Milling & Baking News - December 17, 2019 - 18

People

Steve Adams joins Mennel as
director of milling operations
FOSTORIA, OHIO - Steve Adams recently joined The Mennel Milling Co. as director of operations for the company's milling
division. In his new role, Mr. Adams is responsible for the operational oversight of
the company's legacy flour milling business.
With a primary focus of providing global management of Mennel's six milling
facilities as well as ongoing training for
more than 150 mill employees, Mr. Adams
will lead the mill team through shifting
trends and facilitate the implementation
of innovative efforts to achieve continued
excellence in the milling industry.

Prior to joining Mennel in September,
Mr. Adams was plant manager at Miller
Milling Co. for 16 years. Earlier, he was
operations manager at American
Italian Pasta Co. for 5 years and
production manager at Hormel
Foods for more than 5 years.
"One of the keys to Mennel's
more than 130-year-old success is
our commitment of bringing new
talent into our organization that Adams
truly fits who we are," said David Marty, vice-president of operations
at Mennel. "We are thrilled to formally

Fred D. Pfening Co. selects
fourth-generation president
COLUMBUS, OHIO - The board of directors of Fred D. Pfening Co. has selected
Fred D. Pfening IV to succeed his father,
Fred D. Pfening III, as president of the
family-owned company.
As the company's fourth-generation
president, Mr. Pfening IV will guide the
business' development and maintain its
core mission.
"I want to see us grow and keep expanding the products and services we offer,"
Mr. Pfening IV explained. "I'm very proud

of the history and reputation the Fred D.
Pfening Co. has built over the last
century. I want to continue that legacy of quality and excellence."
Prior to his promotion, Mr. Pfening IV held production management and accounting roles at the
Fred D. Pfening Co., a commercial
bakery equipment manufacturer.
Pfening
"Having both a ground level
and financial view of the work we do has
been a great foundation for my new role

welcome Steve to the team. His level of
experience and industry knowledge will
undoubtedly serve us well in our continual drive for operational excellence."
Commenting on his first month at Mennel, Mr. Adams said, "I've always had the
utmost respect for Mennel Milling. The
company's reputation in the milling industry, focus on diversification, forward thinking and family
culture has made for a great experience to date. Having the opportunity to share what I have learned
throughout my milling career with
many dedicated team members
has been very rewarding. Conversely, learning from others has been
equally as, if not more, rewarding." MBN
in the company," Mr. Pfening IV said.
Mr. Pfening III joined the equipment
company in 1976 and became president
in 1989. During his tenure, the business
developed new product lines such as liquid ingredient handling and highspeed mixers.
"Under his leadership the company has grown and prospered,"
Mr. Pfening IV said. "He has instilled a better sense of teamwork
and interdepartmental communication as fundamental values of
our company's culture. He values
investing back in the company and its
people." MBN

Bobby Whann, former chairman of
Leidenheimer Baking, dies at 80

Longtime Pepperidge Farm
engineer joins Austin Co.

NEW ORLEANS - Robert J. Whann III, the longtime chairman of
G. H. Leidenheimer Baking Co., died Dec. 5. He was 80 years old.
A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Mr. Whann was born July 1, 1939,
to Josephine Leidenheimer and Robert James Whann. After graduating
from St. Martin's Episcopal School and Tulane University, Mr. Whann
joined Leidenheimer in 1966. The company was established 123 years
ago by Mr. Whann's grandfather, George Leidenheimer, an immigrant
from Germany. The company's product line features a range of specialty baked foods, including the po-boy sandwich loaf.
In a 2004 interview in Baking & Snack, Mr. Whann said his decision
to join the baking company was a sudden one.
"I likely wouldn't have gone into baking if it wasn't for the untimely
death of my father," Mr. Whann said. "I was going for my master's in
business administration at Tulane when my father passed away after
only a three-week illness. I felt I really had no choice but to leave school
and take over the business."
He was chairman of the company from 1972 until 2005. He was a
founding member and served for many years on the board of the Independent Bakers Association. His son, Robert James (Sandy) Whann
IV is president of Leidenheimer.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judith Walshe Whann; their
children Sandy Whann (Leah) and Katherine McCall Whann (Robert
Young III); and their grandchildren Leah Katherine Whann and William
Mitchell Whann. Other survivors include a brother, Richard A. Whann
(Suzanne); sister-in-law Aline A. Walshe; and five nieces and nephews. MBN

CLEVELAND - David W. Watson has joined The Austin
Co. as baking and snack engineering SME (subject-matter
expert).
Mr. Watson has more than 37 years of experience in the
food industry, most recently as vice-president of engineering - international, Pepperidge Farm, and packaging systems at Campbell Soup Co.
"Dave has been part of our family for many years as a
client in his prior role as vice-president of engineering at
Campbell Soup Co.," said Brandon Davis,
vice-president and general manager of Austin's eastern operations. "We are overjoyed
to have him join our family, now as a team
member bringing deep process and operations skills, as well as the owner's perspective to our work."
Mr. Watson received a bachelor's degree in Watson
mechanical engineering at Drexel University
and a master's degree in business administration at Saint
Joseph's University.
He has served as a past member of the American Society of Baking Executive Committee, the Bakery Equipment
Manufacturers Association (BEMA) BIF Committee and the
American Bakers Association. He is currently on committees
for the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE). MBN

18 / December 17, 2019

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Milling & Baking News - December 17, 2019

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