The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) is pleased to announce that its Dairy and Beverage Councils will hold a joint program for the 2018 FPSA Annual Conference taking place March 21-23 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. This program will include breakout sessions featuring two excellent speakers who will address two critical topics resonating in today’s food and beverage industry.

Diane Wolf, former vice president of operations at Kraft Foods, will address dealing with the shortage in talent in operations today in the food and beverage industry. With an extensive background in food and beverage operations and engineering, Diane has a keen understanding of the importance of personnel and the impact that shortages play in this industry. During this breakout session, Diane will discuss this issue in depth and offer solutions that food and beverage processors are employing to keep production going.

“We are very excited about this joint program as it brings together two incredible speakers addressing critical topics in today’s industry,” said Bert Wesley, chair of the FPSA Beverage Council and senior principal of Woodard & Curran. “Over her career, Diane has worked on all aspects of food and beverage operations and as such she understands and is uniquely positioned to speak about our aging workforce. Staffing is an issue for all of us including suppliers and our customers. We look forward to hearing Diane discuss what successful processors and beverage manufacturers are doing to find a solution.”

Registration for the 2018 FPSA Annual Conference is now open online at www.fpsa.org. The early-bird registration rate of $850 for FPSA members is effect until February 22nd.