Dr. M. Anandha "Andy" Rao of Cornell University-Geneva, has received the IAFIS Foundation-FPEI Distinguished Food Engineer Award for 2003. The award is given by the Foundation of the International Association of Food Industry Suppliers (IAFIS) and the Food and Process Engineering Institute (FPEI). The award recognizes outstanding engineering contributions to research, development or design of food processes for the industry or for outstanding leadership, management or education to advance the food engineering profession. Dr. Rao, a professor of food engineering at Cornell University-Geneva, conducts research on rheological properties and thermal processing of foods. FPEI says it is recognizing Dr. Rao’s contributions to the field of rheology and that he has increased the world’s fundamental understanding of food-fluid and semi-fluid flow.

The Instrument Society of America will host an OMAC Plug-and Pack Workgroup conference track at this year’s ISA Process Control Conference scheduled for June 5-6 in Valley Forge, PA. Conference topics will include S95, S88, guidelines for control technologies, business justifications for automation, current GMPs for FDA compliance and integration of Manufacturing Execution Systems with automation. For more information, visit www.omac.org.

Miller Brewing Company named Norman Adami chief executive and president of the company.

New World Pasta Company appointed Peter E. Cotter as interim president and chief operating officer of the company. In addition, Horst O. Sieben has been appointed interim vice president and chief financial officer and Angelo Fraggos has been named vice president, sales and marketing.

National Starch promoted John McAndrews to the recently created position of director for global accounts.

Atlantic Premium Brands, Ltd., appointed Thomas M. Dalton, the company’s former chief financial officer and chief operating officer, to the position of president.

Sara Lee Corporation has named Robert S. Kopriva president and chief executive officer of Cincinnati-based Sara Lee Foods. Kopriva will oversee the global operations of Sara Lee’s meats business which includes U.S. brands such as Ball Park, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean and European brands such as Aoste, Justin Bridou and Nobre.