Tom Dailly
Mayor
Village of Schaumburg
November 4, 2025
* JOIN US FOR THE PRE-EVENT HAPPY HOUR on November 3, 2025 FROM 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Sponsored by:
7:00 am – 8:00 am CST
Delegate Registration and Networking Breakfast
Sponsored by:
8:00 am – 8:10 am CST
Mayor's Welcome Address
8:10 am – 8:20 am CST
Chair's Welcome and Opening Remarks
Process Optimization
Katie Holman
VP Supply Chain, Meals and Baking
General Mills
Quality & Safety
Catherine Davidson
VP, Supply Chain, Food Safety and Quality
Pepsico, Sabra
Innovation
Takashi Nakamura, Ph.D
VP, Corporate R&D and Food Safety
Fresh Del Monte
Supply Chain
Tracy Joshua
VP, External Supply Chain
Kellanova
8:20 am – 8:50 am CST
Keynote
Eric Seip
SVP, Global Operations, Chief Supply Chain Officer
Ingredion
Transforming Supply Chains: Scaling Excellence, Safety, and Efficiency
- Redefining global operations and transitioning to a unified global supply chain model
- Harnessing digital tools to enhance visibility and decision-making across supply networks
- How to achieve cost optimization through strategic sourcing and lean practices
- Embedding safety standards ensuring consistent safety excellence across all touchpoints
- Aligning supply chain initiatives with Ingredion’s specialties-focused expansion
- Building scalable, adaptive systems to address dynamic market demands
8:50 am – 9:20 am CST
Plenary
Shannon Bible
Chief Transformation Officer
WK Kellogg CoJon Kucinski
Senior Director, Corporate Development and Strategy
Kellanova
Unlocking Growth Through Enterprise Transformation
- Building transformative programs that unlock long-term enterprise value
- Leading through complexity by aligning strategy, people, and processes
- Shaping culture intentionally to support transformation and avoid fragmentation
- Embracing boldness in transformation by taking decisive steps to drive innovation and growth
9:20 am – 9:50 am CST
Plenary
Michael O'Laughlin
CEO
Vanguard Renewables
Future-Proofing the Food Supply Chain: Practical Steps for Efficiency, Risk Reduction, and Brand Protection
- Reframing waste as a strategic lever for risk management, operational stability, and brand protection
- Exploring how waste practices impact compliance, supply chain reliability, and stakeholder trust
- Connecting waste strategy to long-term decarbonization and sustainability goals
- Highlighting real-world examples of how manufacturers are unlocking value through smarter waste solutions
- Demonstrating how visibility and accountability are reshaping waste’s role in the modern food supply chain
9:55 am – 11:35 am CST
Refreshments, Networking, and Pre-Arranged 1-2-1 Meetings
11:40 am – 12:10 pm CST
stream sessions
Process optimization
Fernando Garcia Vidal
VP, Engineering
Monogram Foods
Driving Operational Excellence Through Engineering: Zero-Loss Delivery and Continuous Improvement
- Implementing resilient project delivery systems that adapt to evolving market and consumer demands
- Integrating lean principles into engineering strategies to maximize efficiency and reduce waste
- Aligning engineering execution with operational goals to deliver scalable, flexible production systems
- Designing facilities and processes that support agility, growth, and long-term business strategies
- Fostering a culture of continuous improvement across engineering and production teams
Quality & Safety
Juanfra DeVillena
SVP, Quality Assurance and Food Safety
Wayne-Sanderson Farms
Harnessing Data Analytics to Enhance Food Safety and Quality in Production
- Implementing data-driven strategies to monitor and improve food safety protocols
- Utilizing predictive analytics to anticipate and mitigate potential contamination risks
- Integrating real-time data collection for proactive quality assurance measures
- Training teams to interpret data effectively for continuous improvement
- Leveraging technology to streamline compliance with food safety regulations
- Collaborating across departments to foster a culture of data-informed decision-making
Innovation
Scott Komar
SVP, Global R&D
Driscoll's
Building Consumer Loyalty Through Flavour and Quality Innovations
- Utilizing genomics sciences to breed berry varieties with improved resistance to pathogens
- Applying sensory science to identify flavor in a whole food, non-processed product
- Enhancing supply chain performance to deliver the freshest berries
- Leveraging data and AI to predict global deployment of new varieties
- Building strong AGTECH partnerships to advance "More Berries Less Resources"
Supply Chain
Katie Holman
VP Supply Chain, Meals and Baking
General Mills
Building Agile, Resilient Supply Chains: Strategies for Sustainable Growth and Operational Excellence
- How General Mills is creating actionable supply chain strategies that balance immediate results with future growth
- Innovating across planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics for maximum value creation
- Developing high-performing teams that drive operational excellence and transformational change
- Adopting agile practices to strengthen responsiveness to market and customer needs
- Embedding continuous improvement to enhance efficiency and ensure long-term sustainability
- Leading cross-functional collaboration to drive speed, scalability, and success across supply networks
12:15 pm – 12:45 pm CST
Workshops
ROOM 1
Ethan Waldie
CEO and Co-Founder
Ferry
Deploying Trusted AI in Manufacturing Operations
- Explore how manufacturers can roll out guardrailed AI agents that boost operational performance and consistency
- Learn how to lay the right data foundation for trusted AI deployment that prioritises accuracy, reliability, and scale
- Understand the importance of human-in-the-loop systems in driving AI adoption across your frontline
- Hear how Ferry customers are embedding intelligence seamlessly into planning, quality, and production workflows
ROOM 2
Kyle Jenson
VP, Sales
BIOIONIX
Sustainability with ROI: Eliminate Chemicals and Save Water in Food/Bev Processing
- Achieving sustainability through chemical elimination, water savings, and a lower carbon footprint
- Developing your own powerful natural cleaners and disinfectants to replace toxic chemicals like PAA, bleach, and ammonia
- Creating a safer workplace with effective, chemical-free sanitization solutions that require no PPE
- Improving food safety and quality by reducing foodborne illness risks, enhancing quality control, and extending shelf life
- Cutting costs by producing your own natural and non-corrosive sanitizers, and reconditioning process water to save production time and disposal expenses
ROOM 3
Nader Gubein
National Accounts Manager
Big Joe Forklifts
DELVING INTO ELECTRIFICATION WITHIN THE INDUSTRIAL LIFT TRUCK MARKET
- The industrial lift truck market has been slowly trending toward electric for decades
- Exploring long-standing barriers that have prevented operations from making the switch to electric that have been disrupted by new technology
- Case Study: The introduction of lithium-ion batteries and fast charging capabilities are rapidly gaining market acceptance and changing the way organizations are thinking about their material handling fleets
- As lithium-ion technology continues to gain acceptance in the material handling industry, lift truck OEMs are now embracing opportunities to improve the overall design of electric trucks for the next generation of operators
- Convergence of two industry trends: Once the industrial market electrifies, the pathway toward automation becomes clear
ROOM 4
Billy Daniel
Senior Director, Sales and Market Development
System Logistics
New concepts of Automation for storage and distribution within the Food and Beverage industry
- Exploring how automation technologies are improving accuracy, reducing manual labor, and increasing efficiency and productivity across storage and distribution operations
- Examining the role of robotics, smart systems, and AI tools in optimizing warehouse space, managing inventory, and enabling real-time visibility
- Highlighting how automated picking systems and guided technologies are streamlining order fulfillment, minimizing errors, and accelerating delivery times
12:50 pm – 1:50 pm CST
Lunch & Learn Roundtable Discussions and Open Seating Lunch
Benefit from additional learning by joining a moderated roundtable discussion on pressing issues in the industry. Registration is required, and attendance for moderated roundtables on Day 1 is limited to attendees and speakers. Choose from:
Paul Bradley
Senior Director, Product Marketing
TraceGains
Closing the Digital Divide: Building Smart Digital Strategies on Limited Budgets
Mohamed Azim
Global Solutions Director
QAD Redzone
Elevate Your Factory Floor: Boosting Profits with a Connected Workforce and Champion AI
Jason Bennett
National Account Executive
Rentokil
Janet Walsh
Global Account Director
Rentokil Initial
Connected Pest Control: Innovating IPM for a Sustainable Tomorrow
Greg Spira
Business Advisor
Oliver Wight Americas
Beyond the Process, Overcoming the Decision-Making Deficit
Joe Bui
Account Director
Infor
Turning Data into Decisions: Navigating Complexity in F&B Supply Chains
Josh Bowlin
Regional Sales Manager
Tractian
AI-Driven Reliability: Practical Use Cases in the Food Industry
Hailey Fernandez
Chief Administrative Officer
Effex Management Solutions
Collaborate to Innovate: Aligning Talent and Production Goals in Manufacturing
Paul Delaney
President
AMEND Consulting
Got Milk? Engineering a $9M Capacity Boost at the World’s Largest Milk Factory
Jay Hutchison
Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer
TEC Services
Beyond Compliance: Solving Labor and Food Safety Challenges in Sanitation
Devin Bhushan
Founder and CEO
Squint
Jenna Jennings
Head, Business Operations and Strategy
Squint
The Frontline Fix: How to Empower Operators to Fix Downtime
Glenn Koepke
VP, Industry and Solution Strategy
Vector
Accelerating Supply Chains with eBOL and Digital Facilities
Geoffroy de Carbonnel
VP, Product Strategy, Manufacturing and Maintenance
Oracle
How AI Agents are Changing an Organization’s Strategy
Shawna Laczko
Chief Revenue Officer
Northstar Recycling
Maximizing Food Manufacturing Sustainability Through Zero-Waste Solutions and Smart Recycling Programs
Steve Deitzer
VP, Global Industry, CPG
Rockwell Automation
Todd Gilliam
Industry Lead, CPG
Rockwell Automation
Data-driven Strategies to Maximize Production Yield in Food Manufacturing
1:55 pm – 2:25 pm CST
Sessions
Process Optimization
Michael Wojtowicz
EVP, Supply Chain and Operations
Carl Buddig And Co.
Scaling Food Manufacturing to Drive Sustainable Growth
- Developing agile operational frameworks that adapt to shifting market and demand trends
- Strengthening cross-site consistency while empowering local plant-level leadership
- Optimizing workforce training and engagement to reduce turnover and increase productivity
- Building integrated supply chain visibility to improve planning and performance
- Aligning production strategy with long-term business and customer service goals
- Driving efficiency without sacrificing food safety, compliance, or product quality
Quality & Safety
Campbell Mitchell
Head, Food Safety and Compliance
Kraft Heinz
Transforming Quality with AI: Insights, Efficiency, and Real-Time Monitoring
- Predicting food safety risks with AI-driven insights and forecasting
- Streamlining quality control processes for greater efficiency and accuracy
- Tracking ingredients and products from source to shelf in real-time
- Utilizing data to proactively resolve issues in FSQA operations
- Meeting regulatory standards with advanced monitoring and automated reporting
- Integrating AI tools to enhance collaboration across FSQA teams
Innovation
Takashi Nakamura, Ph.D
VP, Corporate R&D and Food Safety
Fresh Del Monte
Mary Ellen Kuhn
Executive Editor, Food Technology
Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)
Innovating for a Safer and More Sustainable Food Future
- R&D approaches for enhancing product safety, freshness, and shelf life
- Leveraging innovation and data analytics to strengthen global food safety systems
- Integrating sustainability and circular economy principles into product development
- Building resilient R&D and quality teams to meet evolving regulatory and consumer demands
Supply Chain
Catherine Davidson
VP, Supply Chain, Food Safety and Quality
Pepsico, Sabra
Integrating Food Safety and Quality into Supply Chain Strategy
- Implementing standardized protocols to ensure consistent food safety across the supply chain
- Leveraging data analytics to monitor quality metrics and drive continuous improvement
- Collaborating with suppliers to maintain high-quality standards and compliance
- Utilizing technology to enhance traceability and transparency in supply chain processes
- Developing training programs to reinforce food safety practices among supply chain personnel
- Aligning supply chain operations with regulatory requirements and industry best practices
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm CST
Workshops
ROOM 1
Patrick Heiser
VP, Sales, Americas and Europe
Nanoprecise Sci Corp
The Blind Spot in Maintenance: Energy Loss You’re Not Measuring
- Uncovering the hidden energy losses that traditional maintenance metrics overlook
- How Energy-Centered Maintenance (ECM) integrates with existing reliability and downtime tracking
- The role of AI-powered monitoring in detecting silent efficiency drains before they escalate
- Linking maintenance performance directly to profitability, sustainability, and enterprise KPIs
- Case examples of energy waste reduction translating into measurable operational impact
- Redefining maintenance as a driver of efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in food manufacturing
ROOM 2
Chester Boyt
Chief Revenue Officer
Amerisan
Tangible Strategies for Improving Food Safety Culture
- How implementing 5S visual management techniques can help identify hazards and drive continuous improvements
- Discovering how leaders can create a compelling vision and communicate effectively to cultivate a robust food safety culture
- Exploring methods to build employee engagement through targeted training, standardization, and recognition programs
- Case studies: Showcasing successful implementations and strategies to overcome common challenges in food safety
ROOM 3
Carter Lloyds
Chief Marketing Officer
Indeavor
Eliminating Labor Inefficiencies with Smart Scheduling and Absence Management
- Automating employee scheduling to reduce manual workloads and improve supervisor productivity
- Integrating real-time workforce data with ERP and HCM systems for end-to-end labor visibility and control
- Ensuring compliance, reducing absenteeism, and optimizing labor deployment with smart scheduling
- Case Study: Reducing Overtime Costs and Increasing Labor Efficiency at a Dairy Processing Plant
ROOM 4
Job Sollman
Director, Field Operations
Augmentir
Transforming Food Manufacturing with AI-Driven Connected Worker Solutions for Frontline Teams
- Enhancing food safety with AI-powered digital checklists and quality tools
- Accelerating workforce onboarding and upskilling through digital skills management
- Replacing paper SOPs with smart, no-code digital workflows
- Enabling real-time collaboration with remote assist and knowledge sharing
- Integrating with enterprise systems for complete operational visibility
3:05 pm – 4:25 pm CST
Happy Hour, Networking and Pre-Arranged 1-2-1 Meetings
Sponsored by:
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm CST
Plenary
Hailey Fernandez
Chief Administrative Officer
Effex Management Solutions
Feeding Excellence: Driving Food Manufacturing Success through Innovative Workforce Solutions
- Exploring the vital role of skilled talent in improving efficiency while meeting the unique labor and compliance challenges of food manufacturing
- Comparing traditional staffing methods with specialized, tailored workforce solutions and showing how the right mix can address seasonal demand, retention, and productivity
- Leveraging automation and AI in food production to support human roles, enhance quality, and ensure safety standards
- Showcasing case studies of successful food manufacturing partnerships, with real-world examples of workforce-driven performance improvements
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm CST
Panel Discussion
Catherine Davidson
VP, Supply Chain, Food Safety and Quality
Pepsico, SabraTakashi Nakamura, Ph.D
VP, Corporate R&D and Food Safety
Fresh Del MonteChris Burger
Assistant VP, Manufacturing
Virginia Economic Development ProgramFernando Garcia Vidal
VP, Engineering
Monogram FoodsThiago Bastos
VP, Supply Chain and Operations
Kraft Heinz
Building the Future of Operational Excellence: Efficiency, Quality, and Workforce Transformation
- Attracting and retaining young talent by reframing manufacturing as a high-tech, purpose-driven industry with clear career pathways
- Integrating advanced technologies such as automation and AI to optimize workflows, reduce downtime, and train future leaders
- Fostering a culture of accountability, empowerment, and sustainability that appeals to the next generation while strengthening leadership development
- Enhancing cross-functional collaboration to improve agility and ensure consistent product quality
5:45 pm – 5:55 pm CST
Chair's closing remarks
Process Optimization
Katie Holman
VP Supply Chain, Meals and Baking
General Mills
Quality & Safety
Catherine Davidson
VP, Supply Chain, Food Safety and Quality
Pepsico, Sabra
Innovation
Takashi Nakamura, Ph.D
VP, Corporate R&D and Food Safety
Fresh Del Monte
Supply Chain
Tracy Joshua
VP, External Supply Chain
Kellanova
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm CST
Networking drinks reception
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