McDonald’s USA named Wade Thoma vice president of menu management. In his new role, Thoma leads the team that develops new food and beverage items for more than 13,700 McDonald’s restaurants in the United States.
“Wade Thoma is an innovative, strategic thinker with a proven track record of delivering great-tasting, premium quality menu choices for our customers,” says Ralph Alvarez, president, McDonald’s North America. “Wade not only understands the marketplace, but he’s constantly looking for new ways to provide our guests with menu choices that meet their needs. He’s an invaluable addition to McDonald’s U.S. leadership team.”
Thoma has championed several new menu introductions for McDonald’s in the United States, including a line of McGriddles breakfast sandwiches, Chicken McNuggets made with white meat and, most recently, Chicken Selects.
Thoma is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, where he earned his undergraduate degree and MBA. Prior to joining McDonald’s, Thoma held management positions with Kraft Foods, Quaker Foods and Foote Cone & Belding advertising.
In 1985, Thoma joined McDonald’s as director of new products marketing. Prior to his current position, Thoma was senior director of menu management for McDonald’s USA. Most recently, Thoma was the recipient of the 2004 McDonald’s Eagle Award for his significant contributions to the business in the area of menu management and new concept development.
ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Zebra Technologies Corp. named Bruce R. Ralph corporate vice president for its global human resources department.
Ralph comes to Zebra from the Danaher Corp., where he was vice president, human resources, for Danaher’s Product Identification business platform. He joined Danaher in 2002 with the acquisition of Videojet Technologies Inc, where he led the global human resources function. Prior to Videojet, Ralph held senior human resource management positions at the Kohler Co. and USG Corp.
Ralph earned a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has participated in various executive development programs at the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University.
MCDONALD’S USA
McDonald’s USA promoted Karen King to president of McDonald’s East Division. In her new role, King oversees all aspects of restaurant operations, franchisee relations and business strategy for more than 5,200 company-owned and franchised McDonald’s restaurants in the Eastern United States, from New England to South Florida.
Prior to her promotion to president, McDonald’s East Division, King was vice president, strategic planning and business development for McDonald’s USA. She has held a variety of leadership positions throughout her McDonald’s career, including licensing manager, operations manager, field service manager, director of operations and regional manager/vice president for McDonald’s Raleigh region.
NERA ECONOMIC CONSULTING
NERA Economic Consulting expanded its Chicago-based operations with the addition of two vice presidents.
Calvin Monson joined NERA’s communications practice and Dr. Stuart Harshbarger joined both the transfer pricing and intellectual property practices.
“We are very fortunate to have Calvin Monson and Stuart Harshbarger join the firm, ” NERA Senior Vice President and Chicago Office Head Harlow Higinbotham says. “Their extensive experience and solid expertise in applying economic analyses to the challenges faced by our communications and transfer pricing clients will contribute substantially to NERA’s presence in these growing sectors.”
NEW CENTURY BANK
Yan Shkap joined New Century Bank as assistant vice president of the commercial real estate group. Shkap is responsible for commercial lending, including mortgages and bridge loans on multifamily, commercial and industrial buildings, construction loans and condo-conversion loans.
New Century Bank also named J. Garland Smith senior vice president of the commercial banking group, responsible for all aspects of the bank’s growing commercial lending organization.
TRADE SHOW EXHIBITORS ASSOCIATION
Stephen A. Schuldenfrei was named president of the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA).
Schuldenfrei brings an extensive background both with trade shows and with the management of associations. He previously served as executive director of the Society of Independent Show Organizers and president of the Exposition Operations Society. His corporate positions include trade show director for Miller Freeman Expositions, The Interface Group and Access Intelligence. Additionally, his background includes four years as administrative manager of Helicopter Association International.
NAPERSOFT INC.
Napersoft Inc. appointed J. Douglas Pike to vice president of sales.
“We are very pleased that Doug is joining our team in this critical role,” says Ed Evans, CEO. “His outstanding experience and record of performance in information technology sales will be of great benefit as we expand our company.”
Pike reports to Evans and is a member of the Napersoft leadership team. He has overall responsibility for Napersoft global sales.
Pike joins Napersoft from Document Sciences Corp., where he was most recently vice president of sales. Previously, he served in a senior sales role with Xerox Corp. He holds a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology education from the State University of New York at Oswego.
