The distributorship also announced that David B. Smallwood, a 25-year Sysco veteran and currently vice president of multi-unit sales, would retire from the company on Jan. 1.
Abbey, 58, joined Sysco in 1979 as a district sales manager for the company's Albany, New York subsidiary. He progressed to general sales manager in 1981, a position he held until 1986 when he was promoted to corporate director of program accounts. Abbey was appointed to his current position as regional vice president of multi-unit accounts in 1991. Prior to joining Sysco, he served for 13 years in various sales and management positions with Interstate Brands Corp.
Abbey was born and raised in Syracuse, NY. He has three adult children and five grandchildren and will continue to reside in Clifton Park, NY.
Worrall, 50, began his Sysco career in 1978 as a supplies and equipment marketing specialist for the company's Houston subsidiary. He became a marketing associate for that operation in 1982, advanced to district sales manager in 1986 and then became regional sales manager in 1990. Worrall was promoted to his current duties as regional vice president of multi-unit accounts in 1995.
Worrall was born in Houston and raised in Pearland, Texas. He is a 1978 graduate of the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from its Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. He and his wife, Susan, have a daughter and son and reside in Houston.
Smallwood, 59, is retiring from Sysco following a career spanning a quarter of a century. He joined Sysco in 1981 as district sales manager for the company's Houston subsidiary and the following year he was named regional sales manager. In 1984, he joined the corporate office as director of program sales, and, in 1986, he was promoted to his current position. Prior to joining Sysco, he served for 11 years in various sales and management positions with Kitchens of Sara Lee.
Smallwood is a 1967 graduate of the University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, FL, where he earned his bachelor of business administration degree. Smallwood is currently a member of the National Restaurant Association and the Women's Foodservice Forum (WFF) where he serves as a board member and was a past chairman of the WFF Sponsorship Committee. He also previously served on the Distributor Advisory Council of the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association.
Smallwood and his wife, Melanie, are the parents of three adult children and have three grandchildren. They will relocate to Florida upon his retirement.
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