Dean Erstad, the Food Institute
At the most recent meeting of the Food Institute's Board of Trustees, Dean Erstad, senior vice president sales for Seneca Foods Corp. was unanimously elected chairman of the 83-year old trade association. At the same time, his predecessor, Donna George, president and COO of Dr. Schar USA Inc. concludes her service and becomes past chair of the institute.
Michael Sansolo, of Sansolo Solutions was elected vice chairman, followed by Doug Fritsch, senior vice president retail and business development of IGA USA who, at the same meeting, was elected treasurer of the association.
Other members of the board include: Bill Bishop, chairman, Willard Bishop; Susan T. Borra, senior vice president, communications, Food Marketing Institute; Paula K. Correy, vice president, Western region, Hy-Vee. Inc.; Frank DiPasquale, CEO, School Nutrition Association; Jamie Gronowski, president of operations, Acosta; Peter Lavoy, former president of Foodtown; C. Winston (Win) Taylor, Saint Joseph's University, and Brian Todd, president of The Food Institute.
Fulmer, DeGroot, Johnson, Dison, Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is known for its made-from-scratch menu items, ice cold draft beer, a man cave, sports bar atmosphere and, of course, the Twin Peaks Girls. Now four of those girls are taking a seat at the table—the corporate table, that is.
As part of a recent staff expansion, Twin Peaks promoted four former Twin Peaks Girls to management positions within the company.
“Having former Twin Peaks Girls become part of the corporate team has been part of our growth strategy from the beginning,” says CEO Randy DeWitt, who co-founded the concept in 2005 with Scott Gordon. “They know our business and our customers as well as anyone and our girls are typically well-educated or in the process of completing their education.”
Promoted to management positions in the Twin Peaks corporate office are:
- Lindsay Fulmer, one of the original Twin Peaks Girls. Fulmer, who opened the first location in Lewisville, Texas. She has been promoted to front of house training coordinator where she will help train Twin Peaks Girls at new restaurants as they open nationwide. Fulmer is a graduate of Texas Women’s University with a degree in business and English.
- Nicole DeGroot has been named recruiter/human resources assistant. A Twin Peaks Girl for five years, DeGroot is in her final semester at Texas Woman’s University where she will graduate with a degree in general studies with concentrations in education, family studies, and marketing.
- U’Tona “UT” Johnson has been promoted to manager of the flagship Addison location. “UT” has been a Twin Peaks Girl for more than five years and is also a licensed real estate agent.
- Destinee Dison, a Twin Peaks Girl for three years, who was recently promoted to marketing coordinator. Dison is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in business.
