Knoxville’s Hormel plant has a new manager.

Pat Kranz, who began managing the plant in December, tells KNIA/KRLS News he identifies with Knoxville because he grew up in a town of similar size in central Wisconsin. Knoxville is Kranz’s first plant management job. He has worked in several different areas during his 22 year career with Hormel and says the diversity of his experience is an asset. He began his career as a trainer at a plant in Wisconsin and most recently worked at the national headquarters in the grocery department. Kranz’s predecessor Ed Finnegan accepted a position managing Hormel’s operations in China.