OVERLAND PARK, KAS. — Record attendance is anticipated at the 2012 annual meeting of BEMA, the group said updating plans for the program. The event will be held June 21-26 at the El Conquistador resort in Puerto Rico.
A diverse group of baking industry executives will address BEMA in the Baker Viewpoint panel, described by the group as a main attraction of the meeting. Participants will be Charlie Moon, vice-president of technical services/quality assurance and regulatory for Flowers Foods, Inc., Thomasville, Ga.; Rich Scalise, chief executive officer of Hearthside Food Solutions, Downers Grove, Ill.; and Eric Kestenblatt.
Other participants in the program include Harold (Robin) Alton, c.e.o., Pan-O-Gold Baking Co., St. Cloud, Minn.; and Roy Loepp, senior project engineer, Seaboard Corp., Merriam, Kas. Mr. Alton recently was elected chairman of the American Bakers Association.
The Baking Industry Forum will feature participation by Dave Hipenbecker, The Kroger Co., Cincinnati; Jack Lewis III, Lewis Bakeries, Inc., Evansville, Ind.; and Jeffrey Teasdale, Pepperidge Farm, Inc., Norwalk, Conn.
The annual meeting of BEMA brings together participants from the baking industry, equipment suppliers and ingredient companies.