Baking & Snack - December 2024 - 80

SPECIAL REPORT
Meeting Preview: ASB BakingTech 2025
a new
POINT OF VIEW
ASB moves to sunny Florida for its annual BakingTech conference.
by Charlotte Atchley
The American
Society of Baking's
annual BakingTech
conference is
moving to Orlando
in 2025, offering a
change of scenery
and programming.
©lunamarina-stock.adobe.com
C
Change can be scary, but it can also be good. A change
of venue can bring a change of perspective, and new
ideas can come to light. The American Society of Baking
(ASB) is aiming for just that with its 2025 BakingTech
Conference with a new schedule, location and conference
features. BakingTech 2025 will take place Feb. 1518,
2025, at the Renaissance Orlando Resort World at
SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla. Not only is the conference
changing cities for one year, but it is also returning to its
Sunday-Tuesday schedule.
" While it may seem like it is simply a venue change
or the slightest shift in the calendar, these changes bring
a refreshing perspective aligned with ASB's new brand
to be different than we were in our first 100 years, "
said Xochitl Cruz, vice president of operations, Bimbo
Bakeries USA, Horsham, Pa., and ASB chair. " And the
move to a Sunday-Tuesday schedule which aims to drive
more attendance while disrupting our bakery jobs the
least. And honestly, what better place than Orlando
in February. "
Cruz and the ASB planning committee have taken
the opportunity of a new venue to make other changes
to BakingTech. The MarketPlace has been renamed
Formulations Floor, and while tabletops will still be a
foundational part, this central hub will host new features:
Bakers Row and Innovation Stations. Bakers Row will
serve as an educational tool to walk attendees through the
production of a few generic products and how tabletop
exhibitors fit within the process flow. All exhibitors will be
represented in Bakers Row. Innovation Station will bring
80 Baking & Snack December 2024 / www.bakingbusiness.com
together the latest technologies in equipment, ingredients
and software that have been scored by a panel of bakers.
Formulations Floor will also host breakfast every day and
offer more hours for attendees and exhibitors to connect
than in the past.
While BakingTech starts officially on Sunday, Feb. 16,
with an opening reception in the atrium of the hotel, the
Milling & Baking Division from Cereal & Grains has
co-located its conference with BakingTech and begins
on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Society of Bakery Women and
Young Professionals Committee are hosting connection
events on Sunday as well.
To help facilitate connections and address the workforce
gap, ASB will also launch two new features at
BakingTech. The organization's first cohort of its mentoring
program, which launched earlier this year, will
connect at the mentoring lounge. The second cohort
will launch in the spring of 2025 after BakingTech. Also
available will be the new Career Center, which will feature
industry internships, scholarships, entry-level
skilled positions and ASB volunteer opportunities.
" BakingTech is not only our pinnacle event hosted
each year by ASB, but it is also where we bring bakers
and suppliers together to showcase the outstanding
community that is the US commercial and industrial
baking industry, " said Kristen Spriggs, executive director,
ASB. " There will be outstanding technical education
content along with the announcement of new programs
to bring more value to ASB members while helping to
solve industry challenges. "
*
http://www.bakingbusiness.com
Baking & Snack - December 2024

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