Baking & Snack - February 2016 - 120

Top Reagan advisor will brief ABA
annual meeting attendees about
leading in times of upheaval.
by Laurie Gorton

Politics and business combine with networking and
recreation at the American Bakers Association (ABA)'s
2016 annual meeting to be held March 20-23 at the
Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.
The meeting gets underway with Ken Adelman, former ambassador and arms control director for President
Ronald Reagan, headlining the Leadership Breakfast on
March 21, sponsored by the Allied Trades of the Baking
Industry (ATBI). In "Leadership Lessons from the
Master," he promises to give attendees his unique insight
into what they can learn from President Reagan during
the superpower summit at Reykjavik, Iceland, that effectively ended the Cold War. The book he wrote about this
experience is about to become a major feature film produced by Hollywood heavyweight Ridley Scott.
"In a time of incredible turmoil and a yearning for leadership in our world, Ambassador Adelman's presentation
is both timely and inspirational," said Robb MacKie, ABA
president and CEO. "His frontrow seat at one of President
Reagan's finest moments will provide keen insights into
the power of leadership at this year's convention."
The dramatic style of the Arizona Biltmore showcases the influence of
America's most heralded architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.
Hilton Hotels

120 Baking & Snack February 2016 / www.bakingandsnack.com

This year's meeting takes the theme "The Power of
Baking Continues." To emphasize this, ABA noted that
bread and baked goods drive more trips to the store than
any other category. It also cited the 20 nutrients that
grain-based foods contribute to the diet, including 40%
of all dietary fiber consumed by Americans.
At the business session on March 21, a customer
panel brings in two experts in grocery retailing: Kerry
Robinson, vice-president, bakery and deli, Walmart,
Bentonville, AR, and Kevin Davis, president and CEO
of Bristol Farms, Carson, CA. Walmart operates more
than 11,500 retail units in 28 countries; in the US,
the company has stores in all 50 states. Ms. Robinson
also has a background in private brand management,
as well as brand strategy in her previous position at
Tesco Stores in the UK. Bristol Farms, a gourmet food
and specialty retailer, is concentrated in Southern
California with 13 stores. Mr. Davis spent most of his
food retailing career at Ralphs, rising to senior vicepresident of marketing. Bristol Farms tapped him to
be its executive vice-president and later its chairman,
president and CEO.
ABA's Political Action Committee (PAC) hosts two
events on March 21. First is the afternoon's ABA PAC
High Donors Roundtable, and second is the ABA PAC
dinner. The association's PAC supports its lobbying efforts on behalf of the baking industry by raising and
contributing funds to various political candidates.
Meeting planners carved out plenty of time for socializing and networking. The event's opening membership meeting during the afternoon of March 20
is followed by a reception hosted by NextGenBaker,

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Baking & Snack - February 2016

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