People on the Move: SIGMA, Kalibrate & Coca-Cola

NATIONAL REPORT — Retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in the convenience store industry are only as good as their management teams and employees. In this special roundup, Convenience Store News runs down the most recent executive changes, new hires, promotions and people achievements happening in the industry.

Alto-Shaam

Alto-Shaam made three changes to its sales and marketing team: Todd Griffith moved to the position of vice president of sales; Jeff Mote joined the company's domestic sales team as vice president of National Accounts-Retail; and Kellee Johnston was promoted to director of marketing.

Griffith will lead the company’s culinary resources team, as well as continue to be integral to corporate strategic planning with focused efforts on sales execution and business development in the eastern United States.

Mote joins Alto-Shaam with more than a decade of industry experience in the retail and commercial foodservice equipment industry. He will work alongside Brian Zornes in developing company sales strategy and business development and growth in the retail supermarket and convenience store business segments.

Johnston will be responsible for developing and executing the company's marketing and brand positioning strategies. She has been with Alto-Shaam since July 2013 as marketing manager.

The Coca-Cola Co.

After more than seven years as Coca-Cola’s chief marketing and commercial officer, Joe Tripodi will retire at the end of February. Under his leadership, the company launched one of its most successful global campaigns for brand Coca-Cola: Open Happiness.

Tripodi joined Coca-Cola in 2007 from Allstate Insurance Co., where he was chief marketing officer.

He will be succeeded by Marcos De Quinto, a “seasoned and respected company veteran” who is currently president of the Iberia Business Unit and vice president, Europe Group. De Quinto will take over as chief marketing officer effective Jan. 1.

Kalibrate Technologies

Gregg Budoi joined Kalibrate’s executive management team as chief financial officer and executive vice president. Based in Kalibrate’s North American office in Cleveland, Ohio, he takes on a new, enlarged role that encompasses finance, human resources, mergers and acquisitions, and business development.

Budoi has more than 20 years of experience in senior finance and operational roles, primarily within companies in the petroleum retail, convenience store and finance sectors. He joined Kalibrate from EZ Energy USA Inc., where he was CEO and president.

Kretek International Inc.

Kretek named Jay Kloepfer as central region sales director. He joins the company from Tantus Tobacco and succeeds newly promoted National Director of Field Sales Steve Lucas in the region manager position. 

Kloepfer is responsible for business development and retail growth of Kretek brands from the Canadian border to Texas and Oklahoma, working with Kretek distributors and broker networks in the region.

Kretek also named Sean Teninty as trade marketing director. He reports to Chief Marketing Officer Jason Carignan and works directly with Kretek regional sales directors in structuring and communicating Kretek’s 2015 trade programs to the sales force and broker organizations.

Additionally, Kretek named Kevin Newman as director of marketing of Phillips & King, Kretek’s specialty tobacco distribution company. He reports to General Manager Sergio Montolfo and oversees Phillips & King’s marketing of Kretek proprietary brands.   

Pro Food Systems Inc.

After a part-time stint, Carla Dowden is now vice president of human resources for Pro Food Systems (PFS), which has been quickly expanding in personnel thanks to the success and growth of its Champs Chicken food program.

PFS now has a total of 93 employees working across the country. This number will keep climbing as the Champs Chicken program, Cooper’s Express program and other PFS brands and product sales continue to grow, according to the company. 

SIGMA: America’s Leading Fuel Marketers

In mid-November, SIGMA elected Tom Gresham as president of the association. He was previously first vice president and chairman of the SIGMA Legislative Committee.

Gresham is president and CEO of Double Quick Inc.