years, most recently in engineering, service and technology positions at Materials Transportation Co. He has also had sales and marketing management responsibilities with Battery Handling Systems and Materials Transportation Co.
