Milling & Baking News - June 22, 2004 - 20

IAOM REVIEW

Wichita in review
T

he International Association of Operative Millers' 108th
technical conference
and trade show at the
Century II Convention
Center in Wichita, Kas.,
May 15-19, 2004, drew
participants and exhibitors from more than 25
different countries.
Millers
experienced
an expanded educational
lineup with technical sessions and instructional
briefings held simultaneously and adjacent to
the trade show floor so members could easily
visit with more than 90 trade show exhibitors.
The presentations covered both current issues
facing the industry, such as consumer grain
promotion efforts, energy conservation, space
treatment options, and plant security and
safety, as well as technical basics, such as hammer mill and conveyor troubleshooting, blower
maintenance and test milling.
David Neff, vice-president of operations
for Milner Milling, Chattanooga, Tenn.,
concluded his term as I.A.O.M. 2003-04
president at the end of the conference, passing the reign to William Dutton, manager of
Deseret Mill & Elevator in Kaysville, Utah.
In his last speech as president, Mr. Neff
reflected on his focus to promote I.A.O.M.
membership and enhance I.A.O.M. services.
To that end, for the first time, the I.A.O.M.
included two pre-conference workshops, on
milling maintenance and pest management,
in addition to a full-day educational session

have many cairns," Mr.
Dutton later told World
Grain, a sister publication
of Milling & Baking News.
"Unfortunately, it's time
for them to move on in
their life, and the industry is losing some great
men who have passion
for milling and the association."
Second, Mr. Dutton
said he will work closely
with industry to motivate mill managers to
invest in their employes' careers by supporting their involvement with the I.A.O.M.
He called on newer I.A.O.M. members to
take advantage of association and to learn
from the leaders among them. "We have
these great cairns in the industry; they're the
best instructors you'll get, and we should be
taking advantage of them," Mr. Dutton said.
Third, Mr. Dutton said he would continue
efforts to elevate the I.A.O.M. services, such
as revising the correspondence courses, raising funds for the I.M.E.F., evaluating the
trade show, and working with allied trades.
"It's vital we start making an investment in
our future," he said. "We need to deliver
tools and references to educate individuals
to help create the leadership for tomorrow."
In other leadership appointments, James
Doyle, senior vice-president of King Milling
Co., Lowell, Mich., moved up to I.A.O.M
vice-president, and Steve Curran, plant manager for General Mills Inc., Carlisle, Iowa, was
named secretary/treasurer. MBN

I.A.O.M.'s annual conference
addresses industry issues,
emphasizes importance
of milling leaders

for the Latin American technical session.
To help fund I.A.O.M.'s expanding services and grain milling education programs, the
group in late 2003 formed the International
Milling Education Foundation with the goal
to build a $3-million endowment.
Mr. Neff also encouraged his peers to
strengthen the association by recruiting
new members and serving as I.A.O.M. officers, actions that he said reward the member, his company and the milling industry
as a whole.
Mr. Dutton, in his acceptance speech, outlined three main objectives for the coming
year. He began by relating "cairns" - small
stacks of rocks that are commonly used to
guide the way of hikers when the paths are
not clear - to the many people who have
been guiding beacons in his life and milling career. He then asked the mature millers in the association to be "cairns" for the
industry by passing along trade skills and
developing young talent in the mill. "We've
been very fortunate in the association to

I.A.O.M. award winners named
The International Association of Operative
Millers presented several awards at the annual concluding banquet, in each case recognizing exceptional service to the I.A.O.M.
Albert Soder, who retired in 2002 as
group vice-president-milling for Buhler
Inc., Minneapolis, was honored with the Allied Trades Technical Award for his service
as a longtime leader in milling education.
"His work in developing Buhler's training
center in Uzwil, Switerland, has advanced
the milling industry and the technology used
to teach students," said Kendall McFall, past
president of the I.A.O.M., when presenting
the award. "We honor his passion and commitment to milling education, and his dedi-

20 / Milling & Baking News, June 22, 2004

cated service and support to operative millers."
From 1976 to 1995, Mr. Soder was manager
of the training center.
The Donald S. Eber Award honoring the
long and dedicated service of I.A.O.M. district
secretaries was presented to Jim Schroeder,
president of Great Western Mfg. Co. Inc., Leavenworth, Kas. For 19 years, Mr. Schroeder has
been secretary of the I.A.O.M.'s Central District, which is consistently the largest district
in the I.A.O.M., Mr. McFall added.
The I.A.O.M. honored two pillars of the Latin
American district with special service awards,
which was renamed last year to the Thaddeus
B. Bownik Outstanding Service Award.
Derek Westall was recognized for his more

than 50 years of dedication to the industry and
the association. Trained by Henry Simon as
miller and engineer, Mr. Westall was a technical
representative in Latin America. After retiring
in 2001, he still consults in Mexico and Central
America. He has been Latin American district
treasurer and chairman, international director
and a member of the technical committee.
David Tullo, of Chile-based Inagrain S.A.,
also received the service award for his continued
involvement with the district, including direct
assistance with this year's extended program.
Mr. Tullo, who also began his career with
Henry Simon, has worked the bulk of his career in Latin America and continues to consult
and train millers in Latin America. MBN

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Milling & Baking News - June 22, 2004

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