Baking & Snack - May 2019 - 12

Reflection on a legend

Last month, Sosland Publishing Company - and the baking
industry - lost a legend. Morton Sosland died on April 25,
and while he leaves a space in the industry that will be hard
to fill, he created a legacy for us to carry on.
Mr. Sosland was not the founder of our company (he
and his brother Neil are the second generation), but to
many, he was the patriarch. He was a pillar in our industry, and he was one of the most charitable members of the
Kansas City community.
I must confess, with little more than a decade at Sosland
and in this industry, I feel a bit unworthy to write about
such an extraordinary individual. You veterans know his
accomplishments well, so I'd like to take this page to make
a personal reflection on the impact he had on me.
I remember interviewing for a position at Sosland in
2008. I didn't know much about the grain-based food industry, but I had two degrees, a strong work ethic and a
lust for learning. Little did I know that was all I needed to become part of an industry that Mr. Sosland
worked so tirelessly to preserve.
He was about 83 when I came to work here;
he was the editor in chief of Milling & Baking
News, and he came to the office every day and
never missed writing an editorial or Pipeline
in the Orange Sheet newsletter. Back then, I
was the managing editor for bake magazine
(Baking Buyer at that time) ... I knew this gentleman was a force; he wrote so eloquently about
topics that were practically foreign to me, and I
would think, "If only, someday, I could be that great."
Morton Sosland was, at the same time, inspiring and
intimidating.
Getting feedback from him was never short of an expe-

PUBLISHING STAFF
Publisher
Paul Lattan
Publisher Emeritus
Mike Gude
Associate Publisher
Steve Berne
Director of Audience Development Michael Barbee
Audience Development Analyst
Dustin Pickman
Audience Database Specialist
Lindsey Sheridan
Audience Development Coordinator
Amy Moser
Director of Digital Media
Jon Hall
Digital Advertising Manager
Carrie Fluegge
Advertising Manager
Nora Wages
Advertising Assistant Manager
Kayley Kerns
Design Services Manager
Sadowna Conarroe
Design Services Assistant Manager Ryan Alcantara
Production Specialist
Marj Potts
Senior Design Consultant
Becky White
Graphic Designer
Brian Peterman
Promotions Manager
Jim White
Promotions Media Designer
Abby Chronister
Sales Coordinator
Whitney Hartman

rience. On one hand, it was a thrill to know he was reading your work. But he didn't mince words, so if you made
a mistake, he made sure you knew it. I didn't much mind,
though, because it also meant that a compliment from
him was real and sincere. It was as precious as gold.
I have been able to thrive in this company where strong
work ethic and high editorial standards drive the culture,
and that is, in great part, thanks to Mr. Sosland.
Every one of us was impacted by him in some way or
another. Perhaps you learned about the industry by reading his work. Or maybe you made a business decision
based on his insight. It's possible that your friendship
with him guided your work (and personal) ethic. Then
again, maybe you were like me and simply wondered if
one day you could follow in those big footsteps. If you
didn't know him personally but you looked at an industry professional and thought the same, chances are, you're
emulating someone who learned from Morton Sosland.
Prior to his death, he wrote an "ethical will" that was
read at his memorial service. He began with a message
of charity; it was one of his greatest passions in life and
something the Sosland family and our company will carry on for generations. And he spoke of many things dear
to him, not the least of which were his wife, Estelle, and
their family, as well as parting words on the industry he
loved so much.
We are the producers, keepers and protectors of - and
educators on - grain-based foods. Regardless of our role,
it's our responsibility to help feed the world in healthy
and enriching ways. We honor his memory by doing our
part ... now, let's get to work.
- Joanie Spencer, editor
jspencer@sosland.com

EDITORIAL
Editor
Joanie Spencer
Editorial Director
Dan Malovany
Managing Editor
Nico Roesler
Senior Editor
Charlotte Atchley
Digital Media Editor
Anna Wiber
Associate Editor
Karlee Renkoski
IBIE Editorial Project Manager
Kristen Putch
Contributing Editors:
Donna Berry
Hikmet Boyacıoglu
Len Heflich
Jim Kline
Joe Stout

CORPORATE
Chairman and CEO
Charles S. Sosland
President
L. Joshua Sosland
Chief Financial and
Administrative Officer
Staci Greco
Chief Operating Officer and
Executive Editor
Meyer Sosland
Corporate Headquarters
4801 Main St., Suite 650, Kansas City, MO 64112
Phone: (816) 756-1000; Fax: (816) 756-0494
E-mail: BakingSnack@sosland.com
Internet: www.bakingandsnack.com

BAKING & SNACK is distributed free-of-charge to qualified readers with managerial responsibilities in the baking
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BAKING & SNACK assumes no responsibility for the validity of claims in items reported. ©2019 Sosland Publishing
Company, a division of Sosland Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents
without written permission is prohibited. Printed in USA

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Baking & Snack - May 2019

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