Sargento Foods Inc., Plymouth Wis.-Karri Neils promoted to senior vice president - Human Resources. Neils' promotion complements the completion of her master's degree - a Sargento requirement for officer-level candidates - in Business Administration, in the area of human resources from Concordia University of Wisconsin. Although Neils' responsibilities will remain unchanged in her new position, she will be held to the highest standards in delivering only beneficial and cost-effective, company-wide human resources initiatives. She has been with Sargento for 15 years.

(top to bottom): Dave Baker, John Kelly and John Westendorf
The Westby Cooperative Creamery, Westby, Wis.-Jim Yaconis joins as sales and marketing mgr. He will be responsible for developing the overall sales and marketing strategies for the company. Yaconis brings with him more than a decade of sales and marketing experience, including six years at Crystal Farms, one of the nation's largest distributors of non-fluid dairy products. With the addition of Yaconis, Mark Rutlin will resume his responsibility as the creamery's key accounts sales mgr. Founded in 1903, Westby is one of the oldest cheese factories in Wisconsin. It is recognized for its quality dairy products all made from milk that is farmer-certified free of Bovine Growth Hormone (rBST).

FKI Logistex, St. Louis-Three senior executives appointed to its North American management team as presidents of new customer-facing divisions. Dave Baker appointed president of the Manufacturing Systems Division; John Kelly president of the Airport, Post & Parcel Division; and John Westendorf president of the Warehouse & Distribution Division. Baker has held various positions at FKI Logistex Alvey Systems over the past 15 years, most recently as the Chief Financial Officer of the company's Alvey Systems, White Systems, and Cleco Systems, Inc. groups. Kelly has over 19 years experience with the FKI plc group, most recently as president of the company's FKI Logistex Crisplant Inc. and LogiLearn units. Westendorf, is a four-year veteran of FKI Logistex, and moves into his new role from his current position as CEO of the company's Automation Division.

Hixson architecture/engineering/ interior design, Cincinnati-Richard Knuff joins the firm as chief mechanical engineer. Knuff has more than 28 years of experience in mechanical facility design and construction management for mechanical utility and HVAC systems. He spent the last four years as a mechanical engineer for Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. He also served four years as course director in the United States Air Force.

David Michael & Co., Philadelphia- Mike Pulizzi joins as an associate account mgr. He graduated in May 2004 from St. Joseph's University with a degree in Food Marketing. Several promotions were also announced in the company's technical department: Ed Albaugh promoted to senior flavor chemist. Frank Calabro promoted to senior food technologist, Jack Fastag has become a certified member of the Society of Flavor Chemists. He graduated from David Michael's Flavor Chemists training program and has been with the company for almost 12 years. The company has made the following additions at international facilities: Virginie Naranjo joins daroma David Michael as an account mgr.responsible for the Southwestern territory of France. Mickael Vallon joins daroma David Michael in production., and Nathalie Pauleau joins the technical team in France, working as a color engineer. David Michael de Mexico welcomes Julio Reyes to the technical team.