NAFEM Names Kevin Fink President, Honors Mike Whiteley And Disney’s Martin Cowley

The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers formalized its biennial officer transition at its Annual Meeting & Management Workshop, February 19-22 at the Intercontinental San Juan Resort in Puerto Rico. The group named Kevin Fink of Ali Group as its president for the coming two years and honored outgoing and now past-President Michael Whiteley of Hatco Corp. for his leadership and achievements during the past two years. (See related opinion article for more details on Whiteley’s tenure.)

Joe Carlson of Lakeside Mfg. was named president-elect, moving up from secretary-treasurer and Robert Connelly of Henny Penny was elected secretary-treasurer, entering the officer progression.

The Management Workshop program, which interspersed provocative speakers with in-depth panel discussions, focused on promoting and managing innovation, dealing with disruptive change, and the whys and hows of attracting more young people to the foodservice equipment and supplies industry.

NAFEM also announced the election of two new members to the board of directors: Steve Dowling of Sani-Serv and Cathy O’Shia of New Age Industrial. NAFEM board members serve three-year terms. Re-elected to the board were Teri Brewer of Thermo-Kool/Mid-South Industries and Rich Packer of American Metalcraft.

The meeting program committee was chaired by outgoing board member Kevin Clark of Scotsman Ice Systems and Joseph Flaherty of Mercer Culinary.

The group also honored out-going past-President Thomas Campion of Franke Foodservice Systems for his years of service to the organization as member of committees, as a board member, officer, and president. A rare NAFEM Order of Merit was presented to Martin Cowley, recently retired from The Disney Co., and now an industry consultant, in recognition of his decades of service to the foodservice and food equipment industries. Cowley long served on NAFEM Customer Advisory Taskforce and has assisted the entire industry in myriad other ways during his decades in the business.

During NAFEM’s annual business meeting, Carlson detailed the finances of the group, which remain very strong, and reiterated that its support of allied associations, NAFEM Show scholarships, culinary training in New Orleans and at community colleges, and other industry activities will continue or be increased.