Port Manatee in Tampa Bay, Florida, has promoted three members of its professional team, and created a new communications and public relations department.

Growers Express, a premier processor of high-quality frozen vegetable products and primary licensed partner of the Green Giant Fresh brand announces that Kirk Wagner is promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO).   

Donnie King has been named president of Tyson Foods’ poultry business. King has over 35 years of experience working in the poultry business, both domestically and globally. He will once again lead the company’s chicken unit, guiding and mentoring members of its leadership team, including Chad Martin, who will take on the new role of chief operating officer of poultry.  

Johnson Controls announced that Olivier Leonetti would join the Company and succeed Brian Stief as the chief financial officer. Leonetti will join the Company in the next several weeks and initially be appointed as executive vice president and chief financial officer-elect. He will assume the role of executive vice president and chief financial officer, following the filing of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2020. Current Vice Chairman and CFO Brian Stief, will step down from the CFO role at that time.  Stief will remain in his role as vice chairman, serving in an advisory capacity, and will retire from the Company at the end of this calendar year. Stief and Leonetti will work closely together over the next several months to ensure an orderly transition into the 2021 calendar year.

Amy’s Kitchen President Xavier Unkovic has been appointed to company Chief Executive Officer. Xavier has been leading Amy’s day-to-day for the past three years under the leadership of company founder Andy Berliner. Over the course of his time at Amy’s, Xavier has been responsible for laying the groundwork to achieve the Berliner Family’s Vision of building a thriving, collaborative, efficient, engaged and sustainable organization.

Refrigerated Solutions Group (“RSG”), an industry leader in refrigerated equipment and service, recently announced several management promotions. Bob Stevens has been promoted to the Director of Dealer Sales, Craig Hammel has accepted the role of Director of Strategic Accounts, Kim McGee has been promoted to the Director of CX & Sales Support and Pam Williams has accepted the position of Director of Business Development & Project Management for RSG.  All four will report directly to Dan Hinkle, Chief Commercial Officer for RSG.  Stevens and Hammel will assume their new roles immediately while McGee and Williams will take on their new responsibilities August 17th.

Tyson Foods announced Dean Banks will succeed Noel White as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), while maintaining the role of President, effective October 3, 2020. White, who led Tyson through a period of unprecedented volatility and uncertainty when he assumed the CEO role in 2018, will remain with Tyson in a new role as Executive Vice Chairman of the board of directors.

The Massman Companies, a leading group of packaging equipment manufacturing companies, is pleased to announce the promotion of Russell Schlager to Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Liquid Filling Systems. Schlager has been active with the Massman Companies’ Ideal-Pak business unit for more than seven years as Director of Sales and Marketing. He also recently served as the Director of Sales for Massman’s PASE Group business unit.

The U.S. Apple Association announced the promotions of Jessa Allen to Vice President of Membership and Events and Tracy Grondine to Vice President of Communications. 

Raley’s announced the promotion of Laura Croff to Senior Vice President, People. Laura is responsible for all aspects of Raley’s human resources strategy, including talent management, leadership development, labor relations, compensation and benefits. She will work closely with the Executive Committee to ensure Raley’s continues to elevate a culture that attracts, retains and develops the best teams.