American Bakers Association, Washington, D.C. — Rasma Zvaners, formerly with the American Chemistry Council, has become the new government relations manager. She is the primary liaison for ABA’s Energy and Environmental Health Committee and its Safety Committee. Additionally, Hermoine Wellman is the association’s new executive assistant.

Blueprint Automation, Inc., Colonial Heights, Va. — John Kertesz has been named southeast regional sales manager. Previously, Kertesz was the national sales representative for a major labeling machinery manufacturer.

Briess Malt & Ingredients Co., Chilton, Wis. — TinTin Delphin has been named division manager-West, and Steve King has been named division manager-East. Both are responsible for managing sales of Briess ingredients to food manufacturers within their territories. Delphin has 30 years of sales and business development experience with global manufacturers of flavorings, starches, gums and food ingredients. King has 24 years of technical sales, sales and marketing management and general management experience in the food industry.

Flowers Foods, Thomasville, Ga. — Larry Ruth has been named president of Leeland Baking Co. in Houston. He joined Flowers in 1981 and most recently served as president of the company’s Pine Bluff, Ariz., facility. Ruth succeeds Robert Cummins, who passed away unexpectedly in May. A subsidiary of Flowers, Leeland produces buns that are sold to other Flowers bakeries for distribution in Texas and Louisiana.

In other news, Chuck E. O’Hara has been promoted to president of Flowers Specialty Group’s bakery in Atlanta. Additionally, Florence “Sam” Burnette, former president of Flowers Bakery in Winston-Salem, N.C., has been named Flowers Foods’ director of product development for snack products.

Hixson, Cincinnati — Brad Bruening has joined as mechanical engineer, Jim Lea has joined the firm as an electrical engineer, and Brian McMillan has been appointed associate project manager. Bruening, a Hixson co-op student for three years, is responsible for CAD operations and is a CAD core representative for plumbing. Lea will be part of the automation and controls department and is responsible for leading and participating in the definition, design and implementation of various control systems projects, including packing line control, batch control and continuous process control. McMillan is responsible for assisting project managers and clients in directing the efforts of project teams comprised of associates from multiple disciplines.

King’s Hawaiian, Torrance, Calif. — Joe Carter has been appointed director of trade marketing. Carter brings with him more than 25 years of industry experiences in consumer marketing and brand development. He most recently served as senior marketing manager for Nissin Foods.

KVP, Inc., Reading, Pa. — Jon J. Sasala, CPM has been appointed director of operations for the company’s broadest range of radius, straight-running and spiral modular plastic conveyor belting. He will manage KVP’s production and order fulfillment operations, including manufacturing, purchasing, inventory and distribution/logistics.

MGP Ingredients, Inc., Atchison, Kan. — Lydia Funk has been promoted to the position of corporate controller. Funk joined the company as internal auditor in February 2006 and was named corporate director of that department in Aug. 2005. She previously spent several years in financial auditing and held accounting positions within the industry and in the U.S. Department of Defense.

Parsons-Eagle Packaging Systems, De Pere, Wis. — Jamie Hart has been appointed Eastern regional sales manager. Hart will lead, manage and support efforts in satisfying customer packaging equipment requirements from the company’s regional office in Atlanta, Ga. Hart has 20 years of packaging industry experience.

Rich Products Corp., Buffalo, N.Y.— Melinda (Mindy) Rich, executive vice president of innovation, was elected by the board as vice-chairman. She also is a managing shareholder and member of the Rich Products’ board. Rich will continue to serve as president of Rich Entertainment Group, as well. In her new role as vice-chairman, she will continue to lead Rich’s “culture of innovation” and carry on the legacy of Rich’s founder, Robert E. Rich.

Turkington, Burnley, England — Company chairman and founder John Turkington has announced his forthcoming retirement. In addition, current group CEO Stuart Ashman is moving to a new non-executive role focusing on strategic development. John Lucas, currently president of Turkington APV USA, will assume the role of position of group CEO.

Weighpack, Montreal — Marcel LaChambre has been named the company’s operations manager.

Guelph Food Technology Centre, Guelph, Ontario — Nadim Khan has been named business development manager, technical services. Khan has worked in the industry in a variety of technical positions with the agrifood sector for about seven years. He was sales and marketing manager for PAX Intl. for more than 10 years.

Silliker, Inc., Homewood, Ill. –  Ann Marie McNamara, vice president of food safety and scientific affairs, recently was elected to a three-year term on the AOAC Research Institute Board of Directors. In other news, Matt DeWitt has been promoted to director of Silliker’s Modesto, Calif., laboratory. He most recently served as operations manager.

Solbar Industries, Inc., Ashdod, Israel — Jose Cadillac has been named senior marketing and sales director — Europe, as well as strategic accounts. He brings with him 35 years of experience in the food industries, including 20 years in the soy protein business.

Quest Technologies, Oconomowoc, Wis. — Gerry Fleisher has been promoted to director, North American sales, in addition to his responsibilities as manager, global sales support. All U.S. and Canadian sales operations now will report to Gerry. In other news, Amy Hayden has been appointed manager, marketing services.