The International Baking Industry Expo (IBIE) began preparations for its 2016 event at a two-day committee meeting in Tampa, Fla., in January.

IBIE is the grain-based food industry’s largest trade event. The 2013 expo included approximately a half-million square feet of exhibition space, with the latest ingredient, equipment, technology, packaging and supply solutions from 815 exhibiting companies. This represents a 13% increase in exhibitors over the 2010 event, with 19% more square footage.

Looking to continue this growth trend, the IBIE committee met in Tampa to appoint committee officers and set the strategic plan for the next Baking Expo, which will take place Oct. 8-11, 2016, in Las Vegas. Leading the committee for the 2016 event is the new IBIE chairman, Michael J. Cornelis, vice president, American Pan, Urbana, Ohio. He brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the baking industry to IBIE.

“I am truly honored to be elected chairman for IBIE 2016,” says Cornelis. “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.”

In addition to Cornelis, the committee added two new members: Howard R. Alton III, CEO, Pan-O-Gold Baking Co., Glendale Heights, Ill., and Fred Springer, president and CEO, Burford Corp., Maysville, Okla. Alton, the committee’s American Bakers Association (ABA) representative, currently serves as chairman of the ABA and sits on its executive committee. Springer, Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds’ (BEMA) committee representative, has been with Burford Corp. for more than 40 years, working extensively in tradeshows, marketing and new product development.

Joe Turano, president, Turano Baking Co., Berwyn, Ill., will step into his new role as IBIE vice chairman, while Chris Clark, vice president of operations, ABA, will serve as IBIE assistant secretary and treasurer. Dennis Gunnell, president, sales and marketing, Formost Fuji Corp., Woodinville, Wash., will return as IBIE secretary.

Two members have resigned from the IBIE committee: R. Jack Lewis Jr., president of Lewis Bakeries Inc., Evansville, Ind., and former IBIE chairman; and Hans van der Maarel, International Bakery Consulting Ltd., Philadelphia. Both men served as IBIE committee members for 28 and 21 years, respectively.

For more information about IBIE 2016 and to see highlights from IBIE 2013, visit www.IBIE2016.com.