FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Middleby Food Processing
Carolynn Coiner
540-280-6890
ccoiner@middleby.com

F.R. Drake Company Announces Senior Management Positions
Robyn Dean Promoted to President, Chris Hopkins Named Executive Vice President, William Beebe Named Controller

December 28, 2023 (Waynesboro, VA) — Robyn Dean has been promoted to President of the F.R. Drake Company, a global leader in the manufacture of industrial food loading equipment and a Middleby Food Processing brand. Ms. Dean joined Drake as Controller in 2013 overseeing financial reporting functions for Drake and Middleby Food Processing segments. She holds a BS degree in accounting from Bridgewater College and CPA certificate from the Commonwealth of Virginia with extensive manufacturing financial operations experience in both the custom equipment and repetitive manufacturing environments. Ms. Dean succeeds George Reed who will be retiring effective December 31, 2023.

Chris Hopkins has been named Executive Vice President. He will be responsible for engineering, sales, and marketing. Chris holds a BS in industrial engineering from Clemson and an MBA from Midwestern State University. The majority of his 32+ years in the protein industry have been in further processing. Integral engineering roles were always directly responsive to customers’ needs by fulfilling their production requests and developing new product.

William Beebe will succeed Ms. Dean as controller. He holds a BS degree in accounting from Old Dominion University, and a CPA certificate from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Completing the senior management team are Sergio Saez, Vice President of Sales, and Robert Bamburg, Director of Service and Manufacturing Operations.

“We thank George for his dedication and commitment and are pleased he will continue in an advisory role, assisting Drake with research and development as well as strategic activities,” said Mark Salman, President of Middleby Food Processing Group. “I look forward to the proven leadership of both Robyn and Chris as Drake continues to grow and expand robotic automation offerings. Their respected skills and experience in production processes will be a benefit to Drake customers.”

Drake is a technology leader in product orientation and handling solutions. Mechanical and/or robotic systems automatically align product for optimal consumer package presentation, sanitation, and efficiency.

For more information on Middleby Food Processing visit www.middprocessing.com