People in the News
Fresh Cut
February 2005
 Bob Whitaker |
 Ken Silveira |
 Mark Miller |
 Matthew Caito |
Robert J. Whitaker New IFPA Chairman
The International Fresh-cut Produce
Association has a new slate of executive officers for 2005. Robert J.
Whitaker, Ph.D., a senior executive at NewStar Fresh Foods LLC, is the
new chairman of the Board of Directors. He replaces Ken Silveira, president
and chief operating officer of Tanimura & Antle Inc., who will continue
as past chairman of the board.
Joining the IFPA Board as new officers are: Mark Miller, owner and president
of Fresh From Texas/Energy Sprouts Inc., vice chairman, and Matthew Caito,
director of marketing for Caito Foods/Freshline, as secretary/treasurer.
Four new members were also elected to the Board. Serving new, three-year
terms are: Gary Black, president, Condies Foods Inc.; Parker Booth, vice
president, Food Service Division, Fresh Express Inc.; Bob Jenkins, chief
operating officer, River Ranch Fresh Foods LLC; and Tom Spohn, vice president
of operations for Club Chef Inc. IFPA Board members Phil Riggio and Marvin
List finished their three-year terms at the end of 2004.
Rex Lawrence Director of National Sales for Epic Roots
Rex Lawrence has been named director of national sales for Epic Roots
LLC, Salinas, Calif.
Lawrence is a 16-year produce industry veteran, having worked extensively
on both the buy and sell sides. He was previously vice president of sales
and marketing at Sacramento-based General Produce, and vice president
of sales for Mann Packing.
Epic Roots LLC develops, grows and markets innovative food items for the
high-end retail market and the foodservice industry.
AirOcare Hires Poss, Expands Into Pacific Northwest
AirOcare Inc. has opened a new office in Portland, Ore., and has hired
John W.C. Poss as director of sales. He brings to AirOcare over 20 years
of sales and business experience, with more than five of those years selling
air purification equipment to customers in the agricultural and food processing
industries.
Poss will be working with the company’s sales group in Fresno, Calif.,
to increase sales and provide service support for customers living in
the western U.S. and Canada.
AirOcare is a U.S.-based, global company manufacturing and distributing
air purification equipment which uses active oxygen generation to reduce
spoilage, control pathogens and eliminate odors.
Elliott Joins CVP Systems Inc.
Paul J. Elliott has been named West Coast sales manager for CVP Systems
Inc., Downers Grove, Ill. He will be responsible for sales and customer
support in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and British
Columbia, Canada.
Prior to Joining CVP Systems, Elliott was with Mahaffy & Harder and
3M.
 Rick Alcocer |
 Lauri Duda Buckley |
 Amy Dude Kinder |
Duda Announces Appointments
Rick Alcocer, Lauri Duda Buckley and Amy Duda Kinder have all been named
to new positions with A. Duda & Sons Inc.
Alcocer, who joined the company in 2003 as director of fresh vegetable
sales, has been promoted to division vice president, fresh vegetable sales.
He will direct and coordinate the company’s coast-to-coast fresh
and fresh-cut sales operations in California, Florida and Texas.
Alcocer will report to Dan Duda, and will operate from Duda’s Salinas,
Calif. location.
As director of marketing, Buckley will report to Bob Gray, executive vice
president for Duda’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Division. In addition
to directing the coordination of advertising and promotion for the company’s
fresh and fresh-cut products, she will be responsible for leading market
research and analysis to help identify product and packaging innovation.
She will continue to provide marketing services to the company’s
processed foods division.
Buckley joined Duda in 1985 and has served as marketing services manager
since 1996.
Kinder has been appointed director of food safety and consumer affairs.
In this position, she will be responsible for directing and controlling
food safety and security functions companywide and food nutrition issues.
“The safety and security of our fresh and processed commodities is
a top priority,” said Dr. Larry Beasley, division vice president,
technical services. “Amy’s appointment is one of several measures
the company is taking to ensure that all of our farms, packinghouses and
processing facilities maintain high safety standards. Amy brings excellent
credentials to this important position.”
Kinder will be based in the company’s Oviedo, Florida location.
Mims New Agent for Sormac
Billy Mims of Billy Mims Farm & Repair, Lynchburg, S.C., is the new
agent for Sormac B.V., Venlo, The Netherlands.
Sormac B.V. is the name of the company that took over for Backus Sormac
B.V., which went bankrupt in March 2003. The company is now under new
owners and management but has retained the former technical staff.
Mims will be providing service, spare parts and new equipment in a partnership
with the Sormac service department in Venlo, The Netherlands. He can be
contacted at 2025 Trinity Road, Lynchburg, SC 29080; phone: (803) 453-5901;
fax: (803) 453-5763; e-mail: pickleman@ftc-i.net.
 Ken Manuel |
 Charles Nadeau |
WeighPack Announces New Appointments
Karen Rahl, Ken Manuel and Charles Nadeau have been named to new positions
with WeighPack, Montreal, Canada.
Rahal is the company’s new marketing assistant at the Montreal office
and will assist in sales and marketing. Manuel joins WeighPack as sales
and service manager, Ontario Region and is responsible for customer service,
sales of machines and service for Ontario, Manitoba, Michigan and the
Buffalo/Rochester area of New York. Nadeau is also a new addition to the
sales staff and is a packaging machinery veteran.
© 2005 Columbia Publishing
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