People in the mix

Recent appointments of and achievements by people in the fresh-cut produce and allied industries include:

• Schneider Packaging promoted Ron Pietraszek to regional sales manager for the northeastern U.S. Pietraszek has over 20 years experience in industrial sales and marketing, including material handling equipment, which complement his seven years of applications engineering with Schneider. Pietraszek has a bachelor of science degree in business administration from SUNY Brockport.
• Kelly Green, chairman and owner of Birko, was recognized as a finalist for the “Outstanding Women in Business” awards, sponsored by the Denver Business Journal. Green was honored in the large business category. Green is a member of the United Fresh Government Relations Council. She was named to the 2014 list of Women of Influence in the Food Industry, sponsored by The Griffin Report of Food Marketing.
• Stefan Jan Michel Droogendijk is the first graduate from the University of California, Davis Produce Professional Certificate Program. He is employed by DQFS Surveyors, an independent survey agency specializing in vegetables and fruit in The Netherlands. He enrolled in the program in October 2013 and rapidly completed all its requirements, including the online courses and in-person workshops.
•  Amy Burdett has joined the United States Potato Board as its marketing operations director. For the past 16 years Burdett worked at the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Her areas of trade expertise include Asia bilateral and regional affairs, trade policy development and enforcement and global commodity analysis. Burdett will focus on market access issues, for all potatoes and products.