MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Donald A. Thriffiley Jr., senior professional in human resources of KAT Management Group, LLC, was elected chairman of the AIB board of trustees at the group’s annual spring meeting March 15 in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. He succeeds David Murphy, president of Mother Murphy’s Laboratories, who becomes past chairman.

Thriffiley is a principal in KAT Management Group, LLC, a business consulting and executive coaching firm located in Thomasville, Georgia, U.S. He recently retired as senior vice-president of human resources for Flowers Foods, Inc., a position he held since May 2008. Thriffiley earlier was vice-president of human resources from 2002-08.  Prior to that, he was director of human resources for Flowers Bakeries and in other human resources positions since 1977.

Thriffiley is active in the American Bakers Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, the American Management Association and various local organizations.

He graduated from the University of New Orleans in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in business.

In addition to Thriffiley, John Riesch, president of Lesaffre Yeast Corp., was elected vice-chairman of the board of trustees.

By vote of the AIB membership, those newly elected to serve a three-year term on the board are: Jeff Dearduff, Sr., vice-president of operations — North America, Aryzta, and Nick Weigel, vice-president of technical services, ADM Milling Co. 

The following were re-elected to the board: Barry Clayton, senior vice-president of business development, AB Mauri Baking Solutions; Raul Fajardo, vice-president of global quality, McCain Foods USA, Inc.; Steven Graham, vice-president of R&D/QA, Pepperidge Farm, Inc.; John Khoury, president, Custom Foods, Inc.; Richard McGrath, senior vice-president, Lockton Companies; Russell McKee Jr., executive vice-president of manufacturing, McKee Foods Corp.; and Dale Morton, Sr., director – global food safety, PepsiCo, Inc.