Dawn Foods’ Brian Coleman to Retire

Brian Coleman

Brian Coleman, a long-tenured benefits manager at wholesale manufacturer and food distributor Dawn Food Products Inc., will retire at the end of the week, he told PLANSPONSOR.

Coleman spent more than 19 years working various positions in Dawn Foods’ benefits management team, most recently serving as vice president of total rewards. Under his leadership, the company received several distinctions, including being nominated for and winning PLANSPONSOR’s Plan Sponsor of the Year Award, most recently a finalist in 2025.

In addition, during Coleman’s tenure, Dawn Foods received distinction as a finalist and winner for various other industry awards, earning recognition for its benefits work—ranging from financial wellness to plan communication.

In 2025, Dawn Foods stated they were adding a match on student loan payments when participants contributed to their 401(k) plan, which became available under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. The firm, between 2024 and 2025, added employer assistance for student loan repayment, increased its company match to 5% from 4%, and undertook re-enrollment that raised its plan participation rate to 96% from 86%.

Coleman has more than 30 years of experience in human resources. Prior to joining Dawn, he held positions at Trinity Health, Accenture, and American Axle and Manufacturing, Inc.

Based near Ann Arbor, Michigan, Coleman earned a bachelor of business administration degree in human resources from Eastern Michigan University.