PIZZA INN has appointed Kendra Shier to the position of marketing v.p. A restaurant and marketing veteran with more than 20 years of industry experience, Shier will guide brand direction as the pizza chain adds new locations, advances its restaurant design and remodels existing locations. Shier most recently served with Melting Pot Restaurants. The Colony,…

Two new faces in the exec offices of BRINKER INT’L.: Ian Baines has rejoined the company as senior v.p. of strategic innovation, and Carin Stutz has been promoted to president of global business development. Baines will oversee Brinker’s kitchen and culinary innovation and will lead remodeling efforts at more than 800 Chili’s locations. Baines previously…

ARBY’S RESTAURANT GROUP, subsidiary of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group, has named Diana Petrovich-Tao its new COO to help drive brand turnaround. Petrovich-Tao previously served in management positions with Burger King and Mrs. Fields brands, and before that for Kinko’s, Taco Bell, Packaging Corp. of America, Coca-Cola and Castle & Cooke Foods. Arby’s is headquartered in Atlanta.

Refrigerated display case manufacturer STRUCTURAL CONCEPTS has named Wayne Martin its new regional sales manager. Martin joins the company with 30 years experience in commercial foodservice equipment. His background includes serving as liaison to Foodservice Consultants Society Int’l. Structural Concepts is located in Muskegon, Mich.

News from global sales at BUNN: Neal Robinson, senior v.p.-international sales for Bunn’s commercial division, has been named senior v.p.-global projects. In this role, Robinson will work with the Bunn sales team in planning and executing projects with national and global customers. In addition, Brian Wisniewski has joined the Springfield, Ill., beverage equipment maker as…

Overseas news from T&S BRASS: The plumbing and foodservice equipment maker has named Keith Lyerly its general manager and Erik Theisen its director of international sourcing for the T&S Brass Shanghai, China, operation. The Shanghai facility, located in the Pudong region, doubles as both manufacturing location and sales and customer service center for China. T&S…

Two new appointments at WILBUR CURTIS CO.: Ron Contaxis has been named regional sales v.p. for Curtis’ Northern Region territory. Contaxis, a 25-year coffee industry vet, joins Wilbur Curtis from Rockline Industries. And Dan Schneider has been promoted to national accounts v.p. Schneider has been with Curtis for nine years as Midwest regional sales manager…

KOLD-DRAFT has named Jack Antell its new sales v.p. Antell, a longtime foodservice industry veteran who has served with Manitowoc, Traex, Enodis and Hoshizaki, will be responsible for strategic sales. His background includes sales and service management, strategic planning, marketing, product/brand development, market/economic research and new product introduction. Kold-Draft, headquartered in Erie, Pa., specializes in…

Trends In 2010 Signal Moderate Uptick In ’11

Traffic and sales improving, but challenges continue