Baking & Snack - December 2021 - 85

SPECIAL REPORT
Meeting Preview: BakingTech
A WIDER BREAD
ASB takes the lessons from the pandemic to expand its
BASKET
T
reach with its first in-person conference since 2020.
by Charlotte Atchley
The Best Week in Baking is back ... in person that is.
The American Society of Baking's (ASB) BakingTech
conference will be a completely in-person event at its
traditional Chicago location March 1-3, but with some
notable changes to meet the industry's evolving needs.
The first change is the dates. While the conference has
historically begun on a Sunday afternoon, this year's
event will open Tuesday afternoon and end on Thursday.
" We don't want people to have to give up their weekend, "
said Cindy Chananie, the 2022 program chair
and president of Cinch Bakery Equipment. " I hope this
says something for people who have children. It has
consistently occurred on the weekend, and that hasn't
addressed people who have children with events on
the weekends. "
This is just one step to make BakingTech more inclusive
and accessible to more people in the industry. The
conference will also continue its more laid-back business
casual dress code introduced in 2020, and a new education
track to speak to the needs of smaller wholesale
bakers. The theme Baking Evolution aims to represent
the entire baking industry, from the mid-sized wholesale
to large industrial and all the needs along that journey.
" We want to attract that middle-sized bakery, " Ms.
Chananie said. " We always want to highlight new technologies
and ingredients; that's always our standard. But
we want to be more inclusive and include bakeries from
the mid-sized, wholesale side of the industry. "
The speaker lineup reflects that. Thursday's keynote
speaker, for example, Didier Rosada, master baker and
founder of Red Brick Consulting, will be sharing how
bakers can automate their process without sacrificing
product quality in light of the labor shortage. This session
serves as a bridge to bakers who may be considering
automation for the first time.
In addition to education sessions geared toward large
industrial bakery, attendees will also be able to attend a
new education track tailored for the emerging wholesale
bakery. On Wednesday, attendees will hear a 2022 economic
forecast from Alan Beaulieu, ITR Economics, and
the conference will close with the popular Marketplace
Casino Night introduced in 2020.
ASB has also brought its Brain Dates, a networking
opportunity started during the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic, to a hybrid format. The Brain Dates lounge
will be available both in-person and virtually and allow
attendees to connect one-on-one and in small groups
around common interests.
" It's a way for people to connect in smaller groups
and get to know people better, " Ms. Chananie explained.
" Instead of sitting in your room or networking with people
you already know, let's match people up and make
more meaningful conversation and meet new people. "
As the baking industry begins getting together again,
reuniting after so many months apart, ASB is also offering
Worry Free Registration. Attendees may cancel
their registration at any time for any reason right up
to the day before the meeting and receive a full refund.
Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to
info@asbe.org by 11:59 p.m. CT, Feb. 28, 2022.
BakingTech returns
with its in-person
conference in
Chicago in 2022.
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Baking & Snack - December 2021

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