World Grain - December 2020 - 28

NEW NAMA
PRESIDENT SEES
CHALLENGES,
OPPORTUNITIES
DeMarchi seeks to enhance communication, heighten
focus on sustainability and elevate member engagement

by L. Joshua Sosland

nhanced communication, a heightened focus on
sustainability and an elevated level of milling
industry engagement are three areas expected
to draw greater attention from the North American
Millers' Association (NAMA) in the months and years
ahead, said Jane DeMarchi, the group's new president.
In an Oct. 6 interview with Milling & Baking News, a
sister publication of World Grain, DeMarchi reviewed
the proceedings of a NAMA board meeting conducted
DIHZGD\VHDUOLHUZKLOHDOVRR൵HULQJKHUSUHOLPLQDU\
thoughts on future priorities for NAMA. The association's board met via Zoom Oct. 2 when NAMA's annual meeting had been scheduled. The Oct. 1-3 meeting was to have been held at The Greenbrier in White
Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, US, but was canceled
because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In taking charge at NAMA, DeMarchi has inherited
an extant strategic plan and took a go-slow approach
when asked about potential new areas of focus.
" I really feel like it does take a little bit of time to
take a breath, see what's happening and then determine
what are the most important strategic priorities, " she
said. Still, she said it was clear progress was needed in
communications, membership expansion and addressing sustainability.
:KLOH KHVLWDQW WR R൵HU VSHFL¿F GHWDLOV RQ FRPPXnications ( " stay tuned, " she said), DeMarchi said the
association's website needs updating and external communications also could be enhanced.

She said sustainability is a topic that she has been
discussing with the Executive Committee.
" All along the supply chain, sustainability and climate change have been hot topics of conversation and
action, " she said. " We fully expect it to play a central
role in Congress in the next two years as well. Keeping
that in mind, that's an area where we have a role
for sure. "
Elevating industry engagement has many facets,
including improving involvement from current members and associate members and recruiting new milling members.
" We need to be sure we represent the full industry both from our milling members and our associate
members, " she said. " There are some new players in
milling. We want to make sure that they're aware of
NAMA and how NAMA can help them. There are
some smaller millers out there. Some of them are in
ancient grains, but a lot of them are in wheat and oats
also. I'm planning to reach out to them. "
FISCALLY SOLID
Despite disruptions from the pandemic that included the
cancellation of numerous meetings during 2020, the orJDQL]DWLRQ¶V¿VFDOKHDOWKUHPDLQVVROLG'H0DUFKLVDLG
" I would say that NAMA is fortunate, " she said. " We
DUHRQ¿UP¿VFDOIRRWLQJ6RPHWUDGHDVVRFLDWLRQVKDYH
really been devastated by the current economy and lack
of meetings and the like, but we are in good shape. "
December 2020 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

http://www.World-Grain.com

World Grain - December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of World Grain - December 2020