We’re in the age of disruption. Today’s business climate is changing at an unprecedented rate.  Every week, it seems there is a new strategy, social media site or technology that is a “must use” or a “game-changer”.  What we lose in this endless quest for the next bright shiny business object is that at the core of business while everything has changed, nothing is different.  Trust, connection, consistency, and service will always trump any new app to hit the market.

In this keynote, Scott will walk the audience through what is real and what are only smoke screens in the business world today.  Audiences will walk away understanding the following:

The Millennial Myth:  The younger generation may create new challenges for business, but not in the way people are saying.
UnBranding: How everyone in the company creates the brand on a daily basis.
The Disruptors: Disruption simply means change without time to resist it. Learning how to anticipate and deal with it as it comes.

Keynote Speaker
Scott Stratten

Session Schedule

• 8:45 am: Keynote Address – UnMarketing: Stop Marketing, Start Engaging by Scott Stratten
• 9:30 am: Baking Hall of Fame Inductee Panel Discussion
• 10:15 am: Sustainable Engineering Panel Discussion
• 11:00 am: Baking Hall of Fame Induction of Gordon Smith
• 11:15 am: PDC Presentations

Rich Berger
Clif Bar, Vice President of Engineering, Food Supply

Rich Berger is VP of Engineering, Food Supply for Clif Bar & Company, a leading maker of nutritious and organic foods and drink for people on-the-go. Guided by the company’s five bottom lines – Sustaining our Brands, our Business, our People, our Community andthe Planet – he supports the growth of Clif’s supply chain.  Rich joined Clif Bar & Company in January of 2014 and resides in San Francisco, CA.

Prior to Clif Bar, Rich worked as the director of engineering for Bimbo Bakeries USA, the Sara Lee Corporation, EarthGrains Baking Companies, and Anheuser-Busch Breweries. His experience, coupled with his knowledge of facility improvement and greenfield construction projects, has been invaluable to Clif Bar & Company’s ongoing sustainability efforts and cultural change as the business grows.

Rich is the recipient of Sara Lee’s “Get It Great” award; Sara Lee’s highest level of employee recognition. Baking & Snack Magazine named him its “2003 Rising Star”. In addition to Rich’s many accolades, he was awarded a US patent for “The Method and Apparatus for Making Sliced Bread Loaves Crustless”.

Rich received a BS in Mechanical Engineering at the Missouri University of Science & Technology, where he currently serves on the Chancellor’s Leadership Academy Advisory Board.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of “Be a Mentor”, a Bay Area non-profit that supports at-risk youth.  Rich is a guest lecturer at the University of California Berkeley’s College of Engineering, a Resident of Kansas State’s AIB Certified Baker Program, a delegate of BEMA’s Baking Industry Forum, a Certified EIT Professional Engineer in the State of Missouri, former officer of the American Society of Baking, and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, LEED Professionals, The Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure, the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, the Baker’s Dozen, and served on the Board of St. Alban Roe Catholic School. 

Rich enjoys getting involved in the community, training for triathlons and spending time outdoors.

Keynote Address
Progressive/Sustainable Bakery
Tuesday, March 3
Closing General Session

Eric Schmoyer
Barry Callebaut

Eric is a Senior R&D Project Manager at Barry Callebaut, and has been with the company for 12 years.  During his time at BC he has worked with US and Mexico regional customers on chocolate, compound, center, and decoration projects.  He currently works with Sales Managers in the East, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern regions, as well as providing technical assistance to customers in their facilities.

Prior to Barry Callebaut, Eric was R&D Manager at the R. M. Palmer Company in West Reading, Pa, where he developed new items and economized formulations.

nHe has a long standing relationship with many confectionery industry organizations.  He is past president of AACT, Chair of PMCA Research Committee, and is active in PMCA Long Term planning and Student Outreach.  Eric also occasionally volunteers as an instructor for industry courses.

Presentation
Bring the Indulgence
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
10:40 am – 11:10 am
General Session: Outside the ASB Breadbox

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