Board of Directors

Merlin Hanson, Chairman of the Board
Prior to forming the Hanson Group, Merlin Hanson owned Weldun International located in Bridgman, Michigan. Under Hanson’s leadership, Weldun prospered from a tool and die shop of 3 persons to a 3-division corporation of more than 500 people and achieved a national reputation in the areas of high technology equipment and factory of the future automated assembly systems. Robert Bosch Corporation of Stuttgart, West Germany acquired Weldun International from Mr. Hanson, but he retained the former Weldun Mold Division, which is now located in St. Joseph, Michigan, and operates as Hanson Mold.

Gregory Hanson, Vice Chairman
Gregory Hanson presided over the company from 2003 to early 2009 and served as Executive Vice President from 1996 to 2003. He was previously President of Purefact Water Center (1993 – 1996) and Hanson Precision Machine (1986-1993). He is a past board member of the IARW. He currently serves as President of the Hanson Group, which includes Hanson Mold, Hanson Logistics, Hanson Beverage Service and Eagle Technologies. Greg is very active in the Benton Harbor, Michigan community and has held various civic and industry board positions.

J. Daniel Bernson
J. Daniel Bernson is President of the Hanson Group, with business interests in Hanson Mold, Hanson Logistics, Eagle Technologies Group, Hanson Properties, Pure Fact Water Center, among many others. Mr. Bernson was formerly Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with Weldun International, Inc., Bridgman, Michigan. A graduate of North Park College, Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Bernson serves on the board of directors for Lakeland Regional Heath Systems, Chemical Shoreline Bank and Chemical Financial Corporation, as well as the Hanson companies. He is actively involved in Michigan civic and philanthropic organizations.

Rodger Bittner
Rodger is President and Senior Partner, Bittner, Hyrns, Daly & Riemland, PC, St. Joseph, Michigan, specializing in real estate and corporate law. Rodger is active in numerous civic organizations and has served as both the Berrien County Bar Association Vice President and President. He received both his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Michigan.

William Marohn
Mr. Marohn retired in 1998 as Vice Chairman of Whirlpool Corporation. Mr. Marohn is a member of the Board of Directors of Newell/Rubbermaid, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, and a partner in Waterfront Crossing, LLC, a real estate development company. He is Vice Chairman of Cornerstone Alliance and is a member of the Lake Michigan College Foundation Board. A native of Toledo, Ohio, Mr. Marohn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo. He served in the US Air Force and the Ohio and Michigan Air National Guards.

John Sommavilla
John Sommavilla is President of Coles Quality Foods, Inc., Muskegon, Michigan. Previously, he was Executive Vice President of Supply Chain for Spartan Stores. He is a member of the Grand Rapids Better Business Bureau Board and Western Michigan University Food Marketing Advisory Board, and he formerly was on the Board of the National Frozen Food Association. Mr. Sommavilla holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Management from Central Michigan University and attended the Graduate Management Program at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.

Thomas Reed
Thomas Reed is Group Vice President of Cattle Procurement and Producer Relations, Packerland Packing, DeWitt, Michigan. Mr. Reed received his BS at Michigan State University, and completed graduate studies in Business Management at Michigan State. From 1980 to 1992 Mr. Reed served on the MSU Board of Trustees in various positions, including Chairperson of the Board in 1991. Mr. Reed presently serves on the Board of Directors for Neogen Co., Ann Arbor, and is a member of the Canadian Bilateral Trade Team and the U.S. Asean Center for Technology Exchange, Inc. Mr. Reed has participated extensively in U.S. and International programs that promote the development of food production.

John Broaddus
Mr. Broaddus has held numerous executive posts with WLR Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including President of Casco Ice and Cold Storage and Executive President of Wampler Foods. He received a BS and MBA in Management from James Madison University, and has served on the boards of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association; International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses; International Association of Refrigerated Warehouse Insurance Co.; and The Refrigeration Research and Education Foundation.

Gary Sarner
Gary Sarner is President of Lubar & Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From 1997 to August, 2007, Mr. Sarner was Chairman and CEO of Total Logistic Control, LLC, Zeeland, Michigan. Gary Sarner also has served as President and CEO of Wiscold, Inc. of Milwaukee and as Senior Vice President in the Commercial Banking Division of Bank One in Milwaukee. Mr. Sarner currently serves on the Board of Directors for Fall River Group, Inc., in Mequon, Wisconsin, Terminal-Andrae Electric Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Foundations Bank in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin and received his MBA from Marquette University.

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