OVERLAND PARK, KS — During its annual convention, held June 23-26 in Marco Island FL, BEMA celebrated the traditional “passing of the gavel” from Rick Hoskins, president of Colborne Foodbotics and 2020-21 BEMA chairman, to Tim Cook, VP of the Linxis Group and CEO of Shick Esteve, as he assumed the role of 2021-22 BEMA chairman of the board.
Cook was elected to the BEMA board in 2014 and joined the executive committee in 2018. He has been part of Shick Esteve since 2012, where he has held positions in sales and marketing before stepping into the position of president and then adding the responsibilities of VP for its parent company, Linxis. Prior to his time with Shick Esteve, Cook spent 10 years as VP of sales, marketing and product management at AMF Bakery Systems.
“I have achieved this position of chairman in thanks to industry colleagues like Mark Hotze and Paul Lattan, who encouraged me to get involved and give back to the industry,” Cook said.
One of his first initiatives as chairman was orchestrating a fundraiser in support of The Women’s Bakery in Rwanda, raising more than $25,000 during the annual Chairman’s Dinner for the social enterprise bakery, which empowers and improves the lives of African women through the skill of baking and selling bread.
During the convention, BEMA membership also elected new board and executive committee members and renewed terms for the board and executive committee.
“Collectively, this executive committee and board of directors represent many facets of the baking industry and will continue bringing strategic vision and leadership to BEMA’s initiatives,” said Kerwin Brown, BEMA president and CEO.
Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief of Commercial Baking
Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief of Commercial Baking and director of content / partner for Avant Food Media, was named to the board of directors, filling the unexpired term of Clay Miller, president of Burford Corp., as he transitions onto the association’s executive committee.
Miller was originally elected to the BEMA board in 2016. He joined Burford Corp. as a mechanical engineer in 2001 and worked his way up to sales engineer and VP of sales before earning the role of president in 2019.
Spencer has contributed extensively to BEMA’s Convention and Programs committee in addition to having served as a media partner for IBIE, of which BEMA is a co-owner.
Clay Miller, president of Burford Corp
“One of the greatest benefits of my role as past chair is having a hand in shaping the future of BEMA leadership,” said Mark Hotze, the 2020-21 immediate past chairman of BEMA and VP of Corbion. “Joanie’s board appointment represents a step forward on gender equity within the industry, and I’m excited for the energy she will bring to the board. I’m also proud to see Clay engage in his role on the executive committee.”
During the meeting, Hotze also confirmed a second term renewal for Jason Ward, president of AMF Bakery Systems, and a first term renewal for Delia Justable, global sanitary compliance manager for Forbo Siegling.
“Collectively, this executive committee and board of directors represent many facets of the baking industry and will continue bringing strategic vision and leadership to BEMA’s initiatives,” said Kerwin Brown, BEMA president and CEO.
The 2021-22 Executive Committee includes:
- Tim Cook, president and CEO of Shick Esteve / VP of the Linxis Group — Chairman
- Jim Warren, VP, Exact Mixing for Reading Bakery Systems — 1st Vice Chairman
- Patrice Painchaud, VP of sales and marketing for Rexfab — 2nd Vice Chairman
- Clay Miller, president of Burford Corp. — 3rd Vice Chairman
- Rick Hoskins, president of Colborne Foodbotics — Immediate Past Chairman
The full 2021-22 board of directors is as follows:
- Mike Day, president, Banner-Day
- Jay Hardy, national sales director, J&K Ingredients
- Delia Justable, global sanitary compliance manager, Forbo Siegling, LLC
- Mike Pierce, president and CEO, The Austin Company
- Mark Podl, CEO, Doran Scales
- Eric Riggle, president, Rademaker USA
- Craig Souser, president and CEO, JLS Automation
- Joanie Spencer, editor-in-chief, Commercial Baking and director of content / partner, Avant Food Media
- Jason Ward, president, AMF Bakery Systems
