ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
Southeastern Fisheries Association (SFA), Tallahassee, Fla.
Executive director Bob Jones announced plans to retire by the end of 2018, after 54 years of service. Jones plans to stay involved in the food safety, consumer fraud and equal access to the nation’s fisheries for non-fishermen, especially seniors, within the seafood industry
Produce Marketing Association (PMA), Newark, Del.
Anouk Sijmonsma was appointed regional vice president for Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia/New Zealand, replacing Richard Owen, who was promoted to vice president of global membership and engagement, effective Aug. 1. Sijmonsma will apply her knowledge and expertise in international market and business development, journalism, strategic counseling and management to help PMA members grow their fresh produce and floral businesses. Sijmonsma will also work with PMA headquarters and in-country staff along with volunteer leaders to connect, inform and educate on new opportunities and deliver industry-specific business solutions. Sijmonsma joins PMA from FreshPlaza, where she served as managing editor, launching the Mandarin-language FreshPlaza China, overseeing a team of 10 staff and freelance reporters and managing related advertising sales and social media. Prior to FreshPlaza, Sijmonsma worked in sales and market development at KX Food, a subsidiary of Anqiu Ming Feng Co., where she founded the European market for KX Food, growing sales and building the company’s brand presence across Europe. Sijmonsma also provided European-centric strategic counsel to the company’s founder. She began her professional career as an associate at L.E.K. Consulting.
United Fresh Produce Association, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Emily Griep joined into the newly created position of manager, food safety, effective in July, tasked with supporting some of United Fresh’s ongoing initiatives such as the Harmonized Standard, leading new projects that support the association’s scientific and policy objectives and representing United Fresh to members and other stakeholders. Griep maintains technical expertise in processing technologies and industry experience as a quality associate and quality engineer with General Mills.
World Resources Institute (WRI), Washington, D.C.
Dr. Daniel Lashof was appointed new director, United States, working with WRI program directors and staff on other U.S. priorities, including advancing clean energy, expanding low-carbon electricity solutions, reducing water risk, strengthening natural infrastructure and forest management and more. Lashof maintains a 30-year career in U.S. climate action, climate science, economics, environmental policy and political dynamics. He most recently served as chief operating officer of NextGen Policy Center, and previously was director of the Climate and Clean Air Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where he was a key architect of policy proposals that would drive down emissions, create cleaner air and save consumers money. Over his career, Lashof has authored numerous articles and reports and testified before Congress. He also served as a lead author for a Special Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and engaged in numerous international climate negotiations.
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Maitland, Fla.
Mike Stuart announced plans to retire from his position as president, a position he’s held since 1992. Stuart has spent his entire career in the fruit and vegetable industry. Currently, he is co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, an officer and board member of the Center for Produce Safety, a board member of the Alliance for Food and Farming and serves on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee. He was also a member and chairman of the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables. He served two terms on USDA’s Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, as chairman of the board of the Redlands Christian Migrant Association and a member of the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association's board of directors. He has also been on the Produce Marketing Association’s board of directors and served as a board member and chairman of the Produce for Better Health Foundation.
PROCESSORS/RETAILERS/DISTRIBUTORS:
Daiya, Canada
Chief executive officer Terry Tierney announced his retirement, effective Sep. 5. Tierney, a seasoned senior CPG veteran whose career in the natural products industry has spanned more than 30 years, has served as Daiya's CEO since January 2014. Tierney first joined Daiya as a director in 2011, and has been instrumental in the company's growth into a wide range of premium plant-based foods. Tierney has also served as president and CEO of MyChelle Dermaceuticals; president and CEO of Allegro Coffee; chief marketing officer of Frontier Natural Brands; and founder, president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Natural Foods. He began his career in marketing and brand management at Kraft Foods.
Volpi Foods, St. Louis, Mo.
John Gruender joined as chief customer officer, responsible for leading brand-forward strategic initiatives and overseeing all aspects related to sales, marketing and new product development. Gruender maintains extensive experience in the food industry, including a 20-year career with Conagra Brands, Ralcorp, and most recently, at Treehouse Foods.
Boston Fresh, LLC, Brockton, Mass.
Bruce Forman was appointed general manager, upon the acquisition from Maglio Cos. Forman maintains an extensive background in manufacturing and business development in the perishables industry.
Sam’s Club, Bentonville, Ark.
Tony Rogers was named chief member officer, effective late July, responsible for overseeing a broader portfolio that encompasses membership, marketing and member experience. Rogers moved over from Walmart U.S. and U.S. e-commerce, where he pioneered an omni-channel marketing function, helped bring innovative offerings, like free 2-day shipping and online grocery, to life and brought Walmart into the pop-culture conversation with anthemic advertising and partnerships with Ellen DeGeneres and the Academy Awards. Prior to joining Walmart U.S., he was chief marketing officer of Walmart China.
Dole Food Co., Inc., Westlake Village, Calif.
Michael Solomon was named president of Dole Fresh Vegetables, effective June 18, responsible for all of the division's operations across North America. Solomon maintains 30 years’ experience in the food and beverage industry. Previously, he served as president of POM Wonderful and president and CEO of Ready Pac Foods, Inc.
Icicle Seafoods, Inc., Seattle, Wash.
Julianne Curry was named public affairs manager, focusing on regulatory and policy matters, government and community relations and strategic planning efforts to positively impact the sector. Curry has served as executive director and lobbyist for United Fishermen of Alaska and executive director of the Petersburg Vessel Owners Association. Most recently, she consulted on a variety of fisheries-related issues at both the state and federal level. She is the chair of the Communications Committee at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) and is a member of its Salmon Committee. She has also been a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Advisory Panel, a board member of United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA) and the National Seafood Marketing Coalition (NSMC) while also participating on the Halibut Coalition Steering Committee.
Peco Foods, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Shannon Hendry was named plant manager for the company’s Canton, Miss., facility, responsible for overseeing all operations, including the safe and efficient management of processing and storage. Hendry possesses over 20 years of broad-based manufacturing experience. Previously, Hendry led a $9 million plant expansion program at Pilgrims Pride that increased production and instituted standards resulting in a production efficiency increase of 20%. Responsible for a multi-product facility and warehouse distribution center for Tyson Foods, he led a $26 million expansion program and implemented methods that increased productivity and improved safety. And, his experience at McCarty Foods helped refine problem-solving and team-building skills.
Sterman Masser Potato Farms, Sacramento, Pa.
Foodservice industry veteran Charles “Chip” Callahan joined as director of foodservice sales, effective immediately. Callahan maintains over 30 years of foodservice experience leading the sales and marketing of fresh and frozen produce companies as well as foodservice suppliers.
Schiff's Food Service, Inc. (SFS), Taylor, Pa.
Ryan Yeager was promoted to president, succeeding his father, Michael Yeager, who will transition to chief executive officer. For the past year, Ryan has been serving as general manager of SFS, supervising all aspects of the business as well as becoming the primary SFS representative with various trade groups. He started working at SFS as a night shift supervisor, before spending six months working at Performance Food Group. Ryan then returned to SFS as marketing manager, and eventually, general sales manager, where he managed New Jersey and Pennsylvania sales, oversaw the departments and hired two district sales managers.
Gold Coast Packing Inc., Santa Maria, Calif.
Bill Munger was named vice president of sales and marketing. Munger brings more than 25 years of foodservice, retail and industrial sales experience. Previously, he was executive vice president at Greengate Fresh, and before that, was chief executive officer of Amerifresh.
SUPPLIERS:
MH Equipment, Peoria, Ill.
John Judd was named regional sales manager, responsible for sales team leadership and driving revenue at the company’s Evansville, Ind., location. Judd maintains more than 17 years of sales, sales management and operations experience in the industrial laundry and finished lubricants/fuel industries with Chevron and Phillip 66 distributors. Customer segments include industrial, manufacturing, power generation, agriculture, automotive, heavy duty trucking and construction in the western/central Kentucky and southern Indiana/Illinois areas. He most recently served as territory sales manager and general sales manager, with expertise in sales processes, team building and management.
Seegrid, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sean Stetson was named vice president of engineering, focused on expanding Seegrid’s portfolio of safe and reliable material handling automation solutions. Stetson has been with Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group since 2016. An expert in vision systems and mobile technology, he’s also served as Seegrid’s director of product. Elizabeth Peck was named director of marketing.
Peck joins Seegrid with more than 20 years of experience growing sophisticated sales and marketing teams. She maintains leadership experience in technology organizations, having previously served as director of marketing for fivestar and senior director of marketing operations for Deltek. Bobbi Jamriska was appointed director of product management. Jamriska maintains more than 10 years’ experience managing global product innovation, development, launch and marketing. Previously, she worked at Swisslog Healthcare.
tna, Dallas, Texas
Teri Johnson was promoted to divisional sales manager – North America, responsible for providing leadership for tna’s growing local sales teams and contributing to the company’s regional marketing and business strategy. In addition, she’ll be focusing on developing new processes and standards for more regional support, shorter response times and better access to tna’s complete range of start-to-finish solutions. With over 30 years of experience in the food industry, Johnson’s career spans a variety of roles ranging from engineering to product development and sales. Johnson joined tna in 2012 as a regional sales manager, where she built close relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
