ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), Tucker, Ga.
Nath Morris was promoted to executive vice president – expo, responsible for the association’s International Poultry Expo (IPE) and the overall management of the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). Since joining USPOULTRY in April 2014, he has served as IPE sales director and subsequently vice president – expo. Morris has held several management positions in his 30-plus years working in the poultry industry. Prior to joining USPOULTRY, he was U.S. sales manager for Perdue Farms/Heritage Breeders.

The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), New York
Chef Bill Telepan will join the school's faculty as the first-ever director of sustainability, where he will help develop a sustainability-focused curriculum for the next generation of chefs at ICE. In addition, he'll work in ICE's hydroponic garden and with local farms to source unique herbs and produce to enhance ICE students' culinary training and to teach students how to grow and harvest. Telepan will also work with ICE's chef instructors to implement a zero waste plan to reduce food waste in the school and develop a schedule of culinary demonstrations and events to showcase cooking techniques geared toward zero waste. Telepan is currently the executive chef of New York City's Oceana, as well as executive chef of Wellness in the Schools, a national non-profit devoted to healthy eating in public schools. Prior to Oceana, he enjoyed a 10-year run as chef-owner of Telepan, and was invited by Michelle Obama to join the Chef's Move! to Schools task force.

International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C.
Cary Frye was promoted to senior vice president of regulatory affairs, responsible for managing the association's regulatory team covering the areas of food safety, food defense, federal standards of identity, labeling, international Codex Alimentarius standards, nutrition policy, environmental and worker safety. With extensive experience in dairy product processing and quality assurance, Frye has served IDFA member companies for almost 20 years, representing member companies on food labeling and standards of identity, ingredient technologies, nutrition and health issues and product safety. Frye also chairs the U.S. affiliate to IDF, and is a member of the IDF Standing Committee on Standards of Identity and Labeling. She has been active in international standard-setting, advising U.S. delegations on Codex standards and served as the head delegate for IDF at the Codex Committee on Food Labeling. She has also served on the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments’ Executive Board and Liaison Committee, and chairs the Conference’s Program Committee.

United Fresh Produce Association, Washington, D.C.
Kate Olender was hired into the newly created position of senior director of health and wellness, effective Sept. 5, responsible for providing leadership to nutrition and health programs within the United Fresh Start Foundation and supporting the association’s business programs related to health and wellness. Olender will also provide strategic direction implementing the foundation’s mission to increase children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables. She will also support collaboration and fundraising within the industry and with public health partners, and provide nutrition leadership in supporting association members in education, marketing, tradeshows and other programs. Previously, Olender was account supervisor and new business knowledge manager for food and nutrition at Edelman, and prior to that, served as coordinator of the Healthy Corner Store Initiative at the Food Trust. She also served as food systems project manager with the Northwest Initiative.

Agriculture Capital (AC), Portland, Ore.
Darren Filkins was named president of the Dinuba, Calif., operations, maintaining oversight over Suntreat sales and marketing, Central Valley farming operations, Tree Source Nursery and AC Foods Legacy packing and shipping in Dinuba and AC Foods Lindsay packing and shipping in Lindsay, Calif. Filkins spent time at Fresh Choice Produce, D’Arrigo Brothers, Tanimura and Antle and Bolthouse Farms, as well as his tenure with the Nickel Family as chief executive officer. Filkins joined the company May 1.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS/DISTRIBUTORS:
Conagra Brands, Inc., Chicago
Consumer packaged goods marketing veteran DeLu Jackson joined in the newly created role of vice president of precision marketing, where he will lead the marketing transformation and demand acceleration through increased data intelligence, agility, always-on content and dynamic measurement. Jackson maintains over 20 years of marketing experience with well-known consumer brands. Most recently, he was vice president of digital acceleration for Kellogg Co., and previously served as corporate vice president of global marketing at McDonald's Corp., where he led marketing, social media and customer engagement. DeLu has also served in marketing leadership roles for Nissan, Audi, Subaru and Ford. His consumer marketing experience spans all facets of integrated marketing, including print media, social media, digital activation, e-commerce and content production.

High Liner Foods, Canada
Henry Demone was appointed chief executive officer, effective immediately, succeeding Keith Decker, who is leaving the company. Demone previously served as CEO from 1992-2015, during which time he led the company's transformation from a regional fishing and processing operation to a global seafood procurer and leading supplier of frozen seafood in North America. During his tenure, he was also responsible for leading the company through significant growth in shareholder value and played a key role in several acquisitions. Demone will continue to act as chairman of the board. Decker has been CEO since 2015.

Costco Wholesale Corp., Issaquah, Wash.
Hamilton (Tony) James was elected chairman of the board of directors. He is president and COO of The Blackstone Group L.P., and a member of the board of directors of its general partner, Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. He is also a member of Blackstone’s Management Committee and sits on each of the firm’s investment committees. James has been a director of Costco Wholesale since August 1988 and its lead independent director since 2005. James is taking over for Jeff Brotman, co-founder and chairman of the board, who passed away Aug. 1.

Publix, Lakeland, Fla.
Erik Katenkamp was named vice president of omnichannel and application development, where he will focus on the continued development and execution of the company’s omnichannel strategy. Katenkamp has been instrumental in launching the Publix Delivery online shopping solution, including formalizing Publix’s collaboration with Instacart. After starting a career in the aerospace industry, Katenkamp came to Publix in 1995 as an industrial engineer in manufacturing. He was promoted to business IT manager in 1999 and director of business application delivery in 2006. In 2013, he was named vice president of information systems — application development.

The Allen Lund Co., La Cañada Flintridge, Calif.
Ryan Franks was promoted to operations manager, ALC Winchester. Franks has been with the company since 2014. Previously, he was a transportation broker. 

Del Monte Foods, Inc., Walnut Creek, Calif.
Gregory Longstreet was appointed new chief executive officer of the U.S. subsidiary, effective Sept. 5, responsible for Del Monte’s strategy, business and overall organization. Longstreet maintains over 25 years of work experience in the food industry, having held critical commercial roles in sales, marketing and general management, including as president and CEO. He has led fast-moving commercial goods companies with agricultural businesses that are vertically integrated, achieved growth within various businesses and managed diverse manufacturing and supply chain operations. He has also held a number of leadership roles requiring substantial transformation management across categories, business models and company cultures. Longstreet started his career in sales and marketing with Hormel Foods Corp., where he became president and CEO of Hormel’s subsidiaries—Farmer John Foods and CytoSport Inc. Most recently, he was president and CEO of CytoSport, where he maintained innovative brand and product expansion within the beverage, bar and powder segments of the sports nutrition category, with an increased focus on brand development, new product introductions and multi-channel expansion. Prior to this role, he was president and CEO of Farmer John Foods’ fresh, processed and frozen meats category. Longstreet also assumed roles of increasing responsibility in Dole Foods Co., Inc., where he served as director of marketing and new product development at Dole Packaged Foods, and held sales and marketing leadership roles as vice president within Dole’s Fresh Vegetables division. He also led the strategic expansion of Dole Fresh Vegetable Foodservice business and the integration of four newly acquired South American produce companies.

BrightFarms, New York
Dean Martel joined as vice president of sales, responsible for leading supermarket partnership business development, sales and account management. Martel maintains more than 25 years of experience leading category growth in the consumer packaged goods industry. Most recently, he served as the director of U.S. retail sales for It’s Fresh! Prior to his tenure with It’s Fresh!, Martel spent 16 years in category management and sales leadership positions at Fresh Express. He began his career in the food industry at Kraft Foods, where he served in a variety of sales and supply chain roles. Martel’s experience ranges from category management best practices to expertise in value-added salads. He is known for building strategic relationships with key retailers in the United States. This hire also allows for Abby Prior to shift into the newly created role of vice president of marketing. Before joining BrightFarms, Prior served as director of marketing for Bimbo Bakeries USA.

Target Corp., Minneapolis
Mark Kenny joined as vice president divisional, meat and fresh prepared food, where he will oversee the meat, seafood, deli, bakery and prepared food categories. Kenny comes from Walmart Inc., where he most recently served as the senior director of private brands, deli and bakery. Kenny brings deep merchandising expertise across a number of food and beverage categories, as well as strong retail operational leadership. Meanwhile, Liz Nordlie joined in the newly created role of vice president, product design and development for food and beverage, where she will oversee the brand direction and product vision for owned brand food and beverage categories. Nordlie maintains 27 years of brand-building experience across 30 food and beverage businesses. Previously, she spent 20 years with General Mills, Inc. in general management roles, building brands across cereal, snacks, meals, yogurt and baking core businesses, as well as natural and organics. Most recently, she was the president of General Mills baking division.

Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn.
Lisa Selk was named chief executive officer of CytoSport, Inc., maker of MUSCLE MILK premium protein products. Selk will steer the CytoSport enterprise as it continues to focus on new product innovation and expanded distribution. Selk brings more than 20 years of experience building consumer packaged food brands. Previously, Selk served as marketing director for a portfolio of brands at Hormel Foods, including SKIPPY peanut butter, HERB-OX bouillon, HOUSE OF TSANG Asian foods and divisional innovation. She also sits on the Justin's board of managers. Selk joined Hormel Foods in 1998 as food scientist in the research and development department. She has held management and leadership roles in the specialty products division and the meat products division, serving as both the divisional innovation manager as well as manager for the HORMEL refrigerated entrées and HORMEL ALWAYS TENDER businesses. Selk went on to be a key leader in corporate innovation, where she led numerous companywide innovation projects, including new product launches.

SUPPLIERS:
Norfolk Southern Corp. (NS), Norfolk, Va.
Cynthia Earhart was appointed executive vice president and CFO, effective Aug. 15, succeeding Thomas Hurlbut, vice president and controller and interim chief financial officer since Aug. 1, following the retirement of Marta Stewart. Earhart joined NS in 1985, and most recently served as executive vice president and chief information officer. In connection with her appointment as CFO, Earhart will retain her information technology responsibilities. Since joining NS’ accounting department in 1985, Earhart held positions of increasing responsibility in the accounting department, including assistant vice president, before transitioning to information technology. She was named vice president, information technology in 2001. In 2007, Earhart was named vice president human resources, and in 2013, was appointed executive vice president administration. She assumed expanded responsibilities as executive vice president, administration and chief information officer in 2015. Earhart began her career at NS following her service as an accountant at Ernst & Young’s predecessor CPA firm Ernst and Whinney.

ArrowStream, Inc., Chicago
Todd Jackson was appointed new chief operating officer. Previously, Jackson served as chief executive officer of Telos Logistics. Prior to his role at Telos Logistics, he spent 15 years at US Foods, where he served as senior vice president of supply chain and president of Alliant Logistics, a division of US Foods.

JBT Corp., Chicago
Carlos Fernandez was promoted to executive vice president and president, liquid foods. Fernandez maintains 21 years of experience with JBT, having helped build the company’s global liquid foods franchise since 2014. Also, Steve Smith will serve as executive vice president and president, protein, with plans to retire in the second quarter of 2018.

Navistar International Corp., Lisle, Ill.
Daniel Ninivaggi was named to the board of directors’ audit and compensation committees, effective Aug. 14, replacing Samuel Merksamer, who resigned from the board after serving more than four years. Ninivaggi has been a director of numerous public and private companies for several years. Currently, he is chief executive officer of Icahn Automotive Group LLC and managing director of Icahn Enterprises L.P.'s automotive segment. He previously served as co-CEO and co-chairman of the board of directors of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corp., and as chief executive officer of Federal-Mogul Motorparts from February 2014 to March. Ninivaggi also served as interim president and CEO of Tropicana Entertainment Inc. from 2011 until May 2012. From July 2009 to March 2010, he was of counsel to law firm Winston & Strawn LLP, where he had worked as a partner from 1998-2003. From 2003 to July 2009, Ninivaggi served in a variety of executive positions at Lear Corp. Merksamer joined Navistar's board of directors in December 2012, when he served as a managing director at Icahn Capital LP. He worked at Icahn Capital from 2008-2016.

Matrix Technologies, Inc., Maumee, Ohio
Kevin Grohnke was named senior vice president of operations, where he will oversee and coordinate the activities of all production divisions, including industrial systems, engineering, manufacturing systems and solutions and project management. Grohnke has been with the company for 37 years, most recently as vice president. Bill Schuller was named senior vice president of engineering, where he will focus on further development of project procedures, standards and best practices and act as a consultant with strategic partners to help them define and better regulate project procedures and processes. Schuller was previously vice president. Tim Lemoine was named director of engineering, responsible for directing the day-to-day operations of the engineering division. Lemoine was previously associate director of engineering.