ASB’s new chairman, Anthony Turano, addresses members, bakers
Anthony Turano, 2014 chairman of the American Society of Baking (ASB), Kansas City, Mo., and managing information systems director at Turano Baking Co., Chicago, has issued a letter about the association’s recent annual conference and the current baking industry. “Our conference and society have undergone a major evolution over the last few years,” Turano writes. “From themes like ‘Harvest the Past’ through ‘Change,’ our conferences have focused on this evolution and on the industry traditions that have helped us weather many challenges. I’m sure, though, that we’ve all begun to grow more than a little tired of the uncertainty that comes with the continuous waves of industry consolidation, government regulations and ever-changing consumer opinions. It seems that these forces have been battering our industry over the last five years, creating a need to constantly improvise, adapt and overcome adversity. Who among us hasn’t had to use at least one of these tools this winter, with the ice in Atlanta, the snow in the Northeast, the bitter cold in the Midwest and the drought in the West?”
Turano addressed the ASB membership during the March conference, saying, “The information and tools that you take from [this meeting] will help you effectively and efficiently manage change in your organization and allow you to put more focus on the future and planning for success. As we move into a new year and plan our move to a new venue, we present our theme for 2014-2015: ‘Engage the Future: People-Products-Processes.’ It’s time we embrace the opportunities that lie in our future and make it a priority to engage our people, products and processes.