PEOPLE NEWS
At the company's 35th anniversary and national sales meeting, J&J Snack Foods appointed several employees to vice presidential roles at the company. "What a fine tribute to our company and our staff. This group has shown excellent leadership and growth and the announcement of their vice presidencies was the perfect way to celebrate our 35th anniversary," said Gerald B. Shreiber, J&J Snack Foods president/ CEO.
John Griffith, a 12-year veteran with J&J, was named the vice president of information systems. He began his career at the company as the network administrator with its ICEE division. In 2004, Griffith moved to the company's corporate offices in Pennsauken, N.J. to become the director of IT in 2004.
Taking the role of vice president of human resources is Harry Fronjan. Fronjan has been with the company for more than five years. Prior to joining J&J, he spent 10 years in human resources for C&D Technologies.
Barbara Dassatti was promoted to the role of regional vice president of foodservice sales for the Northeast. Dassatti comes to the position from her role as the director of the Mid-Atlantic region. She joined J&J in 1992 as a regional manager.
Coming from the company's frozen desserts division is Ernest Fogle, who was named the vice president at R&D for MIA frozen desserts. Fogle joined the company in 1997 though the acquisition of Mama Tish International Foods, where he was the head of quality assurance and R&D.
Tom Hunter will take the role of J&J's vice president/ general manager for the company's subsidiary Uptown Bakeries. Uptown Bakeries produces a line of fresh-baked products including doughnuts, bagels, muffins and fancies.
Another subsidiary of J&J, Country Home Bakers, will receive Mike Harvison as its vice president/ general manager. Mike spent 12 years with Country Home Bakers prior to its acquisition by J&J. Country Home Bakers produced a line of bakery products for ISB/Delis in addition to cookies, biscuits and rolls under the READI-BAKE brand.
Charles Tommolino was appointed to the position of vice president of foodservice sales for READI-BAKE, of Country Home Bakers. Tommolino came to J&J from Pennant Foods. Prior to Pennant, he worked with Pillsbury and UNILEVER.
The ICEE Company's vice president–controller will be David Lauder. Lauder joined ICEE in 1993 as accounting manager and was quickly promoted to controller. ICEE is a subsidiary of J&J and part of its frozen beverages division, along with Slush Puppie.
In other people news, Lucini Italia has enlisted Cory Kirlan as the national sales manager in an effort to expand and solidify a position in the gourmet and natural food categories.
Kirlan comes to the company with plentiful experience in the food business. Most recently, he worked for Nature's Path Foods Southwest/Rocky Mountain territories. Before this, he held executive positions for a Natural Food Co-op in Newark, Del. and Acosta Brokerage. Kirlan also has worked as the director of purchasing & merchandising for a large independent retailer in the Mid-Atlantic.
Lucini Italia also named John Lansdale to the newly created position of Eastern Regional Sales Manager, where he will oversee the Eastern and Midwest regions.
"We are excited to have Cory heading up our sales team effort and confident that his incredible drive, talent and ability will further develop the flagship line while shepherding new products and extensions. Supporting the Lucini Italia brand and its customers with devoted, experienced professionals such as Cory and John will assure the steadfast nurturing and growth of this world-class, completely natural, highly accessible gourmet line," said Lucini Italia's president, David Neuman.
In other supplier news, Hot Stuff Foods hired John Barber to the position of executive vice president of development. In this position, he will head the company's franchise and license sales efforts.
Prior to joining Hot Stuff, Barber was the vice president of member development and member services for Foodbuy LLC. There he led a team in all aspects of member services including business development, staffing, member relations, opportunity analysis and negotiating member agreements. Barber has also held positions at Wirca Inc. as the COO; the executive vice president and general manager of MBS Inc.; and the vice president of marketing equipment management for Pepsi-Cola N.A.
"We are extremely pleased to have John on board," exclaimed Hot Stuff chairman, president and CEO Des Hague, "His diverse background, experience and organizational leadership in strategic management, as well as sales and business development will be a key component to Hot Stuff's ongoing success. John has served as an executive with some of the most respected foodservice companies in the industry and will strengthen our team and resolve to continually support Hot Stuff's commitment and corporate philosophy of 'Creating Value…Every Day!'"
In other supplier news, Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. appointed Paul Burel as the self-checkout strategic marketing leader. Burel brings more than 20 years of experience in engineering, marketing and management to the position.
In this role, Burel will create go-to-market strategies for the company's self-checkout systems. He will also lead the solution and partner strategy for this aspect of the company's business. Burel will report directly to Peter Wolf, vice president of marketing.
Prior to joining Fujitsu, Burel spent 13 years at The Home Depot, where he most recently served as the senior manager of store operations. In that position he oversaw front-end operations for the company's 2,100 stores.
"We are delighted that Paul has joined the Fujitsu team. His experience in implementing self-checkout campaigns will be very valuable as we continue to expand our self-checkout presence," said Wolf. "Paul's extensive store technology experience and role as a self-checkout evangelist makes him a perfect fit as Fujitsu's thought leader for self-checkout. The technology continues to gain popularity in the retail industry, and Paul will help us better understand retailers' needs while we continue to offer the most innovative, easy-to-use self-checkout systems in the industry."
In other people news, B&G Foods promoted Vanessa Maskal to the position of vice president of sales. Maskal succeeds David Burke, who is retiring after a 41-year career in the food and consumer products industries.
"On behalf of our entire organization, I would like to thank David Burke for his 16 years of hard work and dedication to B&G Foods," said David L. Wenner, CEO of B&G Foods. "David has played a very valuable role in building our business and his contributions will continue to be appreciated long after his retirement."
Maskal comes to this position from the director of direct store delivery sales. She first joined the company in 1999 as a senior brand manager. After some time away, she rejoined the company in 2003 as the director of direct store delivery sales. Prior to joining B&G, she held senior positions at IBC Inc., Drake Bakeries and Whatman Inc.
"I am very pleased to announce Vanessa Maskal as successor to the position of executive vice president of sales," said Wenner. "It is particularly gratifying to fill this position with such a qualified candidate from within our organization. As director of direct store delivery sales, Vanessa has demonstrated strong management skills, creative problem solving and a dedication for driving profitability. I am confident she is an excellent fit for her new position."
In other people news, FACTOR appointed Kate Stewart as the vice president of professional services. Stewart comes to the position from WideOrbit, where she was an account manager. There she was responsible for project management, client raining and seminar preparations. Stewart also held several management positions with Encoda Systems.
In her new position, Stewart will oversee all of the company's client implementations, training, best practices, consulting services and the FACTOR University continuing education program.
"Kate brings a wealth of experience in software technology management to the table, along with a highly-tuned customer focus, which is a principle that Kate and FACTOR both share," said Tom VanBenschoten, FACTOR chief revenue officer. "We are excited to have a person with Kate's capabilities join our company."
John Griffith, a 12-year veteran with J&J, was named the vice president of information systems. He began his career at the company as the network administrator with its ICEE division. In 2004, Griffith moved to the company's corporate offices in Pennsauken, N.J. to become the director of IT in 2004.
Taking the role of vice president of human resources is Harry Fronjan. Fronjan has been with the company for more than five years. Prior to joining J&J, he spent 10 years in human resources for C&D Technologies.
Barbara Dassatti was promoted to the role of regional vice president of foodservice sales for the Northeast. Dassatti comes to the position from her role as the director of the Mid-Atlantic region. She joined J&J in 1992 as a regional manager.
Coming from the company's frozen desserts division is Ernest Fogle, who was named the vice president at R&D for MIA frozen desserts. Fogle joined the company in 1997 though the acquisition of Mama Tish International Foods, where he was the head of quality assurance and R&D.
Tom Hunter will take the role of J&J's vice president/ general manager for the company's subsidiary Uptown Bakeries. Uptown Bakeries produces a line of fresh-baked products including doughnuts, bagels, muffins and fancies.
Another subsidiary of J&J, Country Home Bakers, will receive Mike Harvison as its vice president/ general manager. Mike spent 12 years with Country Home Bakers prior to its acquisition by J&J. Country Home Bakers produced a line of bakery products for ISB/Delis in addition to cookies, biscuits and rolls under the READI-BAKE brand.
Charles Tommolino was appointed to the position of vice president of foodservice sales for READI-BAKE, of Country Home Bakers. Tommolino came to J&J from Pennant Foods. Prior to Pennant, he worked with Pillsbury and UNILEVER.
The ICEE Company's vice president–controller will be David Lauder. Lauder joined ICEE in 1993 as accounting manager and was quickly promoted to controller. ICEE is a subsidiary of J&J and part of its frozen beverages division, along with Slush Puppie.
In other people news, Lucini Italia has enlisted Cory Kirlan as the national sales manager in an effort to expand and solidify a position in the gourmet and natural food categories.
Kirlan comes to the company with plentiful experience in the food business. Most recently, he worked for Nature's Path Foods Southwest/Rocky Mountain territories. Before this, he held executive positions for a Natural Food Co-op in Newark, Del. and Acosta Brokerage. Kirlan also has worked as the director of purchasing & merchandising for a large independent retailer in the Mid-Atlantic.
Lucini Italia also named John Lansdale to the newly created position of Eastern Regional Sales Manager, where he will oversee the Eastern and Midwest regions.
"We are excited to have Cory heading up our sales team effort and confident that his incredible drive, talent and ability will further develop the flagship line while shepherding new products and extensions. Supporting the Lucini Italia brand and its customers with devoted, experienced professionals such as Cory and John will assure the steadfast nurturing and growth of this world-class, completely natural, highly accessible gourmet line," said Lucini Italia's president, David Neuman.
In other supplier news, Hot Stuff Foods hired John Barber to the position of executive vice president of development. In this position, he will head the company's franchise and license sales efforts.
Prior to joining Hot Stuff, Barber was the vice president of member development and member services for Foodbuy LLC. There he led a team in all aspects of member services including business development, staffing, member relations, opportunity analysis and negotiating member agreements. Barber has also held positions at Wirca Inc. as the COO; the executive vice president and general manager of MBS Inc.; and the vice president of marketing equipment management for Pepsi-Cola N.A.
"We are extremely pleased to have John on board," exclaimed Hot Stuff chairman, president and CEO Des Hague, "His diverse background, experience and organizational leadership in strategic management, as well as sales and business development will be a key component to Hot Stuff's ongoing success. John has served as an executive with some of the most respected foodservice companies in the industry and will strengthen our team and resolve to continually support Hot Stuff's commitment and corporate philosophy of 'Creating Value…Every Day!'"
In other supplier news, Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. appointed Paul Burel as the self-checkout strategic marketing leader. Burel brings more than 20 years of experience in engineering, marketing and management to the position.
In this role, Burel will create go-to-market strategies for the company's self-checkout systems. He will also lead the solution and partner strategy for this aspect of the company's business. Burel will report directly to Peter Wolf, vice president of marketing.
Prior to joining Fujitsu, Burel spent 13 years at The Home Depot, where he most recently served as the senior manager of store operations. In that position he oversaw front-end operations for the company's 2,100 stores.
"We are delighted that Paul has joined the Fujitsu team. His experience in implementing self-checkout campaigns will be very valuable as we continue to expand our self-checkout presence," said Wolf. "Paul's extensive store technology experience and role as a self-checkout evangelist makes him a perfect fit as Fujitsu's thought leader for self-checkout. The technology continues to gain popularity in the retail industry, and Paul will help us better understand retailers' needs while we continue to offer the most innovative, easy-to-use self-checkout systems in the industry."
In other people news, B&G Foods promoted Vanessa Maskal to the position of vice president of sales. Maskal succeeds David Burke, who is retiring after a 41-year career in the food and consumer products industries.
"On behalf of our entire organization, I would like to thank David Burke for his 16 years of hard work and dedication to B&G Foods," said David L. Wenner, CEO of B&G Foods. "David has played a very valuable role in building our business and his contributions will continue to be appreciated long after his retirement."
Maskal comes to this position from the director of direct store delivery sales. She first joined the company in 1999 as a senior brand manager. After some time away, she rejoined the company in 2003 as the director of direct store delivery sales. Prior to joining B&G, she held senior positions at IBC Inc., Drake Bakeries and Whatman Inc.
"I am very pleased to announce Vanessa Maskal as successor to the position of executive vice president of sales," said Wenner. "It is particularly gratifying to fill this position with such a qualified candidate from within our organization. As director of direct store delivery sales, Vanessa has demonstrated strong management skills, creative problem solving and a dedication for driving profitability. I am confident she is an excellent fit for her new position."
In other people news, FACTOR appointed Kate Stewart as the vice president of professional services. Stewart comes to the position from WideOrbit, where she was an account manager. There she was responsible for project management, client raining and seminar preparations. Stewart also held several management positions with Encoda Systems.
In her new position, Stewart will oversee all of the company's client implementations, training, best practices, consulting services and the FACTOR University continuing education program.
"Kate brings a wealth of experience in software technology management to the table, along with a highly-tuned customer focus, which is a principle that Kate and FACTOR both share," said Tom VanBenschoten, FACTOR chief revenue officer. "We are excited to have a person with Kate's capabilities join our company."