Irene Hodge Sykes, who with her husband Thomas founded Authorized Commercial Equipment Service in Charlotte, N.C., in 1950, died December 4. Sykes took over the business when her husband passed away, and became one of the first female owners of a service company member of the Commercial Food Equipment Service Association. The company joined CFESA…

Kevin Keith, a 16-year veteran of Robot Coupe U.S.A., has been named the Jackson, Miss., company’s National Project Manager, responsible for creating and promoting all of its marketing and promotional items. Keith will be the internal point of contact for field testing and coordinating sales projects, as well as working to develop programs for multiunit…

Aquion Inc., the Chicago-based manufacturer residential and commercial water treatment and air purification equipment, has acquired Procam Controls, maker of OptiPure line of water filtration products for the foodservice industry. Plano, Texas-based Procam will operate independently, with Roy Seibert continuing as business unit president and general manager. He will work with Aquion Executive V.P.-Business Development…

TriMark USA, the nation’s largest equipment and supplies distributor, has restructured into four regions with an executive vice president in place to oversee their respective region. Starting January 1, the South Attleboro, Mass., company’s management structure comprises: Kim Gill Rimsza, TriMark Gill Marketing President: EVP Western Region (TriMark Economy Restaurant Fixtures, TriMark Federighi Design, TriMark…

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With a month left in the calendar year, FEDA is reminding dealer personnel to think long-term about improving their professional credentials by working on CFSP and ServSafe certifications. Those who earned these certifications in 2015 are eligible to apply for FEDA’s Education Foundation scholarships, which can help reimburse certification fees. The association’s CFSP and ServSafe…

CookTek has hired CR Peterson + Associates as its sales representative for the New England market, encompassing Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. CookTek, Carrollton, Texas, a division of Middleby Corp., manufactures induction cooking, warming and delivery equipment. CR Peterson is headquartered in Avon, Mass.

We hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for. One of those is the continuing strength of the foodservice and equipment and supplies markets. The positive numbers just keep coming. As we report in this issue of FER Dealer Report, the current capital spending indicator in the National Restaurant Association’s…