Heller Expands Technical Management, Sales

As part of an ongoing initiative to enhance its technical development capabilities, Heller Seasonings & Ingredients, Inc. (Chicago) has added two technical executives.

First, the company has named William Lutrell, Ph.D. as technical director with the responsibility for spearheading the establishment and operation of it's new Technical Center Complex in Bedford Park, IL. Lutrell brings over 21 years of diverse R&D experience from such companies as Kraft Foods, Keebler and Select Beverages.

Heller also named Karen Baker to the position of business development technical manager at its West Coast Technical Center in Northern California. Baker comes to Heller from Clorox where she held project leader/manufacturing liaison and marketing positions. Prior to that, she was a product development/sensory manager at Dole Pineapple.

Along with enhancing its technical capabilities, Heller is expanding its market coverage and customer support with the addition of three territory managers.

Mark Robertson will be serving as territory manager for the Midwest Region. Formerly Midwest regional manager for Kerry Ingredients, Robertson is described as having "a depth of experience in food ingredient marketing and technical service."

Next, Heller has appointed Karen Ratner as territory manager for the Southern California Region. Ratner began her career as a food scientist and has used her food product development experience for technical ingredient sales at companies such as Kraft Food Ingredients.

Charles Broder is now Heller's Southeast Territory Manager. With a master's degree in food science, Broder gained market development experience as an ingredient sales manager for Nabisco.