OVERLAND PARK, KS – BEMA takes a fresh approach at its 2019 Summit, adding engaging, interactive sessions that give members and baker guests an opportunity to invest in their businesses and business relationships.
Opening sessions on both Saturday and Sunday will put members face-to-face with leading bakers. Baking Industry Forum members will present a unique town hall conversation focused on food safety, human safety, and operational efficiency beginning at 11:30 am on Saturday, February 23. Attendees can expect an energetic exchange and the opportunity to discuss hot topics directly with the experts. Baking Industry Forum members include Brandon Heiser (Roskam Baking), Mario Somoza (Pan Pepin), Nelson Boyd (Bimbo Bakeries USA), and Karl Thorson (General Mills).
On Sunday, February 24 at 8:00 am, BEMA will host Joe Turano (Turano Baking Company), Chad Larson (Palermo Villa), Tim Ramsey (Hearthside Food Solutions), Brian Dwyer (Kroger) and Greg Boyd (Flowers Foods) for Breakfast with Bakers. The audience at the event as well as those unable to attend in person will be asked to engage in the conversation via Twitter (@BEMAConnectsYou) and Facebook (BEMAConnectsYou). Members are asked to submit their questions for the bakers on either platform by simply including the hashtag #AskABaker2019 in their post. “Questions can be submitted any time, from now until the end of the session,” says Kerwin Brown, BEMA President/CEO and session facilitator. “We are thinking of this as a room full of opportunity for both bakers and BEMA members to explore solutions and new ideas. We are also excited to take the conversation outside of Summit via our social channels.”
Lean manufacturing and workforce best practices are the topic for BEMA-U for your Business on Sunday, February 24, beginning at 10:00 am, Nelson Boyd, Bimbo Bakeries USA,will continue the conversation on lean manufacturing begun at BEMA’s 2018 Convention in an engaging session. In addition, BEMA member companies LeMatic and JLS Automation along with the National Association of Manufacturers will share best practices for attracting, retaining and training your most valuable resource, people.
“BEMA-U extends far beyond the leadership programs presented at the 2017 and 2018 Summit,” says Emily Bowers, BEMA Senior Director, Education and Operations. “The BEMA-U program is designed to help members improve their businesses in many ways. We are excited to bring workforce development to the forefront at Summit and share expertise and best practices.”
BEMA members can register at www.bema.org/bema-summit-2019. They are also encouraged to invite their customers to attend BEMA business sessions as well as the Welcome Reception on Saturday night and networking lunch on Sunday at noon. Bakers can register compliments of BEMA using the code bsummit19. BEMA Summit kicks off the “Best Week in Baking” and is held prior to ASB BakingTech at the Hilton Chicago.
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BEMA, Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds, is an international, not-for-profit, trade association representing leading bakery and food suppliers. BEMA creates authentic connections that improve its members’ businesses and the industries they serve. Its members utilize the value they gain through BEMA networking and educational events to provide their customers with the most effective and innovative solutions in the baking industry.
