New senior VP bolsters Dawn Foods’ operations

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New senior VP bolsters Dawn Foods’ operations

6 Jan 2026

Maddie Lambert

Maddie Lambert is a copywriter and editor from Joplin, MO. She graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English – literary studies. When she’s not poring over the magazine or lost in the pages of a new novel, you can find Maddie exploring her local bookstores, spending time with her husband, or sharing her latest literary discoveries with fellow book enthusiasts.

JACKSON, MI — Dawn Foods has expanded its c-suite, naming Kristi Kangas as senior VP of North America manufacturing operations, reporting to COO John Schmitz.

In this role, Kangas will lead Dawn’s manufacturing network, overseeing approximately 1,000 team members across four facilities in the US and Canada, with responsibilities spanning quality, safety, engineering and continuous improvement. She will also help shape and execute the company’s long-term strategy with a focus on automation, standardization and cost-effective growth aligned with Dawn’s broader commercial priorities.

“Kristi is a proven manufacturing leader with a track record of driving operational excellence in complex, multi-site environments,” Schmitz said. “Her depth of experience in food manufacturing, hands-on leadership style and passion for building strong teams make her an outstanding addition to Dawn’s North America leadership team.”

“[Kangas’] depth of experience in food manufacturing, hands-on leadership style and passion for building strong teams make her an outstanding addition to Dawn’s North America leadership team.” — John Schmitz | COO | Dawn Foods

Kangas brings more than two decades of operations and manufacturing leadership experience across the food and agriculture industries, with a deep understanding of multi-plant operations, supply chain optimization, capital planning and large-scale business transformation. She’s held senior executive roles, including COO at Darigold, president and COO at Readington Farms, and senior manufacturing leadership positions at major food companies, including Frito-Lay and Kraft Foods.

Prior to joining the team at Dawn, she most recently served as VP of manufacturing and supply chain for Griffith Foods, leading more than 1,400 employees across five facilities in three countries.

“I’m a manufacturing junkie at heart, and Dawn offers a unique opportunity to focus deeply on operations while making a meaningful impact,” Kangas said. “The combination of a family-owned, multi-generation company with a global footprint and strong North America presence really resonated with me. I was inspired by the people I met during the interview process and excited by the opportunity to strengthen what’s already working well and help move the organization forward strategically.”

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