Sargento also named Tiffany O’Daya sales director in the Food Service Division. She joined the company in 2010 as senior national account sales manager.

Dippin’ Dots to expand Kentucky plant

Dippin’ Dots LLC, the maker of the so-called “ice cream of the future,” said it plans to modernize and renovate its Paducah, Ky. manufacturing facility. The project is valued at $3.1 million. The investment includes the construction of a new energy-efficient freezer system, and operational upgrades designed to improve efficiencies throughout the existing 120,000-square-foot production and distribution facility.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $500,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets. The upgrades, renovations and expansion will create 30 new jobs.

Schmid named president at Smith Dairy

Nate Schmidis the new president of Smith Dairy Products Co., Orrville, Ohio. He succeeds Ron Them, who retired. Them held that position since 2008 and had been with the company since 1974. Schmid’s great-grandfather John J. Schmid began the dairy on Jan. 1, 1909 with brother Peter. Nate’s father Steve is the president of Schmid Inc. and Dairy Enterprises Inc. Nate Schmid worked at Baxter International, Chicago, prior to his new position.