Karl Thorson
General Mills

Karl Thorson is a corporate Global Food Safety and Quality Manager, leading Sanitation for General Mills globally.  Karl received his Bachelors of Science degree in Food Science from the University of Minnesota.  His experience includes 24 years with Pillsbury/General Mills in both plant and corporate roles in Quality, Operations, and Sanitation.  He has worked with multiple product platforms including cereal, pizza, yogurt, dough products, snacks and other dry, refrigerated and frozen products.  His areas of focus include allergen and pathogen control, sanitary design, and sanitation training/education.  He chaired the GMA (Grocery Manufacturers Association) Sanitation Working Group for 3 years and currently hosts their annual sanitary design workshop. He also works with BEMA (Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds), Alliance for Advanced Sanitation, PMMI (The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies) OpX Leadership Network, and GMA Education and Training Share Group to help advance food safety through sanitation and sanitary design for the food industry.  He has been recognized as the Baking & Snack’s 2016 Operations Executive of the Year and 2016 Sanitarian of the Year by IAFP (International Association of Food Protection). 

Presentation
Sustainable Engineering Panel Discussion
Monday, March 2, 2020
10:15 am – 11:00 am
Opening General Session

Irene Espinola Campos
Grupo Bimbo

Irene is responsible for all the renewable energy solutions worldwide in Grupo Bimbo, in charge of making sure the company complies with all regulations in energy matters, and of mixing strategies to optimize the use of energy and minimize costs. Ten years in Grupo Bimbo, and 8 years of experience in Energy, managing the Wind Farm Piedra Larga since 2012, responsible of the Virtual PPA signed by Grupo Bimbo in the United States, a 100MW windfarm, which will make the company 80% Renewable by 2020. In 2018 Grupo Bimbo inaugurated Bimbo Solar, which led by her, involved 28MW of solar rooftops in 71 sites, including the largest rooftop in Mexico and the largest rooftop in Chile. She is leading the way for Grupo Bimbo to become 100% Renewable electricity by 2025.

Presentation
Sustainable Engineering Panel Discussion
Monday, March 2, 2020
10:15 am – 11:00 am
Opening General Session

Earl Arnold
AIB International

Earl Arnold is a food defense and FSMA Manager for AIB International.  He has held this position since 2016. He joined AIB in 2014 as a food defense Subject Matter Expert.  

Prior to coming to AIB, Earl had a fifteen-year military career with the US Army as a food inspection manager. In that role, Earl trained and supervised more than 500 individuals in food security operations, food safety, sanitation, quality control, and risk management.

Earl serves as the lead instructor for AIB’s food defense & food fraud seminars, writes and presents on food defense issues, and has completed training for HACCP, FSMA, and food safety and sanitation.

Presentation
FSMA Inspections – What to Expect and How to Prepare
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
12:15 pm – 12:50 pm
Breakout 5: Food Safety

Chason Hecht
Retensa Retention

Chason Hecht is an advocate and innovator of employee retention strategies, and the Founder and CEO of Retensa. Retensa unlocks the insights hidden in workforce data. With predictive analytics software used by organizations in 54 countries and 15 languages, Retensa addresses the social and financial impact of employee turnover. 

Chason is one of the most recognized employee retention experts in the world, noted by global media including NBC News, ABC News, Forbes, BusinessWeek, the Associated Press, HR Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and World Policy Institute. He is a popular keynote speaker from Adobe to the United Nations, delivering insights from Kuala Lumpur to Kentucky. 

Previously, Chason served as Vice President of Operations at an American manufacturer where he led employee motivation and reward programs, and enterprise software implementation. As Manager of Technology at a global consulting firm he oversaw multi-million dollar IT projects across the US and Europe. Additionally, Chason bicycled across the United States, climbed Mt Fuji, and fixed tanks in the Israeli army. 

Jimmy Blackmon
Retired Army Colonel, Author & Leadership Expert

Jimmy Blackmon is among the most combat experienced leaders of the modern era. He has led high risk missions all over the world including serving as the air mission commander on the operation that netted #2 and #3 in the famous Iraqi deck of cards. Amazingly, Jimmy also served as the aviation commander during the battles in which four Medals of Honor were earned in Afghanistan – in the very valleys where the attacks of 9-11 were planned and rehearsed. Having achieved impressive results, Jimmy understands how to navigate the complexities of the 21^stCentury. His ability to develop an organizational strategy, build living systems and processes that enable organizations to thrive with speed and agility in the modern era, and build cohesive teams driven by vision and purpose are unparalleled.

Jimmy’s natural storytelling ability bring his experiences alive. From funny, behind the scenes soldier stories to high stakes crisis management in combat, Jimmy shares colorful experiences that are sure to both educate and entertain your audience, but Jimmy is far more than a proven leader and entertaining speaker.

Jimmy is an IBO World Champion in archery. He made a U.S. Armed Forces World Cross Country Team and has run a 2:33 marathon. Jimmy will motivate your team to define success, set goals, and maximize their own personal potential. As a keynote speaker or providing an in-depth developmental seminar, Jimmy can help make a difference in your organization.

Having been born the son of a humble cotton mill worker in northern Georgia, Jimmy’s story is proof that the American Dream lives. He enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1986 with the dream of a bright future. He graduated from North Georgia College in 1991, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in aviation. In the thirty years that have followed, Jimmy has served in various command and staff positions throughout the Army. He has led American soldiers during two tours in the Balkans, two tours in Iraq, and two tours of duty in Afghanistan. Jimmy spent twelve years of his career in the famed 101^stAirborne Division (Air Assault), where he commanded Task Force Pale Horse from 2008 – 2010 and the 159^thCombat Aviation Brigade from 2012 – 2015 where he led over 3,500 of American’s sons and daughters in combat in Afghanistan.

Jimmy holds a Bachelors of Arts in History from North Georgia College, a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University and a Masters in National Security Strategy from the National War College in Washington D.C. He is Airborne, Ranger, and Air Assault qualified. Jimmy has earned the Combat Action Badge and is a Master Army Aviator. Some of his awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, four Bronze Star Medals, and four Air Medals. Jimmy is the author of two books, Southern Roots, a memoir of growing up in the South, and PALE HORSE– Hunting Terrorists and Commanding Heroes with the 101^stAirborne Division.

Jimmy concluded his military service in the J5 – Plans and Policy Division on the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. where he led a select team of Department of Defense strategists as they developed plans, policy, and strategic posture for our nation’s most complex global problems.