ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA), Nogales, Ariz.
Allison Moore was promoted to vice president, effective immediately, where she will assume more leadership and responsibility in day-to-day operations of the FPAA. Recently, Moore has been active in food safety, transportation Hours of Service and agriculture quality inspections. Previously, she served as director of legislative and regulatory affairs, and joined FPAA as communications director in 2001. She’s also active in industry councils and committees such as the United Fresh Food Safety & Technology Council, the Greater Nogales Santa Cruz County Port Authority, Arizona Mexico Commission, Nogales Economic Development Foundation and Nogales Community Development. 

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS/DISTRIBUTORS:
Whole Oceans, Bucksport, Maine
Joe McElwee joined as chief production officer, effective July 1. McElwee maintains 36 years of experience across the entire aquaculture industry, including more than 20 years in the design and operation of land-based systems. Most recently, McElwee was global head of sales for Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, where he managed all global sales and advised on the design, installation and service of land-based systems.

Califia Farms, Los Angeles
Sandeep Patel was appointed chief financial officer, on the heels of the company securing a $50 million round of funding. Patel will be tasked with leading the company’s finance organization as well as certain operational, legal, technological and strategic areas. Previously, Patel spent 20 years in investment banking, specifically as a managing director at Barclays and Goldman Sachs, where he advised a broad range of corporate clients on strategic and financing matters across the food and beverage, agriculture and technology landscapes globally.

Flowers Foods, Thomasville, Ga.
Ryals McMullian was appointed to the newly created role of chief operating officer, effective June 27, responsible for executing the company’s strategies to drive growth and expand margins, overseeing the company’s two business units (fresh packaged bread and snacking/specialty), supply chain and sales and maintaining oversight of corporate strategy and ventures and communications. McMullian, who joined the company in 2003, has been serving as chief strategy officer since May 2017. Prior to that, he served as vice president of mergers and acquisitions and deputy general counsel, vice president and associate general counsel and associate general counsel. Prior to joining Flowers, McMullian was corporate associate in the business practice group at Jones Day.

Bowery Farming Inc., New York
Brian Donato was appointed to oversee the company’s indoor farm in Kearny, N.J. Donato previously spent seven years with Amazon, managing fulfillment centers and distribution hubs. He most recently ran Amazon Home Services, and before that, directed operations for the Amazon Fresh and Pantry food delivery services. 

SUPPLIERS:
CBRE, Los Angeles
Brad Cohen and Jacob Tzfanya were named senior vice presidents, while Jon Kamali will served as a senior associate. Cohen, Tzfanya and Kmali previously worked at Eastern Consolidated, and bring more than 25 years of local market expertise. Jeff Hipschman, practice leader for the Northeast industrial and logistics division, will also lead CBRE’s industrial and logistics business in the Northeast. And, Thomas Monahan was promoted to vice chairman.

Pelican Products, Inc., Torrance, Calif.
Stacey McGuire was named general counsel to lead the company’s legal function. McGuire maintains than 15 years of transactional and litigation experience. Previously, she served in a variety of high-level positions at companies and law firms, including J.T. Posey Co., Clinipace Worldwide and Sedgwick LLP. 

Peco InspX, San Carlos, Calif.
Carol Zielinski was named customer relationship manager for the North America field service operations, responsible for managing the company’s inbound service requests, driving the initiative to achieve a greater than 98% first-time-fix-rate and analyzing all field service operational metrics.

Food Safety Net Services (FSNS), San Antonio, Texas
Doug Shepard joined as chief financial officer, responsible for FSNS’ accounting and financial arms. Shepard brings a wealth of leadership experience from various companies, and has been instrumental in developing financial strategies to support a company’s growth. Previously, he was the chief financial officer for Acuity Eyecare Holdings LLC, Harte Hanks, Inc. and HVHC Inc.

IN MEMORIUM: DOUG CYGAN, JEWEL-OSCO

Doug Cygan, president of Jewel-Osco, an Itasca, Ill.-based division of New Albertsons Inc., passed away after a brief illness.

Prior to his appointment in 2017, he was vice president of marketing and merchandising for all 187 Jewel-Osco locations in the Chicagoland area. In that role, he supervised all aspects of marketing, merchandising, promotion and sales strategies.

Cygan began his career with Jewel-Osco more than three decades ago as a part-time clerk, and has served in a variety of operational roles and marketing/merchandising positions, including store director, marketing director, vice president of fresh merchandising and vice president of grocery merchandising.