CHICAGO — Chip Potter, a former vice-president of marketing at Dawn Food Products, has been named executive director of the Research Chefs Association, effective Jan. 9, 2017. He will succeed Janet Rapp and Steve Bova, who have been serving as interim executive directors for the R.C.A. Mr. Potter most recently was vice-president of the National Automatic Merchandising Association since 2014. Prior to the N.A.M.A., he was a marketing consultant at Tippin’s Homestyle Foods. Earlier, he spent many years with Dawn Food Products and Kraft Foods. He received a bachelor’s degree in marketing at Miami (Ohio) University and a master’s degree in marketing at DePaul University’s Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.

“Chip’s background in both professional associations and in the food industry makes him uniquely qualified to help direct and support the R.C.A. as we continue to evolve and grow,” said Catherine Proper, president of the R.C.A. “Most recently, Chip was the vice-president of the National Automatic Merchandising Association, a $5 million non-profit organization supporting the food service refreshment services industries. He also comes to R.C.A. with a strong track record of leading teams to success. His extensive experience in strategic marketing positions in the food industry, including as the vice-president of marketing for Dawn Food Products, Inc. and director of multiple divisions in Kraft Foods, will serve him well as we look to expand our brand awareness and grow the R.C.A. community.”