Baking & Snack - February 2015 - 123

SPECIAL REPORT
Meeting Preview: B&CMA

The Camaraderie
of Cookies

The 2015 B&CMA annual technical conference, May 3-6 in Tampa, FL,
embraces new leadership, enhanced programs and a fresh perspective.
by Joanie Spencer

At the Biscuit & Cracker Manufacturers' Association
(B&CMA)'s 2014 annual technical conference in
Nashville, TN, keynote speaker Dave Van Laar (then
the association's chairman) reminisced on his early experience with the conference. "Thirty-some years ago, I
watched people go to the technical conference. It was a
sacred thing," he said during his keynote address. Today,
Mr. Van Laar is B&CMA president and committed to
continuing the high standards of excellence attendees
have come to expect from this hallowed event.
"The B&CMA has two major goals for the cookie
and cracker industry - education and networking,"
Mr. Van Laar explained. "The technical conference
fulfills both these goals at the same time and in one
event." Conference attendees - be they just starting
out in baking or seasoned industry pros - can attend
breakout sessions to learn more about formulation calculations, get tips on increasing productivity for deposit and wire-cut cookies, pick up the latest information
in packaging, and more.
The annual state-of-the-industry address will be given by Chris Wilkins, vice-president and general manager, ConAgra Foods, and a second keynote will feature
Technomic, a foodservice market study company, to
bring a fresh perspective to the business of cookie and
cracker production. "We regularly focus on the branded
retail side of our business," Mr. Van Laar said, "but the
foodservice segment is a big part of it, too." Attendees
will gain insight into those developing trends that reveal
the changing eating habits of today's consumers. "We're
looking forward to correlating the retail trends with
those in foodservice," he added.
One of the most popular sessions at the technical conference is the Ask the Experts panel taking place on May 5.

"This special session provides a forum for open discussion on all phases of manufacturing, troubleshooting
and technical knowledge that all attendees will find useful to their specific jobs," said Kathy Kinter Phelps, manager of membership and education services.
The B&CMA technical conference also provides networking opportunities not only between bakers and
suppliers but also among the bakers themselves. The
May 4 networking luncheon will bring attendees together for a meal and to listen to keynote speaker Charlie
Weatherbie, former head football coach at Utah State
University and the Naval Academy and director of Love
Orlando Initiative and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
That evening, bakers and suppliers can celebrate camaraderie and competition during the social event taking place at Tampa's Splitsville Luxury Lanes that will
include bowling, photo booths and a retro bowling shirt
contest. "This event will give attendees a chance to share
in some fun, all for the purpose of getting to know one
another and sharing information in a relaxed setting,"
Ms. Kinter Phelps said.
The conference will cap off with a bakery tour of
Toufayan Bakery in Plant City, FL, hosted by Greg
Toufayan, president, and Roy Peters, vice-president of
sales. The plant tour is the embodiment of the B&CMA
motto that competitors can also be friends.
"This conference brings bakers together to share information without divulging proprietary information,"
Mr. Van Laar said. "This is an environment where bakers
can help one another solve common fundamental problems. This is not only good for individual attendees, but
it also advances the entire industry."
For more information on how to register and the new
B&CMA mobile app, visit www.thebcma.org.

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