990537 Thorn Apple Valley Restructures Sales

Southfield, MI - Thorn Apple Valley, Inc., a Southfield, Michigan based meat producer, announced they have completed a strategic reorganization of their sales staff that began more than six months ago with the appointment of Mike Rozzano as Executive Vice President of Sales. As part of the new restructuring, Thorn Apple Valley announced the appointment of two new retail sales vice presidents, Ed Knoblich and Larry Swafford. There were several other promotions and additions of new personnel.

“The addition of Ed Knoblich and Larry Swafford will allow us to be even more responsive to our customers than we have been in the past. They both bring extensive experience and proven track records to Thorn Apple Valley,” Mike Rozzano said.

Ed Knoblich has a long history in the meat industry, most recently with Smithfield Packing Company where he was Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Prior to that he managed a food brokerage company and spent 15 years in sales with Armour Swift Eckrich. Knoblich, his wife Linda and his two sons live in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Larry Swafford was President of the Lykes Meat Group and had been President of Retail Sales for Wilson Foods following a sales background with the Sara Lee's Bryan Foods. Swafford and his wife Jane live in Riverview, Florida.

“We have an aggressive new strategic plan and we are pleased with the sales strength and experience Ed and Larry bring to us. They will be a tremendous asset to Thorn Apple Valley as we complete our extensive restructuring,” Rozzano said.

In other changes, Dave Tinkis, Clarkston, Michigan, has been promoted to Regional Vice President and Sales Manager for the Great Lakes Region.

Other changes in the Great Lakes Region are the addition of John Wade of Grand Rapids as Western Michigan District Sales Manager and Jim Miller who was promoted to Eastern Michigan District Sales Manager. Kari Abbott of Waterford, Michigan will be a Senior Account Manager working with Miller, while Mike Brueck, also of Waterford, will be a Senior Account Manager working with Wade.

Tim Fjelstad, Carbondale, Iowa, has been promoted to Regional Vice President and Sales Manager for the newly created Upper Mid-West Region.

Tom Sherman, Thomasville, GA, has recently been hired to serve as Regional Vice President and Sales Manager for the South-East. Jay DuRant, Apopka, Florida Area Sales Manager will be responsible for the State of Florida. Other changes are the addition of Bill Seal, Pinson, Alabama and Don Holton, Jacksonville, Florida, Area Sales Managers.

Jim Guillaumin will be leaving the TAV corporate finance staff and joining the West Region as District Sales Manager in Denver.

Jim McGuinn of Sonoma, California has been promoted to be the new District Manager in Northern California. He has been with TAV since July 1998.

The addition of the two new vice presidents and the restructuring of the sales department are part of a number of new changes taking place. TAV is changing their logos and packaging, as well as improving products for taste and texture. The company is also in the process of implementing what it believes will be the most comprehensive food safety program in the industry.

TAV also announced that 8 sales representatives in Michigan left the company.

“Sometimes restructuring causes people to reevaluate the direction in which they want to go. We certainly wish all of our former team members good luck in all of their future activities,” Ray Friedman, Executive Vice President of Marketing said.

“We are pleased with the progress of our new strategic plan. The addition of Ed and Larry will help us meet the challenges of the 21st century while the re- organization of the sales staff will strengthen our market position. We fully expect to emerge from Chapter 11 as a stronger and better company,” said Joel Dorfman, President and CEO.

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