Milling & Baking News - September 21, 2021 - 40

TUES | 09 21 2021
Ito, Freebern recognized as IAOM
Milling Operatives of the Year
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. - Having postponed
last year's International Association
of Operative Millers (IAOM) Conference
and Expo because of the global
COVID-19 pandemic, the IAOM handed
out its industry awards for both 2020 and
2021 on Sept. 1 at its annual banquet at the
Little Rock Marriott.
Daisuke Ito, director of engineering at
to the United States in 2017 to become the
company's director of engineering. One of
his first projects for the company was helping
with an expansion of a mill in Saginaw,
Texas, which was completed in 2019.
" Daisuke continually challenged
the team and contractors to ensure a
first-class facility, " Mr. Hole said. " With
Daisuke's help, the Saginaw project was
completed ahead of schedule and
under budget. "
Mr. Ito continually strives for
improvement in all areas of the mill,
but his main love is for the milling
operations, Mr. Hole said.
" Daisuke has been quick to blend
Scott Freebern, PHM Brands, second from left, was
named the 2021 Milling Operative of the Year. Also
pictured from left is Brad Allen, PHM Brands; Jason
Watt, Kansas State University; and Meyer Sosland,
Sosland Publishing.
Miller Milling Co., was named the 2020
Milling Operative of the Year winner,
while Scott Freebern, PHM Brands,
received the 2021 Milling Operative of the
Year award.
Established in 1986 by Milling & Baking
News, the award is given to the practicing
milling operative who has made the most
significant contribution to the progress of
a plant, a company and the industry from
an operations point of view.
Mr. Ito, who is based in Japan at Nisshin
Flour Milling Inc., the parent company
of Miller Milling, was unable to attend
because of travel restrictions related to the
pandemic. He said in a live video that he was
honored to receive the award.
" Thank you very much, " Mr. Ito said. " I
appreciate all the support from the IAOM
members. "
Jeff Hole, vice president of operations
for Miller Milling, said Mr. Ito quickly
became a trusted member of the Miller
Milling operations team when he moved
40 MILLING & BAKING NEWS
ideas from Japan into our mills as
well as welcome in senior millers
from Japan to not only help improve
extractions but to help with the
transfer of knowledge with our millers, "
Mr. Hole said. " With Daisuke's
help and leadership, we have been
able to raise extractions at all of our
locations and reach record highs. "
His work ethic and pursuit of
excellence are well known by his colleagues,
Mr. Hole said.
" You are likely to find him traveling
early or late in the day, behind his computer
at the office until midnight or at
the office on weekends, making sure all
reports, spreadsheets and documentation
are up to date, " Mr. Hole said. " There are
numerous examples, but on one weekend
Daisuke traveled to a mill location
to run wet slicks on every flour loadout
sample when the NIR was out of service to
guarantee our customers were receiving
quality flour. "
Mr. Freebern, who helped grow Panhandle
Milling from one flour mill in
Texas to a total of seven grain processing
and storage facilities throughout the Midwestern
United States, is the company's
vice president of technical milling.
Mr. Freebern said he was humbled by
the honor.
" I never thought I would win this
award, " he said. " This is my 15th (IAOM)
show and I've gained a lot of experience
and camaraderie from this organization. "
Milling industry veteran Brad Allen,
who presented the award to Mr. Freebern,
described him as a " standup guy " who is
" hardworking, honest and reliable. "
" He is recognized for his ability to dial
in machines to produce exactly what is
needed, and if he is asked to create a new
product, he finds a way to make the equipment
accomplish the task, " Mr. Allen said.
" His talents as a miller, ability to improve
processes, and commission new equipment
are second only to his desire to bring
it all to the table every day and make his
company better.
" On top of all that, he is really good
at making flour. All these things, taken
together, have earned him a lot of respect
from his peers at PHM Brands and Panhandle
Milling, and from the entire milling
community. "
IAOM's most prestigious honor - the
Gold Medal award - was presented to Jeff
Gwirtz, a milling industry consultant who
for many years was a milling professor at
Kansas State University. The Gold Medal
award is presented to an IAOM member
who provides exemplary service to the
milling industry.
A 38-year member of the IAOM, Mr.
Gwirtz played a critical role in updating
the organization's correspondence
course, has served as chairman of the
IAOM technical committee and has delivered
presentations on technical milling
issues at IAOM conferences around the
globe.
The Thaddeus B. Bownik Outstanding
Service Award was presented to two
longtime IAOM members: Heinz Baecker,
president of Codema, a milling equipment
manufacturer, and Anthony Yount, director
of health, environment and safety at
Ardent Mills.
Gerald Richardson, president of CETEC
Cereal Technologies, received the J.
George Kehr award given to an individual
who makes outstanding contributions
in membership recruitment and district
development.
The inaugural Aspiring Miller award
was presented to Nelson Aviles-Martinez,
who has served in various milling roles
for Denver-based Ardent Mills LLC. MBN
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Milling & Baking News - September 21, 2021

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