FREE VIRTUAL Mid-Year Conference: Succeeding in Challenging Times
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Join us for SMA’s Virtual 13th Annual Mid-Year Conference, “Succeeding in Challenging Times.” This is a unique educational opportunity for meat/food industry executives and managers at all levels, featuring leading experts on a wide range of topics. The combination of excellent speakers and topics will cover many issues that affect your business. This conference has become a “must attend” for many industry leaders and one that you cannot afford to miss.
Cost
FREE to all SMA members and non-members
Tentative Agenda
8:50 am Welcome/Opening Remarks – Joe Harris, Southwest Meat Association, & Edward Ruff, Petit Jean Meats
9:00 am What to Expect from a Biden Administration – Marshall Matz and Phil Karsting, OFW Law
9:40 am Foreign Material Detection: State of the Science – Olga Pawluczyk, P&P Optica
10:20 am The Future of Human Resources – Panel Discussion: David Barron, Cozen O’Connor, Quynh Gonzales, QMG Global, Vanessa Mendes, Buckhead Meats
11:00 am Rural Development Funding for Small Processors – Billy Curb, USDA Rural Development
11:30 pm Department of Labor Resources Available to Businesses – Lucy Garcia, U.S. Department of Labor (invited)
12:00 pm Break
1:00 pm Risk Management Tools for Processors – Adam Stout, FCStone Financial
1:45 pm Appendix A&B Update – KatieRose McCullough, North American Meat Institute
2:30 pm FSIS Roundtable Discussion – Paul Kiecker, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, and Jennifer McKean, USDA/FSIS Dallas District Office
Sponsorship Opportunities
SMA is offering sponsors an opportunity to promote their businesses throughout the program. A limited number of sponsorships are available for $2,500. Please call the SMA Office at (979) 846-9011 if you are interested in sponsorship.
Conference registration closes February 10, 2021 at 3:00pm.