VANCE PUBLISHING CORP
Peggy Walker was named vice president, custom media, at Vance Publishing Corp. Walker will be involved with identifying and developing new business opportunities for the national media company. She brings more than 20 years of national business-to-business publishing experience to her new position.
She previously was vice president and group publisher for The National Underwriter Co.’s insurance magazine division, group publisher for Putman Publishing Co. and vice president and publisher for Gorman Publishing Co.
IMPERIAL FOODS INC.
Michael McKearnan, previous owner of Raisin River Fancy Foods, is the new owner and general manager of Imperial Foods Inc. McKearnan purchased Imperial Foods in 2004 after growing Raisin River Fancy Foods, a high-end gourmet foods distributor, from $1 million to $8 million in sales in the 1990s.
ENESCO GROUP INC.
Enesco Group Inc. appointed George Ditomassi, a member of the company’s board of directors, as interim CEO. Tom Bradley, who served as CFO and interim CEO, has resigned to pursue other interests.
Prior to joining Enesco’s board of directors in 2000, Ditomassi was president and CEO (1985-1990) of the Milton Bradley Co., a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc., then chairman (1990-2000) of that firm. He also served as COO of Hasbro Games and Hasbro International (1990-1998), and as president of Hasbro International (1996-1997).
The company will continue to search for a permanent CEO and begin a search for a CFO.
SPSS INC.
Raymond Panza was named CFO of SPSS Inc., replacing the retiring Edward Hamburg.
Panza was most recently vice president, finance, at Thomson, where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions, financing activities and financial reporting. He played a leadership role in the company’s acquisition of Technicolor and its launch of several new businesses. Panza also served as project manager for Thomson’s joint venture in China, resulting in creating the world’s largest television manufacturing and distribution capability.
He previously held senior financial roles at Ameritech, DQE, Squibb, RKO General and Gulf Oil Corp.
AZUL PARTNERS
Azul Partners named Lisa Reisman to its board of directors. Reisman brings extensive supply chain and procurement experience, which she will leverage to help further fuel Azul’s rapid growth.
Most recently, she worked at Deloitte Consulting, where she pioneered the firm’s direct materials sourcing approach. She also spent five years with Andersen, where, in addition to managing key accounts, she oversaw the group responsible for developing industry content and thought leadership pieces in the business-to-business sector.
Prior to joining Andersen, Reisman served as president of Reiko LLC, a global commodity trading company. She also worked as a physicals trader for Cometco LLC.
THOUGHTWORKS INC
ThoughtWorks Inc. appointed Markku Koppinen vice president of global operations, a new role in the organization. Koppinen will drive the operational management and planning aspects of the company.
His more than 20 years of professional services experience includes an 11-year career at Andersen Consulting (Accenture), where he initially worked in the company’s Helsinki office selling, managing and delivering custom application development services. After leaving Andersen Consulting, he worked as a managing director of efinanceworks, an e-finance venture capital fund, and later as COO of mPower Europe, an e-enabled investment advisory start-up. Most recently, Koppinen worked with EDS in several operational management roles, including COO for its Solutions Consulting practice in Continental Europe and COO for its Global Financial Services Industry Practice.
BOSTROM RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Bostrom Corp. founder Glenn W. Bostrom will receive the Lifetime Achievement award from the International Association of Association Management Cos. at the organization’s 40th anniversary and awards dinner.
Bostrom began his association career in 1949 as executive director of the National Association of Soft Water Service. After four years, he moved on to industry, working for water-treatment and manufacturing companies in California and the Midwest. He purchased and renamed a Chicago-based association management company, known today as Bostrom Corp.
Bostrom created significant change in the association management company industry. He is most well-known for his development of a unique multiple management approach that tied all functions to a unified accounting code.
“We are so proud to see Glenn receive this honor,” says Ken Monroe, president and CEO of Bostrom Corp. “Glenn has made an indelible impact on the AMC industry with his leadership, dedication and experience. Bostrom Corp. remains an AMC leader today because of Bostrom’s insight and initiative 40 years ago.”
Bostrom has also contributed to community and charitable organizations such as Rotary International, Roosevelt University, Cornell College, Iowa Wesleyan College, Lion’s Club and the Masons. He has received numerous accolades for his service in the industry, in particular the ASAE Lifetime Achievement award in 1995. In addition, IAAMC presents an annual award named The Glenn W. Bostrom Award for Service, Quality and Excellence an honor to his professional and lasting contributions to association management.
He remains an active member of Bostrom Corp.’s board of directors and resides in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.
