IBIE Appoints 2016 Committee Officers

Having had more than 21,000 attendees from 100 countries and every segment of the grain-based food industry in 2013, the International Baking Industry Expo (IBIE) began preparations for its 2016 event at a two-day committee meeting in Tampa, FL, this January.

The grain-based food industry’s largest, most important trade event included approximately half a million square feet of exhibition space, with the latest ingredient, equipment, technology, packaging and supply solutions from 815 exhibiting companies. This represents a 13 percent increase in exhibitors over 2010’s event, with 19 percent more square footage.

Looking to continue this growth trend, the IBIE committee met in Florida to appoint committee officers and set the strategic plan for the next Baking Expo, which takes place October 8-11 2016, in Las Vegas. Leading the committee for the October 2016 event is new IBIE chairman, Michael J. Cornelis. He currently serves as vice president at American Pan and brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the baking industry to IBIE.

“I am truly honored to be elected chairman for IBIE 2016. Michael Beaty did an incredible job as chairman of IBIE 2013. My goal is to build on the momentum he helped create in order to grow the expo and deliver even more value to our industry,” Michale Cornelis said, quoted in the event’s media release.

In addition to Michael Cornelis, the committee added two new members: Howard R. Alton, III, Esq., CEO, Pan-O-Gold Baking Company and Fred Springer, president and CEO, Burford Corp.