The merger of the Biscuit & Cracker Manufacturers Association (B&CMA) with the American Bakers Association (ABA) is reaping the anticipated benefits. Perhaps even more. The “Stronger Together” tour has officially ended, but the synergies continue to build. The education team at ABA is making remarkable progress in expanding the Cookie & Cracker Academy (CCA) to all ABA members. The cookie and cracker education programs complement the existing programs of other organizations such as AIB International and the American Society of Baking to bring a well-rounded offering to our members.
One chore during the merger that became more exciting than anticipated was reviewing the B&MCA files and memorabilia for the move. How can so much stuff fit into one small office? There was a collection of golf hats, programs and event information from every Technical Conference for the last 40 years. These all brought back fond memories of times past. However, when we started going through the old technical manuals and training programs, we realized the treasure trove of shared learning illustrating the dedication of the members to industry training. It became obvious that education must not become a fond memory, but an active, ever-changing program to meet the needs of the industry.