Overheard

Rockville, Md.-based procurement services company Avendra named Robert Heaton (r.) chief financial officer. Heaton previously was CFO for Agentrics, a full-service solution platform for the retail and consumer-goods industry, headquartered on Alexandria, Va. and Chicago, Ill.
Columbia, Md.-based food and hospitality firm Marriner Marketing Communications was named agency of record by Baltimore-based commercial-cooking-equipment manufacturer Vulcan & Wolf Range.
Hillman Shrimp & Oyster Company, Inc., of Dickinson, Texas, announced its partnership with PanaPesca USA Corp., part of Pana International and PanaPesca, S.P.A., based in Montechitini, Italy. Orders and sales support for both Hillman and PanaPesca products will be handled through PanaPesca’s corporate headquarters in Pembroke, Mass.
Stephen Giunta, certified master chef and culinary director of Cargill Meat Solutions’ Culinary Innovation Center, received the Pioneer Award from the Research Chefs Association (RCA) at RCA’s annual conference and Culinary Expo in Seattle.
Ray Poché, southeast regional sales manager for Sheboygan, Wis.-based The Vollrath Company, L.L.C., received Vollrath’s 2007 President’s Award. Bob Walsh was honored as district sales manager of the year at the company’s marketing and sales conference held in Tucson, Ariz.