Milling & Baking News - April 18, 2023 - 36

TUES | 04 18 202 3
ABA to explore new tactics to
ease chronic labor shortage
AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. - Finding
new ways to ease labor tightness is the
top priority for the baking industry,
and the American Bakers Association is
committed to being a leader in finding a
practical solution, said ABA chair Cordia
Harrington. The ABA will collaborate
with the broader food and beverage community
to help employers navigate this
complex issue, she said.
Ms. Harrington, who is chief executive
officer of Crown Bakeries, Brentwood,
Tenn., spoke about the labor initiative in
an interview conducted during the ABA
annual meeting held March 26-29
at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island
Resort and Club.
As has been the case in the
past, the ABA at its annual meeting
offered unconventional channels
for bakers to seek employees.
Yaron Schwartz, director for
the US at the Tent Partnership for
Refugees, gave a presentation at
the meeting providing attendees
with information on hiring foreign
refugees living in the United
States as a potential recruitment
pool for their businesses.
More far-reaching initiatives
will be explored. Eric Dell, the
new president and CEO of the
ABA, has said labor concerns will be
addressed when the group conducts a
Harrington
strategic planning process this fall.
" He's a collaborator. I'm a collaborator, "
Ms. Harrington said. " Together, we are
thinking big. How can our industry be a
leader in making a difference, not only
for our members but for the greater good
of our industry and our country? We
will also work together with the broader
food and beverage community in DC to
partner where possible. There is strength
in numbers, and it's better to be together
than apart. "
Among about 50 board members and
others in attendance at the ABA board of
directors meeting, nearly all identified
workforce issues as the challenge most
36 MILLING & BAKING NEWS
industry is very good, " she said. " Sales
are good. People are eating out more. Our
customers are seeing increases. We are a
necessary industry, and I'm thankful for
that. "
Bottom lines have been adversely
affected because of COVID, supply chain
issues and a shortage of labor, she added.
" We need to remove some of the barriers
so that the bottom line can improve in
the same way that the top line is improving, "
she added.
The past year has been a busy one for
the ABA, which now has a new CEO and a
new meeting to organize.
" There has been a tremendous amount
of change over the course of the past year
at the ABA, " she said. " We completed a
likely to keep them up at night, Ms. Harrington
said.
" It doesn't matter if you're a small business
or a big business, " she said. " It doesn't
matter whether you are in California or in
New York. It's affecting all of us. We have
to take that seriously. It's affecting our
customers. It's affecting everyone. "
The board is strongly behind efforts to
address the issue, Ms. Harrington said.
Notwithstanding the labor issues, Ms.
Harrington identified numerous positives
in the baking industry right now.
" Thankfully, I think the health of the
search for a new CEO that involved many
of the members of the board of directors
in interviews. It was very collaborative
and very exciting. We had over 67 candidates,
and they were fantastic. But we
were very fortunate to hire Eric Dell. "
Around the time of the leadership
succession, which occurred Jan. 1, Ms.
Harrington said the ABA's volunteer
leadership helped the staff continue to
execute. The success of their efforts was
demonstrated at the annual meeting by
attendance that included 85 registrants
attending their first ABA annual meeting,
she said. Total attendance of 530 was more
than 50 greater than in any recent year,
she said.
Also during the past year, the ABA
decided to join BEMA as a partner in the
NEXUS conference to be held
Sept. 25-28 in Dallas. The partnership
was announced last
September at IBIE 2022 Baking
Expo.
" When you are trying to
invent a new industry event,
it takes a lot of thought, a lot
of planning, a lot of collaboration, "
Ms. Harrington said.
The NEXUS concept was
unveiled by BEMA last spring
at the group's annual meeting,
and Ms. Harrington said it was
there the ABA recognized " it
was something we definitely
wanted to be involved with. "
Since then, a decision has
been made to move ABA's fall board
meeting to be in Dallas in conjunction
with NEXUS. Other ABA and allied meetings
also will be held during the event,
together with special programming.
" We believe the more we pull the industry
together, the stronger we will be, " Ms.
Harrington said. " BEMA had the dream.
We are thankful to come alongside them
and co-sponsor with them. "
Noting that NEXUS will be held in IBIE
off years, Ms. Harrington said IBIE 2022
Baking Expo, held Sept. 17-22, 2022, was a
great success.
" IBIE was fabulous, " she said. " I felt
education was top notch. Participation
was high. I don't know how we could have
asked for a better IBIE. " MBN
bakingbusiness.com
SOSLAND PUBLISHING CO.

https://www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/57283-aba-and-bema-partner-on-nexus https://www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/57283-aba-and-bema-partner-on-nexus https://www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/49412-connecting-service-members-to-industry-careers https://www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/49412-connecting-service-members-to-industry-careers https://www.tent.org/ https://www.tent.org/ http://www.bakingbusiness.com

Milling & Baking News - April 18, 2023

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