BEMA (Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds), Overland, KS, elected new members to its executive committee and board of directors at its annual meeting on June 20.

Kurt Miller, sales director (Midwest), J&K Ingredients, is now chairman of the board of directors. He has been an active member of BEMA since 1998 and has served on the board of directors for seven years. His leadership path at BEMA also includes serving as the chairman for the Market Research Committee and the Convention and Programs Committee for two years each.

Miller hopes to build on BEMA’s recent success, which includes a record-setting International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE), new educational offerings through BEMA-U and new dedicated pavilions at international tradeshows. “I believe now is the time to capitalize on our success,” says Miller. “We will continue our efforts in improving all aspects of BEMA and expanding our influence in the baking industry.”

The membership elected the following to the executive committee: Miller, chairman; Terry Bartsch, Shaffer Manufacturing, first vice chairman; Allen Wright, Hansaloy, second vice chairman; and Don Osborne, Intralox, third vice chairman.

Mike Day, president of Banner-Day; Jim Kline, president of the EnSol Group; and Tim Cook, president of Shick USA were elected to their first term on BEMA’s board of directors. Current directors are Bruce Campbell, AMF; David Groff, Bedford Industries; Rick Hoskins IV, Colborne Foodbotics; Mark Hotze, Tromp/Markel; Patrice Painchaud, Peerless Food Group; and Paul Lattan, Sosland Publishing.

Remaining BEMA’s representative on the IBIE Committee and serving as chairman for IBIE 2016 is Mike Cornelis, American Pan. D. J. LeCrone, LeMatic, continues to serve as BEMA’s American Baking Association (ABA) liaison.