Welch's Welcomes 3 New Board Directors
CONCORD, Mass., March 13, 2007
Welch's, the world's leading marketer of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, today announced that it welcomed three new directors to its board. Jon B. Hinkelman and Dennis C. Vacco, both directors on the board of Welch's corporate parent, the National Grape Cooperative Association, Inc., join Joseph J. Schena on the Welch's board of directors.
According to David Lukiewski, President and CEO of Welch's, "We're most fortunate to have found such talented and dedicated members to support our efforts of driving solid growth, becoming less risk adverse, and generating good returns for our growers." Lukiewski continued, "Bringing on new members provides an opportunity to look at the entire organization from a new perspective to determine what's working well and what needs to be changed or improved."
New Directors
Joseph J. Schena is the newest independent director to join Welch's board. An Operating Partner at Centerview Partners, Mr. Schena has more than 25 years of Finance & Accounting experience with major consumer product companies. Prior to joining Centerview, Mr. Schena was Vice President Finance for the Gillette business unit of Proctor and Gamble where he was responsible for Gillette business results as well as integrating Gillette and P&G Financial Operations. Before his appointment as VP Finance at Gillette, Mr. Schena held other senior-level positions at the company, as well as at Nabisco and Kraft General Foods.
Mr. Schena holds a BBA in Accounting and a MBA in Finance from Iona College. He currently resides in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Jon B. Hinkelman has been a National member for 26 years and a Director on National's board since 2003. Mr. Hinkelman operates a 730 acre farm, on which 151 acres of Concord grapes are grown. Mr. Hinkelman is a member and past Treasurer of the Michigan Cherry Committee (Governor appointment); a member and past Chairman/past Treasurer of the Cherry Marketing Institute; the Founder/President of Countryside Rural Education Corporation; and a member of the Michigan Farm Bureau.
Mr. Hinkelman is a graduate of Southwestern Michigan College and resides in Watervliet, Michigan.
Dennis C. Vacco has been a National member for 14 years. Mr. Vacco owns 13 acres of Concords and is Vice President of Vacco Farms Inc., which operates 317 acres of Concord grapes. Mr. Vacco is also a Partner at Crane, Vacco and Sanders and of Counsel to the law firm of Crane, Parente and Cherubin. He served as New York State Attorney General from 1995-98 and was appointed by President Reagan as United States Attorney for the 17 Counties of Western New York, a position he held from 1988 to 1993. Mr. Vacco's legal experience also includes 10 years in the Erie County, New York District Attorney's Office.
Mr. Vacco graduated from the University of Buffalo School of Law, Jurisprudence Doctorate. He received his BA in Economics from Colgate University. Mr. Vacco lives in Boston, New York.
About Welch's
Welch Foods Inc., A Cooperative (Welch's) is the world's leading marketer of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, including grape juice and jelly. The company produces a variety of other fruit-based products, including 100% juices, juice cocktails, and drinks in the following forms: single serve, bottled, refrigerated, and frozen and shelf-stable concentrates. In addition, Welch's produces a number of fruit spread products under both the Welch's and BAMA brand names. Welch's Web site can be found at http://www.welchs.com.
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