Foremost Farms USA, Baraboo, Wis.- Keith Gretenhart named director of sales and marketing of the ingredient division. Gretenhart worked for Rietschle-Thomas in Sheboygan, Wis., before joining Foremost Farms in March. He has 16 years of experience in the food ingredient marketplace. As a member of Foremost Farms' ingredient division, Gretenhart will be marketing a vast line of ingredient products including whey protein concentrate, demineralized whey, and pharmaceutical lactose.

rondelé Specialty Foods, Merrill, Wis.-Jane Passamani joins as Midwest area manager. Since April Passamani has been responsible for managing sales budgets, overseeing promotional activities and working with brokers in key retail merchandising markets. A 17-year veteran of the food industry, Passamani most recently worked as the regional sales mgr. for Bongrain Cheese, New Holland, Pa.

Hixson, Cincinnati-Three new staff members added. Bradley Jones joins Hixson as a structural project engineer, Mary Beth Wagner joins as a CAD designer, and Matthew Spangler joins as an architect intern. Hixson is an architecture/ engineering firm specializing in creating workplaces for corporations, including headquarters, R&D, sanitary processing facilities and fashion retail.

Chr. Hansen, Inc., Milwaukee-Hurl Minnig joins as director of sales for food & beverage, and Teresa Supnet-Rosa joins as director of sales for meat & prepared foods.

Minnig will direct the company's efforts in driving sales of the entire Chr. Hansen product portfolio to the beverage, bakery, cereal and confectionary market segments in the U.S. He has more than 28 years of sales and marketing management and direct sales experience. He comes to Chr. Hansen from Sensient Flavors, Inc. where he was the director of sales.

Supnet-Rosa has been in sales management and direct sales within the food ingredients industry for 12 years, with an additional seven years in product development. She joins Chr. Hansen from Kerry, Inc., where she was the director of sales for the specialty ingredients division.

Jana's Classics, Portland, Ore.-Frank Nance appointed director of sales and Doyle Baker appointed director of operations. Nance oversees all sales activities for the organization, including guiding the company's relationships with the retail bakery, ingredient/inclusion and food-service business channels. Baker guides production, warehousing, engineering and maintenance operations for the manufacturer. Jana's is a leading manufacturer of high-quality food products.

Axon Corp., Raleigh, N.C.-George Albrecht appointed vice president of sales.

He has more than 25 years in the packaging industry, and most recently worked for PDC International as a leading sales manager. Axon is a manufacturer of heat shrinkable sleeve labels, tamper evident bands and stretch sleeve applicators.

Denali Flavors Inc., Wayland, Mich.-John Nardini joins as executive vice president of marketing. Nardini's responsibilities at Denali will include developing strategic and tactical marketing plans designed to increase awareness, trial, and sales of Denali Flavors' brands. Nardini brings 17 years of consumer branding experience to Denali Flavors. Before joining the company, he was senior vice president of marketing for Family Christian Stores, where he directed marketing research, branding, advertising and promotions for the $300 million, 310-store retailer. Denali is the ice cream developer and marketer that created Moose Tracks ice cream.

Davis, Calif.-The California Dairy Research Foundation recently created a dairy science award in honor of William (Bill) Haines of Dairy Management Inc. The "William C. Haines Dairy Science Award," unveiled at the 6th annual Cal Poly Dairy Ingredients Technology Symposium in March, will honor individuals who have made a significant contribution to dairy science.

In naming the award after Haines, most recently vice president of product innovation for DMI, the CDRF wished to recognize his contribution to the field of dairy science. The award includes a plaque, a cash prize of $1,000, travel expenses and the opportunity to make a presentation at a dairy industry event co-sponsored by the CDRF.

"Throughout the years in his multiple roles at DMI, Bill has made supporting research and innovation in dairy a major priority," said Dr. Joseph O'Donnell, executive director of the CDRF.

The award is open to U.S. and international scientists who have made a significant contribution to dairy science through research and development in the field of chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, technology, nutrition, and/or engineering. Nomination forms for the 2005 award, are available at www.cdrf.org.