ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), Washington, D.C.
Sharon Olson, executive director of Culinary Visions Panel and founder of its parent company Olson Communications, Inc., was elected treasurer. Previously, she served as secretary in 2014. She has also served on the executive board of Les Dames d’Escoffier Chicago for six years, including two years as president. She brings over 35 years of experience in foodservice marketing, strategic planning and business management.
PROCESSORS/RETAILERS/DISTRIBUTORS:
Land O'Lakes, Inc., Arden Hills, Mich.
Beth Ford was promoted to chief operating officer, Land O'Lakes businesses, responsible for the WinField United business. In addition, she will continue P&L responsibility for both the Purina Animal Nutrition and the Land O'Lakes Dairy Foods businesses and retain her previous responsibilities for system-wide supply chain, operations and IT. Since being named head of the food and feed businesses, Ford has guided successful strategic and financial years. For instance, in feed, she led record performance both years, leveraged innovation through R&D and amplified the strength of the Purina brand. In dairy foods, she led record growth in foodservice, and was key in identifying the opportunity and leading the Vermont Creamery acquisition. Ford joined Land O'Lakes in 2011 from International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF), where she was responsible for optimizing the company's global manufacturing infrastructure, including consolidation of multiple international facilities, as well as the construction of new manufacturing facilities in India, China and Singapore. Prior to IFF, she held a progression of supply chain and operations management roles with Mobil Corp., PepsiCo and Pepsi Bottling Co., Hachette Book Group and Scholastic, Inc. Meanwhile, Brad Oelmann was promoted to chief operating officer, Land O'Lakes Services. His new role will bring together all services Land O'Lakes offers to its valuable coop members. In addition to his current responsibilities, Oelmann add Land O'Lakes SUSTAIN, Crop Nutrients, FLM Harvest and government relations. Oelmann was named executive vice president, member relations, business development services in the spring 2017. Previous to Land O’Lakes, Oelmann was chief executive officer of United Suppliers Inc. and Aligned Ag Distributors, where he also spent a year as director of products and markets. In addition, he spent 13 years with American Cyanamid in various sales, marketing, and management roles. Both promotions are effective Jan. 1, 2018.
Perdue Farms, Salisbury, Md.
Mark McKay was promoted to president of the newly created Perdue Premium Meat Co., LLC, which aligns the company’s continued growth in premium, branded products across its pork, lamb, beef and pet treat businesses. McKay is a 30-year veteran of the poultry and meat industries. He joined Perdue in 2011 as part of the company’s acquisition of Coleman Natural Foods. Previously, McKay served as executive vice president of specialty proteins and business development. His experience in organic poultry, no-antibiotics-ever beef and pork and local brands with Coleman Natural Foods helped support Perdue’s transition from poultry to multiple proteins. McKay also oversees the brands and operations acquired through Perdue’s 2015 purchase of Natural Food Holdings, including the NIMAN RANCH and SIOUXPREME brands.
Romana Food Brands Corp., Canada
Following the acquisition of Pasta Romana, Morrie Fogelbaum was elected chairman of the board and CEO. Fogelbaum maintains over 4 decades of experience providing general business and audit consulting services to a wide range of clients. He developed a highly skilled practice covering a full spectrum of industries, including real estate, manufacturing, retail, automotive and healthcare, and provided assistance to small and medium-sized organizations in the establishment and operations of their businesses. He has served both private and public sectors, enabling companies to secure financing, optimize day-to-day management and position clients for successful mergers and acquisitions.
Naturipe Brands, Salinas, Calif.
Chris Coffman was named president, effective Nov. 13. In this newly created role, Coffman will be responsible for pursuing strategic partnerships, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, investment opportunities, licensing and brand extension opportunities. Most recently, Coffman was senior vice president of marketing and strategy of J&J Family Farms. He’s also held various jobs in companies such as Pro*Act, Apio and Del Monte.
Chicago Meat Authority, Chicago
Lisa Rabe was named director of technical assurance, responsible for creating and refining a culture focused on the quality control process, keeping the company on top of current regulations and anticipating changes in the food industry. Rabe maintains 20 years of quality control experience in the foodservices industry. Most recently, she was quality and regulatory director for Bel Brands USA and has worked for Grecian Delight and Cargill.
US Foods Holding Corp., Rosemont, Ill.
John Compton and Rick Schnall, designees of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC, and Nate Taylor, a designee of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., resigned from the board of directors. Along with these changes, Pietro Satriano, current president and CEO, was appointed chairman of the board. Satriano has served as president and CEO since July 2015. He joined US Foods in 2011, and previously held the role of chief merchandising officer. In addition, Robert Dutkowsky was appointed lead independent director. Dutkowsky became a director of the company in January 2017, and currently serves as chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. He is currently chairman and CEO of Tech Data Corp. Also, Ann Ziegler, senior vice president and CFO of CDW Corp., will join the board, effective Jan. 1, 2018.
Ahold Delhaize, the Netherlands
Kevin Holt was appointed chief executive officer of Ahold Delhaize USA, the new parent company for all of Ahold Delhaize's U.S. companies, effective Jan. 1, 2018. Holt is currently chief operating officer of Ahold USA. Holt joined Delhaize Group in 2014 as CEO Delhaize America, and transitioned to chief operating officer of Ahold USA in 2017. Prior to joining Ahold Delhaize, he served in executive leadership roles at SUPERVALU and Meijer. Frans Muller, deputy CEO Ahold Delhaize and chief integration officer, will serve as acting COO Delhaize America, focusing on the continued integration of Ahold Delhaize.
Schmieding Produce, Springdale, Ark.
Trent Woerner was named president, taking over for his father, Lester Woerner. Woerner began working for Schmieding Produce as vice president of business development in 2015, after it was acquired by Woerner Holdings.
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc., Lakewood, Colo.
Todd Dissinger was appointed chief financial officer, effective Jan. 1, 2018, assuming the role from Sandra Buffa, who will retire, effective Dec. 31. Dissinger brings more than 30 years of finance and capital markets experience, an extensive background in financial planning and strategy and a deep knowledge of the retail industry. He has served as vice president, treasurer of Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, Inc., Natural Grocers' operating subsidiary, since August 2015. From 1997 to August 2015, he served as senior vice president – treasurer, risk management and credit at The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., where he was responsible for managing capital structure strategies, credit arrangements, treasury operations, financial forecasting and risk management. Prior to 1997, Dissinger maintained an extensive career in banking, including serving as vice president – senior relationship manager with PNC Bank.
Wind Point Partners, Chicago
Milt Liu was named chief executive officer, upon the acquisition of Pacifica Foods and Stir Foods. Liu possesses deep experience in Pacifica and Stir's end markets, and has held various leadership, operational and strategy-oriented roles throughout his career. He most recently served as president and COO of Flying Food Group, as well as various senior level roles within Target Corp.'s grocery business. Previously, Liu served as a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Co. Meanwhile, Dave Beré, a Wind Point executive advisor partner and long-time consumer products and foodservice executive, joined as non-executive chairman. Beré most recently served as chairman of Nonni's Foods, which is was owned and sold by Wind Point.
Golden State Foods, Irvine, Calif.
Jose Armario, former senior McDonald's executive vice president supply chain, sustainability, development and franchising, joined the board of directors, effective immediately. During his tenure at McDonald's, Armario served in many roles, including president of Latin America and Canada; senior vice president and international relationship partner Latin America; president of Chile; and most recently, executive vice president supply chain, sustainability, development and franchising. Throughout his career, Armario has excelled in leading operational excellence, supply chain management, strategic vision, change management and market expansion. Prior to McDonald's, Armario spent many years with Burger King, where he began his career in the quick-service restaurant industry. He then transitioned into the optical industry, serving in several positions for LensCrafters, where he oversaw the strategic plan that enabled entry into China, Mexico and the Middle East. He then returned to the food industry for the next two decades.
SUPPLIERS:
GS1, Lawrenceville, N.J.
Dave DeLaus, senior vice president and chief information officer of Wegmans Food Markets, was appointed to the board of governors, tasked with guiding the GS1 US strategy for driving adoption and usage of GS1 Standards across multiple industries to enhance supply chain and e-commerce efficiencies and shoppers’ in-store and digital shopping experience. DeLaus is a retail grocery and technology veteran, having served several executive leadership roles throughout his 31-year tenure at Wegmans. Most recently, as senior vice president and CIO, he is responsible for the vision, strategy and execution of all information systems. Previously, he was vice president of IT development and held other leadership roles in operations, support and procurement across the organization. DeLaus also serves as chairman of the Food Marketing Institute Technology Leadership Board and is the programs co-chair for the Western New York chapter of the Society for Information Management.
NFI, Cherry Hill, N.J.
Mike Greco was appointed senior vice president of global logistics, tasked with enhancing the company’s air and ocean freight forwarding offerings while further integrating the service with the 3PL’s suite of supply chain solutions. With more than 20 years of experience in the supply chain industry, Greco will work closely with NFI’s extensive transportation and distribution divisions to create international solutions. Greco has served as managing director for Geodis USA for over four years. His 20-year career is comprised of various leadership positions in international freight forwarding sales and operations at companies such as Panalpina and YRC Freight.
IN MEMORIUM: ANDRE LACY, LDI LTD.
Andre Lacy, chairman of LDI Ltd., LLC, Indianapolis, Ind., passed away at the age 78, in a single-rider accident while on a private motorcycle tour in southern Africa.
“We are saddened to share the news that Andre B. Lacy passed away this morning,” says J.A. Lacy, president and CEO of LDI. “Andre was known for his entrepreneurial fire and sense of adventure in business and life. We take comfort knowing that he passed away while pursuing one of his passions in life, and are inspired by the legacy of leadership that he leaves.”
Following graduation from Denison University, Lacy started his career at LDI’s founding enterprise, U.S. Corrugated Fibre-Box, where he worked his way through the corporate ranks. Following the sale of U.S. Corrugated, he was named executive vice president and chief operations officer of the newly created Lacy Diversified Industries, the holding company that would become LDI. He was elected chief executive officer of LDI in 1983 and chairman of the board in 1991. He remained chairman following his retirement from LDI in 2006.
A strong advocate of civic progress, especially economic development, agriculture and education, Lacy was co-chair of the Cultural Trail fundraising committee and a co-creator of Conexus. In 2009, Governor Mitch Daniels appointed Lacy chairman of the Indiana State Fair Commission, a role in which he remained in until his death. As commission chair, he was a driving force behind the State Fair Coliseum restoration.
Lacy provided leadership for many boards, including the United Way of Central Indiana, Indianapolis 500 Festival, Indianapolis Public School Board and Economic Club of Indianapolis. He also served as an advisor for the Lacy School of Business at Butler University, was an alumnus of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series and served as moderator of Class XV.
In addition to his civic contributions, Lacy was active on numerous corporate boards, including Hulman & Co., Herff Jones, Patterson Cos., Inc., Ethyl Corp., National Bank of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Power & Light Co. He is past chairman of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce and the chairman of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW).
