Plymouth, Wis./Press Release -- Sargento Foods Inc. announced two staffing updates, including a title change within the company’s manufacturing department and a new hire in new product innovation.

In Manufacturing, Jim Loseke has accepted the position of plant manager for the Kiel, Wis., facility. Since joining Sargento in 1991, he has held several positions, including area quality assurance manager for the Kiel and Hilbert plants, production manager and director - Quality Assurance. Before Sargento, he held positions at Borden and Kraft, including quality assurance manager, quality control manager and production supervisor.

“Jim is a seasoned professional in the food and manufacturing industry with 35 years of experience,” said Louie Gentine, CEO of Sargento. “He has been a part of the Sargento family for 23 years and knows the manufacturing industry inside and out.”          

Loseke earned his Bachelor of Science degree in bacteriology with a minor in chemistry from Iowa State University and an MBA from Eastern Illinois University.

In the new product innovation department, Dustin Veldkamp has joined the team as senior project manager. He will lead highly integrated, cross-functional teams to execute strategic corporate projects for the Consumer Products Division. Prior to Sargento, Veldkamp served in the new product development division at Rosemount Inc.

“We’re fortunate to add Dustin to our Sargento family,” said Gentine. “His background -- serving a tour of duty in Iraq managing a production team in the Air Force munitions division -- will be of great benefit to the Sargento family. We know his project management expertise will help us grow.”

Veldkamp graduated from Calvin College in Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in engineering, and then later received an MBA from the University of St. Thomas School of Business, ranking in the top 3%of his graduating class.