People in the News
 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: [email protected].
 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
