SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 2, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Baywood International, Inc. (OTCBB:BAYW) ("Company") announced the appointment of two new members to its board of directors ("Board") effective September 28, 2008. In aggregate the Company's Board now consists of six members. The two new members are Eric Skae and Scott Ricketts.
Mr. Skae founded Skae Beverage International, LLC as Midnight Sun Brands, LLC in October 2002. Eric Skae has spent the past fifteen years in the beverage business where he worked from 1999 to 2002 as President and General Manager of Fresh Solutions, Inc., a Division of Saratoga Beverage Group. While there he was responsible for a $25 million distribution business as well as advising the CEO on the company's sale to North Castle Partners. He also was responsible for rolling out the Naked Juice brand. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Skae was Director of Sales at Fresh Samantha Inc. where he managed 7 distribution centers, was responsible for 70% of company's sales and assisted the company's growth from $5 million in total sales to $45 million in 21/2 years. Prior to that, from 1996 to 1997, he was Vice-President of National Accounts at Hansen Beverage Company where he secured and managed National Accounts such as Seven Eleven, Walgreens, Circle K, Publix, Giant Foods, Mobil, Chevron, Texaco and Quik Trip. He also managed all Canadian business. From 1993 to 1996, Mr. Skae was a Regional Manager at Arizona Beverages where he managed the Mid-Atlantic region from $2 million to $10 million in sales in 2 years. Mr. Skae graduated from Northwood University with a Bachelor's in Business Administration.
Mr. Ricketts is the President and owner of RC Industries, Inc. whose primary holding is Mid's Pasta Sauces, located in Navarre, Ohio. Mid's is a high-end food manufacturing company specializing in premium Italian pasta sauces. Mid's products can be found in 2300 stores in 15 states. Mr. Ricketts began his career at the Amster Kirtz Company, an Ohio-based distributor of candy, beverage and food products, where he rose to the position of sales manager. In 1979, Scott left Amster Kirtz to purchase Ewing Sales, a small, Northeast Ohio food brokerage company. Over the next eighteen years, he built Ewing into a $100 million (sales) company handling lines from, among others, Procter & Gamble, Hunt-Wesson, Newman's Own, Fisher Nut and Cadbury. In 1997, he sold Ewing to a Detroit-based brokerage firm and purchased Mid's. Mr. Ricketts is the recipient of many regional and national food industry awards and has been a tireless fundraiser for charitable organizations throughout Ohio. He is also a former board member of the Canton Chapter of the American Heart Association and has sat on the Professional Football Hall of Fame Committee.
