American Frozen Food Institute Announces Staff Additions

American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz today announced the addition of two new staff members to its government affairs and regulatory and technical affairs departments, as well as two staff promotions to its conferences and member services departments.

Kelly Pike Poulsen is joining AFFI as director of government affairs. Poulsen previously served as legislative assistant to U.S. Reps. Denny Rehberg (R-Mt.) and Mark Green (R-Wisc.). She also worked previously for the National Association of Home Builders as a manager of legislative affairs. Poulsen is a graduate of the University of Kansas. She will report to AFFI Vice President of Government Affairs Kristin Pearson Wilcox.

Rishi Banerjee is joining AFFI as manager of regulatory and technical affairs. He previously worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Environmental Microbial Food Safety Lab, and is a graduate of the University of Maryland. Banerjee will report to AFFI Vice President of Regulatory and Technical Affairs Dr. Donna Garren.

Kristen Holmes has been promoted to the position of director of conferences. Holmes joined AFFI in November 2009, and has been serving as AFFI manager of conferences. Before coming to AFFI, she worked for two other trade associations and is a graduate of James Madison University.

Patrick Kendall has been promoted to director of member services. Kendall joined AFFI in August 2010, and has been working as the manager of member services. He came to AFFI following his graduation from Whitman College, and is responsible for overseeing AFFI’s affinity and membership recruitment, retention and sponsorship programs.

“The American Frozen Food Institute is pleased to further strengthen our exceptional team with the additions of Kelly Pike Poulsen and Rishi Banerjee, and the promotions of Kristen Holmes and Patrick Kendall,” said Naasz.

“The skills and experience of our new, and newly promoted, team members will help further AFFI’s ability to advance the frozen food industry’s public policy priorities and enhance the delivery of AFFI member programs and services.”

Source: American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI)