Melina Kelson-Podolsky, a baking and pastry instructor at Kendall College in Chicago, has been elected to the board of directors of The Bread Bakers Guild of America, Sonoma, Calif. Kelson-Podolsky, a Certified Master Baker, Certified Executive Pastry Chef and Certified Sous Chef, has taught for eight years and has been a member of The Guild since 2003.
Piper Products, Wausau, Wis., named Jim Trout product sales specialist—Southeast. Trout most recently was employed with Globe. Bob Groher was named product specialist and also was recently employed with Globe. Jeff Girard was named product specialist—Northeast and executive chef. His most recent position was with Rational Cooking Systems as a sales manager and executive chef.
Dickson Pitts was named supermarket business development manager for Caravan Ingredients, Lexana, Kan. He will be responsible for supporting the sales team with new programs and products for in-store operations, cross-merchandising opportunities, health and wellness programs and future trends. Pitts has 27 years of experience working in various positions with H.C. Brill Co. Inc., a sister company to Caravan, and most recently was Brill's vice president of sales.