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Jim Frank, President & Chief Executive Officer
Jim Frank was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Litehouse, Inc. in December 2010, and will continue in his role of President as well as accepting the duties of Chief Executive. The position was previously held by Edward Hawkins, who had served this role since 1989. Jim's appointment is the first time in the company’s 50+ year history that someone outside the Hawkins family has held this position.
Jim joined Litehouse in 2006 as the Director of Sales, and was the Vice President of Sales & Marketing prior to being appointed President in 2008.
Jim came to Litehouse with more than 30 years of experience in the grocery industry. He was born and grew up in Laurel, Montana, working in his father's grocery store. He then went to work as a grocery clerk for Albertson's in Billings. Jim grew his career with Albertsons as produce sales manager, was promoted to Northwest Regional Director, developing Spokane, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah & Boise markets. He ended his grocery career as the Director of Fresh Merchandising for Albertsons in Boise.
Jim attended Phoenix University, and has been a guest speaker for the University of Idaho Integrated Business Curriculum Class (IBC). He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the State of Idaho Agriculture Department, promoting the state through the "Idaho Preferred" program, and also serves on the Bonner General Hospital Advisory Council. Jim is passionate about education in the greater Sandpoint community by supporting the Panhandle Alliance for Education (PAFE) and Kinderhaven.
Jim and his wife Julie have two children: Conrad (27) & wife Whitney, and Candice (25). He enjoys traveling, golfing, boating, working outdoors, cooking and wine collecting.
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Kelly Prior, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Kelly Prior joined Litehouse in 2002 as Controller, was appointed to CFO in 2005 and added Executive Vice President to his responsibilities in 2010.
Kelly graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in Business Administration and immediately obtained his license as a Certified Public Accountant. He has more than 15 years of experience in business management, finance and leadership. His career started with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, where he became Manager of Business Assurance. Other positions Kelly has held include Director of Internal Audit for Eastern Washington University and Controller and CFO of Medinex Systems. In addition to his formal training, Kelly gained the valuable skills of entrepreneurship while working in his family’s arts and crafts business for over 10 years and holding positions from stock clerk to bookkeeper.
Kelly has been involved with many aspects of the community in Sandpoint and neighboring Spokane, Washington including Board Member for the Sandpoint Area Chamber of Commerce and instructor for Junior Achievement on multiple occasions.
Kelly and his wife Diane have two sons, Jackson 9 and Parker 8, and spend their free time traveling, camping and other family activities.
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Daren Parsons, Vice President Retail Sales Daren Parsons was appointed to the position of Vice President of Retail Sales in November 2011. Daren started his lifelong career with Litehouse when he was 13, working alongside his granddad Ed Hawkins Sr, the founder of Litehouse. His official start date was December 1987, as a shipping & receiving clerk. Since that time he has held the positions of merchandiser, regional sales manager and most recently as sales director. Daren was born in Tacoma, Washington and grew up in the Sandpoint area, attending school in Hope & Sandpoint, Idaho. He attended the University of Idaho, North Idaho College, and Lewis & Clark State College. Daren is currently on the board of Directors at his church. Daren has been married to his wife Helen for 22 years. They have two daughters, Hailey (20) and Emily (16). Daren is an outdoor and sports enthusiast with fly fishing, volleyball and football topping the list. |
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Paul Kusche, Vice President Value Added, R&D, QC, Project Management Paul was appointed VP of Value Added, R"&D, QC and Project Management in November 2011. Prior to this promotion he served as VP of Marketing & Innovation since June 2010. He joined Litehouse in 1999 as an Interim General Manager to facilitate the acquisition and consolidation of the Chadalee Farms business;and has served as Operations & Information Systems Manager (1999-2002); Corporate Projects Manager (2002-2003); Brand Marketing Manager (2003-2006) and Director of Marketing (2006-2009). Paul graduated from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA with a Master and Bachelor of Business Administration. At Pacific Lutheran University he was also an instructor- Marketing Management, Marketing Research; an Alumni Association President; and Board of Visitors - School of Business Administration. He served on the Board of Directors - Pickle Packers Association; and received the honor of Marketing Student of the Year - Puget Sound Chapter AMA (1970). Paul’s previous experience includes Agrilink Foods/Nalleys Fine Foods Division - Executive Director/General Manager/Pickle Operations (1995-1999); President/CEO - Lucca Packing Division (1987-1991); VP/General Manager/Pickles (1988-1989); VP/General Manager/Adams Foods (1986-1987); Brand Director-Cannery Operations, Chip, Snack & Dressing (1975-1981); Marketing Brand Manager-Dressings, New Products Manager, Marketing Research Manager (1972-1975); I.P. Callison & Sons Division-worldwide-President/Corporate VP (1991-1995); International Multifoods,Inc. - General Manager, Adams Foods Division (1981-1986). Paul and his wife Teena have been married 41 years, and have two sons Matt (Christine) and Brian (Rebecca) and 4 grandchildren. Paul is an Eagle Scout and is active in the Boy Scouts of America having held the positions of Council Commissioner, Distinguished Commission, District Chairman, and Vice President (Tumwater Area Council, Mt. Diablo Council). He is very active in his church and the community, and is a member of the Injectors Car Club and plays multiple instruments in his group Spirit Sounds. He is well known for his green thumb and the hundreds of dahlias he grows. |
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Dan Munson, Vice President Foodservice
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Douglas V. (Doug) Hawkins, Founder, Chairman of the Board
Doug Hawkins continues his lifelong career of Litehouse founder as the current Chairman of the Board. He also has served as president of Litehouse from 1984 to 2008, and was responsible for the sales and marketing department during those years.
Doug was born in Sandpoint, Idaho and moved to the family home above the Litehouse Restaurant in Hope, Idaho in 1958. He attended Sandpoint High School and the University of Idaho, where he received a B.S. in education. For a short time he was a physical education teacher. There has never been a time in Doug's life that he was not involved in the family restaurant/dressing business, including the early college days when he sold dressing to stores along the 100 mile drive to school on a weekly basis. The weekends and summers were busy buying supplies and making the dressing in the Hope, Idaho restaurant, and then going on the road selling the products store to store. Doug trained as a chef at his father’s side, where he learned at a very young age not only how to prepare food, but also how people react to the presentation of food and how to interpret various philosophies on food. Doug has managed/owned several restaurants leading up to the full time focus on the dressing business in 1976.
Doug has authored articles in Success and Entrepreneur Magazine, as well as a chapter in the book Executive Influence by Christopher A. Crane and Mike Hamel. Doug is a former Sandpoint City Councilman, and a founding board member of the Bonner County Economic Development Council. He also served on the University of Idaho College of Education Advisory Board.
Doug and his wife Lodi enjoy travelling and spending time with their six children and fourteen grandchildren.
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Edward W. Hawkins, Jr. Founder
Edward Hawkins is a lifelong veteran of Litehouse Foods and served as CEO from 1989-2011. He grew up working in the family restaurant and his first official Litehouse job was as a mixer in the production department. After college and a short time as an elementary teacher, Edward, then 25 years old, stepped in and made the dressing business a priority when his father’s illness forced the restaurant to close. In 1977 he became financial manager and in 1985 added responsibility for all operations. He continues to be instrumental in growing Litehouse and fostering the company vision “Built to Last”.
Edward was born in Pullman, Washington and grew up in Hope, Idaho. He received a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from the University of Idaho. He served on the boards of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Bonner County Economic Development Council. He has a gift and passion for motivational roles, and has been the keynote speaker at numerous events, including Greater Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Idaho Integrated Business Curriculum series (IBC). Edward is a cowboy at heart and enjoys trail rides, time with his family and serving God. When asked what his new role at Litehouse is, he proudly responds "Keeper of Values".
Edward and his wife Rebecca have four children: Elizabeth, Christopher, Nicholas, Brandon, and grandson Ashlei.
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Wendell L. Christoff, Founder, Vice Chairman
Wendell Christoff started his lifelong career in the salad dressing business capping French dressing bottles in his family’s business. In 1951 his parents purchased Chadalee Farms (which had been around since 1932). The business grew from a single flavor serving the local restaurants into a large, regional manufacturer of over 1,000 different dressings, sauces, dips and horseradish products – primarily for the foodservice and industrial markets.
Wendell grew up in Lowell and received a food marketing degree from Western Michigan University. Following school, he flew worldwide as a U.S. Air Force pilot. He then re-entered the family business, and served in various operational, sales/marketing and finance roles before becoming President.
Wendell has been very active in many community organizations including Lowell Rotary Club, Rotary International, Junior Achievement, YMCA, United Way and Ada Bible Church. He currently is Vice Chairman of the Association of Dressings and Sauces and Chairman of the Horseradish Information Council.
Wendell and his wife Helen enjoy traveling, boating and serving God. Their son, Nathan and their grandson live in Thailand.
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