OVERLAND PARK, KAS. — Allen Shiver, president of Flowers Foods, Inc., Thomasville, Ga., will headline a broad array of speakers set to participate at the annual meeting of BEMA this spring. The gathering will be held June 23-28 at the Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara, Calif. In addition to Mr. Shiver, who will offer an update as chairman of the American Bakers Association, the meeting will feature a baker panel that will include Dan Bailey, vice-president of North American operations and managing director, Asia Pacific, Fresh Start Bakeries, Stockton, Calif.; Rick Teeny, owner of Teeny Foods, Portland, Ore.; Barry Levin, chief executive officer of Snak King, City of Industry, Calif.; and Hakan Esen, managing partner at Doruk Group Holding, Instanbul, Turkey. The Baking Industry Forum, a group of five bakers and five suppliers who work together to address industry issues, will present information on a new way to communicate about maintenance needs. BIF members scheduled to attend the meeting include Rowdy Brixey, Bimbo Bakeries USA; Jeff Dearduff, East Balt Inc.; Dave Hipenbecker, Kroger Co.; Jack Lewis III, Lewis Bros. Bakeries; and Jeff Teasdale, Pepperidge Farm, Inc., Norwalk, Conn. Mr. Dearduff also will provide an update on the A.S.B.

The BEMA meeting also will feature a presentation by Beth Thomas, author of “Powered by Happy.” She will speak to BEMA members and their families June 25. Ms. Thomas has spent more than 25 years in leadership at top companies such as JP Morgan Chase and Limited Brands and currently is executive vice-president/managing director of consulting services at Sequent, where she is responsible for the group’s consulting practice.

“Her upbeat coaching and practical advice will help BEMA’s time-crunched, stressed-out members wedge a little joy into the workday,” BEMA said.