Wixon Inc., St. Francis, Wis., named Ed Becerra vice president of operations. He is to be responsible for all aspects of manufacturing, including safety, quality, cost-effective manufacturing and management of production personnel. Becerra was most recently director of U.S. operations for Sensient Technologies, Milwaukee, Wis.
Flowers Foods, Thomasville, Ga., named Bobby J. Harrison president of Flowers Baking Co. of Denton, Texas. He will oversee manufacturing and sales operations in Texas, Oklahoma and portions of Kansas and New Mexico. He previously was president of Flowers’ bakery of Tyler, Texas. John S. Gilmer Jr. succeeds him as president. He has been vice president of sales for Flowers’ bakeries located in Lynchburg, Va., and Baton Rouge, La., since 2004.
Caravan Ingredients, Lenexa, Kan., named Brent Miller business development manager, bakery. He previously worked for Hostess Brands, Russell Stover Candies Inc. and Coors Brewing Company.
ADM hired Dirk Reif as a sweetener development scientist. He will lead ADM’s high-intensity sweetener research. Reif earned a Master of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in science from Southern Illinois University.
William J. Hoover, 82, retired president of AIB International, died July 6 following a brief illness. Dr. Hoover led the organization for 17 years, and in recognition of his contributions, the AIB campus was named the William J. Hoover campus in 1995. He was elected in 2007 to the Baking Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Louise Kesler Hoover; three children, Mike Hoover, Jane Bartlett and Laura Thiel; grandchildren Emily Kiefer, K.C. Gillispie, Brian, Clay and Mike Bartlett and Grace Thiel; four great-grandchildren Ashlyn, Clarissa, Adriana and Kamryn; sister Mary Council; and in-laws Bobi Hoover, Bob Bartlett, Dave Thiel, Dustin Kiefer and Lisa Bartlett.
