Milling & Baking News - October 9, 2018 - 7

Editorial

North American Millers' Association at 20

hen plans were announced in March 1998 named president of the newly-created organization.
to establish the North American Millers' Ms. Faga had led the smaller groups coming into
Association, six broad objectives were NAMA, not the M.N.F.
identified, beginning with a commitment to "promote
While describing the NAMA assignment as a "great
the welfare of the corn, wheat, rye and other dry grain challenge," Ms. Faga expressed confidence that the
milling and protein grain processing industries." Cre- marriage would work.
ated by merging the Millers' National Federation
"I feel strongly that the various interests of the prewith the Corn Millers Federation and Protein Grain decessor organizations can be blended into a stronger,
Products International, a question from the start was more vibrant association," she said.
whether a common agenda could be sustained beThis optimism was validated a year later when the
tween the much larger M.N.F. and the other groups American Oat Association, impressed by NAMA's
involved with the merger.
creation and its mission, became part of the group.
With the millers set to meet this month marking the
Most of the six objectives for NAMA identified in
group's 20th anniversary, how has NAMA fared?
March 1998 were memorialized later that year when
Measured at the most basic level by the underly- the new group met in Kansas City for a strategic planing health of the milling industry, NAMA has been ning session to craft a mission statement and series
a clear success. The two
of goals and objectives. SucMeasured at the most basic level
decades since NAMA was
cess was not a foregone conestablished rank among the
by the underlying health of the
clusion, and it is a tribute to
strongest for the milling
milling's leaders from 1998
milling industry, NAMA has been
industry ever, prompting
that the mission statement as
a clear success.
several leading milling busiwell as the goals and objecnesses to modernize and/or expand their enterprises. tives have withstood the test of time - they may be
Mirroring the change within NAMA, wheat milling found on NAMA's web site today. Special recognition
companies have diversified product lines beyond is due to a committee of seven millers who helped
standard enriched white flour, investing in produc- identify officers for the new group with particular
tion of organic flour, whole wheat flour and milled credit to Craig L. Hamlin, president of ADM Milling
specialty products.
at the time, who spearheaded the effort to establish
The combined group has helped fund the Grain NAMA and was the group's first chairman.
Foods Foundation, the most ambitious product proOf the seven members of the nascent committee,
motion initiative in a generation, and is taking a hard only one remains active in the flour milling industry
look at a checkoff program for flour-based foods. Oth- 20 years later. It is indicative of NAMA's success as
er achievements over the past 20 years include impor- well as its high regard for the traditions of milling
tant initiatives around education and research.
that the sole remaining committee member - Robert
There are important measures that are less favor- Y. Harper of Hopkinsville Milling Co. - is slated to
able. Per capita flour consumption peaked just before become chairman at this year's annual meeting. The
NAMA was created and has been trending downward environment for trade groups in general is changever since, for example. Industry conditions more re- ing, requiring NAMA to focus ever more intently
cently have become significantly more difficult.
on its members' needs. The 20th anniversary of the
The seriousness with which NAMA's founders organization, built upon the much longer and richer
viewed protecting the interests of all the indus- histories of its predecessor groups, marks a perfect
tries it represents was underscored in a decision moment for the industry to take stock and establish
announced just before the group's first annual a course that will lead milling and its association to
meeting that Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Faga would be success for the next 20 years and beyond. MBN
WE'RE EAGER TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK: E-mail editor@sosland.com or write to us at
Milling & Baking News, 4801 Main Street, Suite 650, Kansas City, MO, 64112
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor-in-Chief
Morton I. Sosland
Executive Editor, Markets
Neil N. Sosland
Editor
L. Joshua Sosland
Managing Editor
Eric J. Schroeder
Senior Editors, Markets
Jay S. Sjerven
Ron Sterk

Associate Editor
Jeff Gelski
Associate Editor, Markets
Matt Noltemeyer
Digital Media Senior Editor
Monica Watrous
Digital Media Associate Editor
Rebekah Schouten
Markets, Graphic Designer,
Purchasing Seminar Coordinator
Christina Sullivan

7 / January 2, 2018
Milling & Baking News
bakingbusiness.com
/ world-grain.com

PUBLISHING STAFF
Publisher
G. Michael Gude
Associate Publishers
David DePaul
Bruce Webster
Matt O'Shea
Sales Associate
Tom Huppe
Director of
Audience Development
Michael Barbee

Audience Development
Manager
Kay Hudspeth
Audience Development
Analyst
Dustin Pickman
Director of Digital Media
Jon Hall
Digital Advertising Manager
Carrie Fluegge

Advertising Manager
Nora Wages
Advertising Assistant Manager
Erica Reyes
Advertising Coordinator
Chelsea Bulmer
Design Services Manager
Sadowna Conarroe
Design Services
Assistant Manager
Ryan Alcantara

CORPORATE
Production Specialist
Marj Potts
Senior Design Consultant
Becky White
Promotions Manager
Jim White
Promotions Media Designer
Abby Chronister
Sales Coordinator
Whitney Hartman

Chairman and CEO
Charles S. Sosland
President
L. Joshua Sosland
Chief Financial and
Administrative Officer
Staci Greco
Director of Operations
Meyer Sosland

bakingbusiness.com
/ world-grain.com
Milling & Baking
News
October
9, 2018 / 7

http://www.bakingbusiness.com http://www.world-grain.com

Milling & Baking News - October 9, 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Milling & Baking News - October 9, 2018