Contact: Robert
Hirsch
847/920-1230
rhirsch@bema.org
(Hotel photo included)
“BEMA
Makes No Little Plans for Annual Convention”
Wilmette, IL – As Daniel Burnham, the father of urban planning said in the early 1900’s, “Make no little plans, they have no magic to stir men’s blood,” BEMA has developed a tremendous program for its Annual Convention, June 20-25th at the Hyatt Regency in Grand Cayman Island.
“This may prove to be the best BEMA program ever,” said Fred Springer, president of Burford Corporation and chairman of BEMA’s board of directors, “as we focus on the theme of ‘Doing Business Internationally’”. Juan Muldoon, President of Bimbo Bakeries USA/Mrs. Baird’s; Malcolm North, President of North’s Bun Company in New Zealand; and Wayne Yip Choy, President of Kiss Baking in Trinidad, will spend Saturday morning discussing marketing baking products internationally and what they look for in a supplier.
On Sunday morning, Robert L. Benton, Jr., Vice President of Manufacturing at Flowers Bakeries will share his thoughts about manufacturing innovations and provide an insider’s view of his company. Noel Hoekstra, Executive Vice President of Messe Dusseldorf North America will follow Robert and discuss marketing bakery supplier products and services in Europe.
The
convention begins with a series of committee meetings on the afternoon of
Thursday, June 20 and all day Friday, June 21.
Following the speaker program on Saturday,
May 10, 2002
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BEMA’s board of directors
meets. The board will finalize the
Association’s strategic plan and address other matters on its agenda. On Sunday the membership will elect its officers
and new board members for 2002-2003 followed by the Chairman’s Reception and
Dinner.
Activities
and tours abound at the meeting.
Throughout the week, the members and their families will have a chance
to tour sights on the island, take dives in a submarine and cruise to Stingray
City to swim among the stingrays, enroll in a scuba dive course followed with
an instructor-guided dive to a shallow coral reef, go horseback riding along
the beach and deep sea fishing, and participate in the Annual Golf Scramble on
Monday.
“BEMA and
the planning committee have worked very hard at making the meeting enjoyable
for everyone,” said Andrea Henderson, national sales manager at Rondo and chair
of the Convention & Programs Committee.
She added, “With nearly a third of those attending the meeting being
children, we’re repeating the youth competition events and making them even
better this year. Everyone gets
involved, with the parents cheering on the youth from the sidelines.”
Jeff
Carlson, President, CEPCO, summed up BEMA’s Annual Convention when he noted, “I
attended my first BEMA Annual Meeting last year. It was unbelievable! I
have never joined an organization where I felt as welcome as BEMA. It is a fantastic chance to network with my
customers and other suppliers, enjoy the activities planned for the meeting and
grow our business. This Annual Meeting
was worth our membership in BEMA many times over!”
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