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After attending nearly 30 BEMA Conventions throughout my career as a member and staff member, this year's Convention looked a little different for me. While Texas wasn't quite the Big Island, family came first, and I experienced Convention remotely for the first time in decades. Surprisingly, that distance was a gift.

Trade shows have always been about making connections. They bring together people, ideas, and innovations that help move the baking industry forward. As technology continues to change how people research and ultimately spend on capital resources, the role of events, like IBIE, is evolving as well.  During BEMA’s Convention 2026, Kimberly Hardcastle, Chief Strategist at Freeman, shared new research on how attendee expectations are changing and what that means for exhibitors.

Every bakery is different. Equipment, products, and processes vary. When it comes to food safety and hygienic design, everyone across the baking industry is working toward the same goal: delivering safe, high-quality products while taking care of the people who love making them. That shared purpose was at the heart of a thoughtful panel discussion featuring Jeff Shura, Chad Larson, Nick Magistrelli and Matt Zielsdorf.

BEMA’s Operations Spotlight panel at Convention 2026, moderated by Sergio Caballero, brought together leaders from across the commercial baking industry. The discussion explored how manufacturers and suppliers can work together to navigate commercialization challenges, accelerate innovation, and build more resilient operations.

Jon Lakefish walks the baking industry through practical AI strategies to implement with your team today.

Build momentum with Seb Terry's keynote delivered at BEMA Convention 2026 in Waimea, Hawaii. Forward his inspirational message onto your team.

Built on strength. Focused on the future. Driven by member value. BEMA’s Strategic Plan is more than a roadmap—it’s a commitment to our members. BEMA is building on what makes this community strong while evolving how we deliver value across every touchpoint.

You may have noticed that BEMA’s website has a new look — and we’re proud of it. But this update wasn’t just about improving what you see. It was about rebuilding what you don’t. 

As we evaluated our systems, we realized something important: even when the front end works well enough, the backend processes can quietly limit your effectiveness. That realization led us to step back, assess how we were collecting and using data, and ultimately redesign our internal systems to better serve our members. 

The experience reinforced a lesson that applies far beyond BEMA. 

BEMA, in collaboration with the American Society of Baking (ASB) and the Baking Equipment Assessment Group (BEAG), is pleased to announce the Sanitary Design Workshop, a two-day, in-depth educational program focused on practical, real-world approaches to sanitation, food safety, and sanitary design.

BEMA is pleased to announce that Seb Terry, internationally recognized keynote speaker and expert on personal transformation, peak performance, and creating environments for success, will deliver a keynote address at BEMA’s Convention 2026. Seb will take the stage on Saturday, June 27, 2026.