Portola Packaging Inc., Batavia, Ill.—Lorna Millar appointed to the position of senior v.p. of sales and marketing for the Americas. Millar has extensive international sales and marketing experience with a background in customized products manufacturing. Portola has recently added new business development and sales positions to support its executive business strategy. Joining Portola are Thomas Hennessy as v.p. of strategic customers and Ron Pettineo as dir. of sales. Hennessy, most recently with Alcoa Engineered Products, is responsible for developing new business opportunities across the beverage segments to support its organic growth strategy. Pettineo, most recently with Wolfgang Puck Beverage Partners, is responsible for managing the sales partner network and several key accounts. Hennessy and Pettineo report to Millar.

Blanchard

Main Street Ingredients, La Crosse, Wis.—two new sales people join, and the company announces a promotion in operations. Phil Blanchard, joins as account mgr. in the Food Ingredient Group. He will be responsible for selling Main Street’s line of food ingredients to an established U.S. territory. Blanchard joins upon graduating from Western Wisconsin Technical College in La Crosse.

Dewey

Carla Dewey joins in a newly created position as account mgr., health and nutrition to enhance the Functional Systems Group. Dewey is a registered dietitian and is also certified by the State of Wisconsin. Eric Rogich has been promoted to assistant plant mgr. Rogich joined the company nearly three years ago with a leading role in the start-up of the company’s agglomeration process. Rogich will work with Paul Bajurny, plant mgr., on all aspects of manufacturing.

Rogich

Foremost Farms USA, Baraboo, Wis.—Michael L. McDonald joins to fill a new position of v.p. of human resources. He will report to Foremost Farms’ President David Fuhrmann and become part of the executive staff. Most recently, McDonald held a similar post at Refining Technologies Worldwide, a division of W.R. Grace, Columbia, Md. He has more than 34 years of business experience.

Bruce

Pecan Deluxe Candy Co., Dallas—James Bruce joins as Southeastern regional sales mgr. James is a graduate of The University of Georgia and is a third generation dairyman. He served in various managerial capacities with Borden Inc., Kinnett, and Parmalat Dairies. Most recently, he coordinated sales activities in the Southeastern United States for Dairy House.

Piganelli

Fristam Pumps USA., Middleton, Wis.—John Piganelli joins the company as Northeast regional sales mgr. Before joining Fristam Pumps Piganelli held a similar position with a large process equipment supplier in the Northeast. He has eight years of process industry experience.

Zeni

Also, Craig Zeni joins as Southeast regional sales mgr. Zeni has 15 years of pump and process industry experience. Finally, David Kirk to the position of Southwest regional sales mgr. Previously, Kirk held the position of product mgr. for Fristam’s shear blender and powder mixer lines. He has eight years of sanitary processing experience in the U.S. and Europe.

Kirk

Stoelting LLC, Kiel, Wis.—Tom Gumpert, joins as sales and marketing mgr. for the Process Division He replaces Joe Palus, who retired at the end of February. Palus began his career at Stoelting in 1980 as Chief Engineer-Process Equipment Division. Gumpert comes to Stoelting from Greenheck Fan Corp., where he served as an engineering mgr. He was previously employed at APV North America, Rosemont, Ill.

Gumpert

Masters Gallery Foods, Plymouth Wis.—Jeffrey J. Giffin, a 16-year veteran of the company, has been promoted to president. Giffin will replace Christopher Gentine, who has decided to resign his position and leave the company. Giffin most recently served as Masters Gallery Foods’ executive vice president of industrial sales and procurement.

Christopher Gentine and Jeffrey Gentine, are the sons of the company’s late founder, Leonard A. “Butch” Gentine, Jr. Jeffrey Gentine will continue as Masters Gallery Foods’ vice president of business operations. Masters Gallery is a privately held company owned by the Gentine family.

XTRA Lease, St. Louis—Jim AuBuchon named v.p. for the company’s southwest region. He will be responsible for all sales and operational activities for XTRA Lease’s branches in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Memphis, Tenn. AuBuchon joins XTRA Lease with an extensive background in supply chain management and logistics. Most recently, he served as Senior Director – Supply Chain for Dallas Airmotive.