After nearly three decades with AIB International, Brian Strouts, vice president of baking and food technical services, is retiring.
“Brian’s leadership has been key to the success of the baking industry and our business,” said Andre Biane, AIB International’s president and CEO. “I sincerely want to thank Brian for his loyalty to AIB International and I wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Strouts was hired by AIB International to head up Research and Technical Services in 1991. Since then, he’s led a team of food and baking scientists to help AIB International’s clients problem solve, evaluate product quality, develop new products, and train technical staff in bakeries. He was promoted to the vice president role in 2013.
In partnership with the American Bakers Association, Kansas State University, and others, Strouts also spearheaded the development of several Baking Process Kill Step Calculators. This groundbreaking initiative not only helped bakeries meet new regulatory requirements in the U.S., it has so far saved the industry millions of dollars and the effort required to scientifically validate the kill step on their own.
”Working at AIB International has allowed me to experience the world of baking, traveling to every state in the United States and 20 countries globally,” Strouts said. “Working with bakers around the world has been a privilege and a continuous learning experience.”
Throughout his career, Strouts has been an active member of several industry organizations, including the American Association of Cereal Chemists International, the American Bakers Association’s Food Technical Regulatory Affairs Committee, the American Society of Baking, and the Wheat Quality Council. Strouts has also authored several of AIB International’s Technical Bulletins and presented at many technical meetings and conferences. He frequently travels the globe consulting with commercial baking companies on their manufacturing challenges and employee training.
Prior to joining AIB International Strouts worked for 11 years in the industry for Entenmenn’s and Vista Bakery. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in bakery science and management. He has also completed AIB International’s Certified Baker Course.
With Strouts’s retirement, Valerie Olson, senior director, bakery consulting and food labeling will step in to lead AIB International’s baking initiatives in North America and Latin America. Olson will report to Stephanie Lopez, vice president of operations, Americas. Lopez’s and Olson’s roles have expanded with Strouts’s retirement.
