As the 2013/14 membership year comes to a close, it is time to continue receiving your benefits of membership in the American Society of Baking.

In preparation for the upcoming membership year, be sure to mark your calendars.  On July 1 the 2014/15 renewal seaons opens.  As per tradition, on the first of the month you'll receive an e-renewal notice.  In a continuing effort to "go green," you can save time and postage by renewing online.  

Hard copies of renewal packets will be mailed July 15th.   These packets will contain a renewal payment form for those members who do not wish to renew online.

For questions concerning the upcoming renewal  period, or any general membership questions please contact the Membership Manager, Amanda Gonzalez, at agonzalez@asbe.org. 

Finding well-trained service technicians that have the basic knowledge of gas, electricity and steam necessary to repair baking equipment is a challenge not only for the Baking Industry but for the Food Service Industry as a whole.

The majority of your trusted technicians have been in place for years and will soon be looking at retirement.  They have acquired tremendous knowledge about the maintenance and repair of the baking equipment you depend on in your business.  Passing that knowledge on to the next generation of technicians is crucial to maintaining the quality of maintenance and repair work preformed on your equipment.

Vet2Tech is a national 501(c)(3) organization that offers fully-paid scholarships ($1,495) to Veterans for online vocational training programs.  Partnering with the developer of the "CFESA: Basic Technician Training Program in Electricity, Gas, and Steam" gave Vet2Tech the opportunity to help place Veterans in an industry where there are upwards of 15,000 jobs available.  Through the online 3-D, interactive, simulator-based training program offered by Ignitor labs, Veterans will be able to advance and hone the skills they've learned in the military.  Program completion leads to guaranteed job interviews with one of more than 850 hiring companies across the country and provides full-time, paid on-the-job-training (Food Service Industry).

 To learn more about the Vet2Tech scholarship program, please visit the website at: www.Vet2Tech.org or call: 312.789.4175.

To see a 90 second video about Vet2Tech, please click here.

To read the full article on Vet2Tech, please click here. 

New hotel, new faces, but the same great, friendly, efficient service.  When BakingTech is held at the Hilton Chicago, the members will see and work with a wonderful staff dedicated to providing outstanding service to their guests.  Here are just a few of the key players our members will be meeting in March 2015:


Latonia Booth-Johnson
Sr. Event Manager
Years of Service: 4

Latonia Booth-Johnson is a Senior Event Manager and has worked at the Hilton Chicago for over 20 years.  In her 22 years of service Latonia has worked on the Facilities and Events teams.  Latonia has a gift of making every stranger into a friend.  She has the knack of making everyone feel comfortable and welcome which is definitely put to good use in her position.  As a Sr. Events Manager her clients always feel at ease, earning her much praise on the Hilton's Small and Large Meeting Planning Surveys.  When she has clients in house, she is very dedicated to making sure that their every need is met working early and late, even taking calls in the middle of the night.  This dedication makes every conference a success!


Margaret O'Brian
Bartender
Year of Service: 16

Margaret O'Brian, Kitty O'Sheas Bartender, has proven to be a true leader in the food and beverage industry.  With over 16 years under her belt at Kitty O'Sheas Irish Pub at the Hilton Chicago, she continues to be an example of what above and beyond means.  She is always willing to come in early, stay late, or come in on her days off with a smile on her face and an exemplary attitude.  When the Hilton is ready t roll out a new program or product, it is not uncommon to hear the hotel manger mention in the managers meeting "Pair up with Mags to help out" or "Get Mags on that."  With speed and accuracy, Margaret takes full ownership and pride in every task she preforms, and the guest can see that spark in her.  The hotel constantly hears stories about how guests come back to the Hilton to conventions/vacations and they immediately go to visit Mags.  She is a comfort to our guests and a valuable asset to the entire company.  The fact is the Hilton could not imagine the hotel without her.  

Want to learn more about the key Hilton staff you'll be meeting at BakingTech 2015?  Be sure to visit ASB's Hilton Transition webpage.

7809 N. Chestnut Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64119

Office: 1.800.713.0462
Fax: 1.888.315.2612
asbe@asbe.org

by Anthony Turano
ASB Chairman

Thought:  "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." 
-Albert Einstein

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@nealbrennan: Sorry for illegally downloading your music, guy who mostly makes songs about doing crime.  

One of ASB's most valuable member benefits is the online Resource Library.

Until recently a great number of technical bulletins were only available in hard copy.  During the past membership year ASB has been steadily converting these documents to PDF and uploading them to the ASB website weekly.

Be sure to check out the newly added Technical Bulletins: 61-65! 

Technical Bulletins can be accessed in the ASB Resource Library using your ASB username and password.  

Website Tips: Update your ASB profile online.  Login onto www.asbe.org using your unique username/password, open the Membership tap drop down list from the left menu bar and select "Update Profile".  Then you may choose to update your profile information, or change your password. 

Office: 1.800.713.0462

Kent Van Amburg, Executive Director
Extension #1
Direct: 609.937.1519

Darla Eastlack,
Director of Technology
Extension #5