Dale Olesen, 56, died unexpectedly on Mon., Oct. 26. Olesen co-owned O & H Danish Bakery, a 60-year-old, four-generation family business in Racine, Wis., with his two brothers, Michael and Eric. He oversaw facilities, operations and equipment for the bakery's three locations. Survivors include his wife, Robin; two children, Ashley (Nicholas) DeBaker and Nathan Olesen; parents Raymond and Myrna Olesen; and brothers Michael (Mary) Olesen and Eric (Lisa) Olesen.

Richard Aversa was named vice president, retail sales and national accounts for The Belshaw Adamatic Group, Auburn, Wash. Aversa most recently served as vice president, sales and marketing at Varimixer/Lincoln Smallwares. Prior to that, worked for the Hobart Corp.

Fritsch USA Inc., Cedar Grove, N.J., appointed Ken Schwenger sales manager-Americas. He will be responsible for managing all direct and dealer sales in Canada, the United States, Puerto Rico and parts of Central America. Schwenger has worked in the baking industry since 1986, with such companies as Lentz Milling Co., Caravan Ingredients, Modern Baking and Puratos Corp. More recently, he has served as a sales manager for Konig machines and AZO Inc.

James Kotek was appointed president and C.E.O. of Menasha Corp., Neenah, Wis. He had served as president of ORBIS Corp., Oconomowoc, Wis., Menasha's second largest operating division, since 2004. Also, ORBIS Corp. named Mark Gorzek vice president, finance. Most recently, Gorzek was vice president and controller of Menasha. He joined the company in 2003 as Menasha's director of financial reporting.

John B. Sanfilippo & Son Inc. (JBSS), Elgin, Ill., owners of Fischer Nuts, hired Phil Gorski as business manager focused on the company's club store channel. Gorski comes to Fischer Nuts from PepsiCo., where he was responsible for leading all Quaker, Tropicana and Gatorade product category initiatives at Costco Stores. Prior to that, he was the director of sales for BJ's Wholesale Club.

Dedicated gluten-free foods company Pamela's Products, Ukiah, Calif., appointed Linda Gerwig vice president of sales. A natural products veteran, Gerwig's career includes 10 years as vice president of sales at Sunspire Chocolates and six years as sales manager and marketing manager at Barbara's Bakery. Most recently, she served as vice president of sales-personal care division at Hain Celestial.

Something Sweet Inc., New Haven, Conn., named Doug Dinnin vice president, sales and marketing. He is charged with expanding the premium pie and cake company's overall sales volume with emphasis on the in-store baking segment. Dinnin has 27 years of sales and marketing experience in the grocery industry and spent 17 years developing the in-store bakery product line for J. Skinner Baking Co. Prior to that, he worked in sales for Del Monte Foods and Hershey Chocolate Co.

Joshua Johnson was appointed chef instructor in L'Art de la Patisserie at the French Pastry School, Chicago. He will be teaching the chocolate theory, technique and confectionery elements of the patisserie program. Johnson's background includes an apprenticeship with Ambrosia Euro-American Patisserie and several years at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago Hotel. He also co-founded Cocoa Bean Fine Desserts in Geneva, Ill.

ENRECO® Inc., Sheboygan Falls, Wis., a provider of flaxseed ingredients to the food and nutritional products industry, promoted Jackie Baughman to accounts manager. She joined the company in May 2009 as sales support administrator.

Gary Kyle was named vice president, sales and marketing at J. Skinner Baking Co., Omaha, Neb. He will lead the firm's branding and sales expansion efforts. Prior to joining Skinner, Kyle served as vice president of marketing for Herr Foods Inc.

Main Street Ingredients, Lacrosse, Wis., promoted Eric Hallstead to brand manager, Keystone Stabilizers. Hallstead has nearly 20 years of experience in the dairy industry, with a background in research and development, focusing on ice cream and aseptics.

MGP Ingredients Inc., Atchison, Kan., named Don Tracy vice president of finance and chief financial officer. His business career spans 30 years, and more than half of which has been spent in senior level financial and executive management positions. Tracy succeeds Robert Zonneveld, who left the company.