Baking & Snack - June 2016 - 12

Filling in the gaps

The past few years have been an era of change for the
baking industry. Whether it's corporate consolidation,
generational shifts in the workforce or fierce - often
immediate - consumer demands, nothing's as it was a
decade or two ago.
It's a safe bet that things probably won't stay as they
are for long ... and the future isn't far off. I realized this
as Emily Bowers, director of education and professional
development for BEMA, spoke at the Biscuit & Cracker
Manufacturers' Association (B&CMA)'s annual technical conference last month in Atlanta. She described today's kindergarten curriculums and how they're now
teaching things like synergies and win-win outcomes in classrooms. It's hard to believe that my
own kindergartener (who, mind you, can't keep
his Goldfish off the floor of the car) is already
learning how to synergize.
But Ms. Bowers posed a great question: If
children are already getting this level of training
in elementary school, what will the leadership
landscape look like when our kids become our
middle management? It got me thinking ... if they
are learning to "play nice" on a more strategic level,
we should make sure our own sandboxes are up to snuff.
If you're looking for an example of playing nice, look no

EDITORIAL
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Executive Editor
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Editor/Managing Editor
Joanie Spencer
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further than two key industry associations. As B&CMA
and the American Bakers Association (ABA) begin their
exploration into a potential 2017 merger, they epitomize
the concept of synergy. For the past two decades, the two
associations have had very distinct functions, ABA focusing on government relations and B&CMA specializing in
education and training.
With very little overlap, these two groups fill in each
other's gaps quite cohesively. "It's almost as if over the
past 10 years, we've been developing our specialties so
that when we came together we'd be even stronger," said
David Van Laar, B&CMA president, at the conference. "At
almost every level, it's a perfect combination. And where
there is overlap, the synergy is immediate and obvious."
It's a testament to the value of strategic partnerships.
Look for them. Create them. Nurture and grow them.
Everyone has gaps to fill, and working together, even
in non-traditional ways, will not only fill them but also
reinforce companies, teams and people - not to mention the industry as a whole. With solidarity, we can
continue to strengthen in the midst of change. And we'll
be ready with a cohesive industry when those kinderleaders come knocking.
- Joanie Spencer, editor/managing editor
jspencer@sosland.com

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Baking & Snack - June 2016

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