Longtime John Boos Vice President to Retire, Successor Named

John Boos & Co. has promoted Patrick Smith as the new vice president of foodservice sales for the FEDA manufacturer member. He succeeds Ted Gravenhorst, who will serve as vice president and executive adviser until he retires at the end of the year.

In his new role, Smith will oversee the company’s foodservice sales organization, working directly with Director of Sales Jennie Coon, as well as regional sales managers and John Boos & Co.’s independent representative network. Smith joined the company in September 2024 as director of business development and strategic accounts. Previously, he was a national sales manager at Accurex, where he led national sales strategy, channel development, and senior-level relationships with distributors.

Gravenhorst has spent nearly 40 years with John Boos & Co., during which he expanded the commercial foodservice division, helping to transform the company from a heritage wood manufacturer into a modern foodservice fabrication company. A fifth-generation member of the family that has run John Boos & Co. since 1892, Gravenhorst has been actively involved in both the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) and the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry (MAFSI).