Walk-in cooler and freezer manufacturer Imperial Brown has promoted a regional sales manager to director of foodservice sales.

The company promoted Stacey Sewell, based in San Diego, to the position, which is newly created. Sewell has 24 years of experience in the walk-in cooler manufacturing industry. As director of foodservice sales, Sewell will plan strategy for Imperial Brown’s walk-in sales to the food service industry, including restaurants, schools and hospitals. She will also supervise all outside sales and representatives’ efforts in the Food Service Division.

In making the announcement, Imperial Brown President Justin Sandall said Sewell’s experience in the new position will strengthen the company in the marketplace.

Sewell said that she is excited about the company’s new direction. As a regional sales manager for the past seven years, she has supervised sales in 10 states, managed three sales representative groups and a district manager.

Imperial Manufacturing was started in Portland in 1970 by Al Zell to serve the commercial refrigeration industry by manufacturing the insulated panels used to build walk-in coolers and freezers. In 2012, Imperial Manufacturing acquired W.A. Brown & Son of Salisbury, a 100-year-old company, to form Imperial Brown. This year, the company acquired Artic Temp of Prague, Okla.