2010 Joint MABWA & SEBWA Convention Speakers & Presentations
The ABC’s of GMPs - Chris Dunn
Christopher Dunn is General Manager of the Beverage Quality Program for NSF International, a public health and safety organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His program offers Product Certification of bottled water and packaged ice along with analytical testing, 3rd party auditing and State Licensing services.
Chris is a 35-year veteran of the beverage industry and holds an MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and a BA from the University of Denver. For over 15 years Chris has been involved with bottled water and packaged ice industry around the world and is a past chairperson of IBWA’s Communications Committee and current chairman of the Environment Committee of the European Bottled Watercooler Association. He is also designated by Water Quality Association as a “Certified Water Specialist” and certified in HACCP.
Water Microbiology for Testing Total Coliforms, E.Coli, and HPC - Gil Dichter
Gil Dichter will lead a workshop covering an introduction to Water Microbiology and the use of Colilert, Colilert 18, and SimPlate for testing total coliforms, E.coli, and HPC. This workshop will include pertinent information covering: Basic Water Microbiology; Growth Curves; and Coliler & Colilert-18.
He will define the Technology; Approvals; How to Test; Presence-absence; and Quantification for the following: SimPlate for HPC defining the technology, approvals, how to test, and quantification. There will be a hands-on demonstration and time for Q&A.
Gil Dichter is the World Wide Technical Support Manager, Water for IDEXX Laboratories. He received his B.A. in Chemistry from Brooklyn College in New York and his MBA in Management from Marist College in New York. Gil has over 15 years experience in the Pharmaceutical and Clinical Industry and for the past 20 years has worked in water microbiology. He is the Chair of ASTM D19-24 Methods for Water Microbiology and is a member of Standard Methods for Water and Wastewater Microbiology section 9000, a member of the Methods and Data Comparability Board and is on the Quality Systems Committee for TNI (The NELAC Institute). He is also a member of the following organizations: American Society of Microbiology (ASM); American Water Works Association (AWWA); Water Environment Federation (WEF); American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM); American Chemical Society (ACS);Society for Applied Microbiology (SFAM).
Preparing Your Bottled Water Facility for an FDA Inspection (2 hours/2 CEUs) – Bob Hirst, IBWA
FDA inspections of bottled water facilities are not a new phenomenon to the industry. However, with FDA’s new emphasis on bottled water’s importance to emergency response, and the need to assure its security, the agency has begun to inspect bottled water and other “high security risk” food product facilities more frequently. IBWA’s members have asked for some guidance in preparing for an FDA inspection. IBWA and its counsel provided a document in 2005 to educate bottlers and to assist them in preparing. This session will review those preparatory steps, and will also attempt to provide some insight into what an FDA inspector seeks when he/she comes into your facility. To do this, we will review some key sections of FDA’s Investigations Operations Procedures, the reference manual used by FDA inspectors in the field. We will also share some real experiences form IBWA members.
Bottled Water Challenges & Opportunities for 1010 and Beyond (3 hours/3CEUs) – Bob Hirst, IBWA
This popular series continues in 2010 with updated information on last year’s topics and new information on emerging technical and regulatory issues in 2010. This year’s session contains a number of critical updates that bottlers need to hear! Perhaps the foremost issue facing many of our home and office delivery members is bisphenol-A (BPA), a component of polycarbonate 3- and 5-gallon bottles. In September, 2008, the FDA Science Board mandated that FDA review both old and new information on BPA. That review process is in progress, and IBWA and its industry colleagues met with FDA and Health Canada’s Food Directorate in January, 2009 to discuss means for minimizing or eliminating the American and Canadian public’s exposure to BPA in a wide range of products, from baby bottles and infant formula container linings to water bottles to medical devices. We also expect FDA to publish a final rule with new microbiological regulations for bottled water in 2009. Bottler need to know how this new rule will affect their product compliance monitoring, and how it may be enacted at the state level. A number of Federal agencies, including FDA and the Department of Homeland Security, are considering implementation of a Congressional mandate to establish a “voluntary” third-party food safety certification program. This could have a direct impact on the future direction of IBWA’s annual inspection program. You’ll hear current thoughts from government and industry on the pros and cons of a national food safety certification initiative.
There’s more! We’ll also cover environmental sustainability issues, perchlorate, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products, bromate, Codex, and IBWA educationalinitiatives. We’ll talk about what we expect regarding new contaminant legislation and regulation? What will the current administration do to answer critics of FDA’s food safety record? One thing is for certain: it is going to be an active year for bottled water and all food and beverage industries.
Bottled Water Security – A Comprehensive Technical and Regulatory Review
(3 hrs/3 CEUs) – Bob Hirst, IBWA
This presentation will provide an updated review on federal legislation and FDA regulations for food security, with a focus on the FDA final rule on recordkeeping, published on December 9, 2004. The program will then include an interactive instructional segment on threat assessments using the CARVER + Shock process that IBWA recently completed in cooperation with FDA for the bottled water industry. The results of the CARVER assessment will be used to help bottlers and suppliers in developing or modifying their security plans. Session participants will also receive guidance for use of their routine test data as part of their overall countermeasure system. Finally, session participants will receive key industry updates.
Bob Hirst is the International Bottled Water Association’s Vice President of Education, Science, and Technical Relations. Bob manages the Association’s annual bottled water plant HACCP-and GFSI-based audit program, bottled water security initiatives, and education program. He provides educational services to member companies and speaks to domestic and international organizations and government agencies on a variety of bottled water technical and regulatory issues, including groundwater management, water treatment and processing, bottled water security, good manufacturing practices (GMPs), HACCP, and quality standards. Bob has technical and regulatory experience in both government and private sectors, having served with a federal food safety agency (US Dept. of Agriculture), a state drinking water agency (NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection), and two testing and consulting companies. His industry experience includes quality assurance, process control, packaging, laboratory analysis, new natural water source evaluation and permitting, and plant startup procedures with a bottled water company with plants in Pennsylvania, Florida, and California. Bobhas a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology from Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He has also completed graduate level courses in environmental chemistry at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
“Throw me a rope and I will climb out.” – Malone Garrett, Nantze Springs Water Co.
Malone currently serves as the President of Nantze Springs, Inc. Nantze Springs is a medium size beverage company with a bottling facility in Arlington, GA, satellite division in McDonough, GA and main offices in Dothan, AL. Nantze Springs began operation nearly 20 years ago as primarily a bottled water company, however, have adapted and changed into multiple beverages including their own products as well as copacking for others. Malone holds a BA from Auburn University and MBA from Troy State University and is a past president of SEBWA. While at Troy State his thesis was done on bottled water.
How to Grow Your Bottled Water Company – Jim Lewandowski, DS Waters
Jim Lewandowski with talk about “Growing your Business in a Down Economy”. This
program will focus on creating and controlling a steady revenue stream in any economic environment. Modules will include:
· Customer Centered Selling
· The role of “service” and anticipating customer needs
· Up selling products that compliment your core business
· Customer referrals
· Using Water clues.
Jim began his bottled water career at Sparkletts Drinking Water (a division of DS Waters) in 1991. He entered the company as a Route Sales Representative in Southern California. He progressed through various management positions including District Manager, Operations Manager, Region Sales Manager as well as Director of Field Operations, working in facilities from California to Atlanta. Currently he fills the role of Vice President, General Manager for Sparkletts Drinking Water’s Texas Region.
DS Waters Branch Tour
Attendees will the opportunity to tour DS Waters New Orleans branch participate in a workshop on Warehousing, Sales & Distribution. Transportation and lunch will be included.
Interviewing for the Best Hire – Allen Wankat
Allen Wankat is Franchise Business Development Manager of Culligan International.
A Certified Trainer for the corporation, Allen has 15 years with Culligan in various positions, both franchise-owned and corporate, including managing a dealership in Kingsland, GA for 5 years, and covering the Southeaster states for 8 years. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri, a Certified Plant Operator for IBWA, and longtime board member for the Southeastern Bottled Water Association where he currently serves as First Vice President.
Be Sustainable & Green – Dr. Alan Leff
Dr. Alan A. Leff is Director of Quality and Production for Primo Water Corporation. He as a B.S. in Physics from Carnegie-Mellon University, anM.S. in Fuel Science from Pennsylvania State University, a Ph.D, in Fuel Science from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Leff is an accredited Food System Facilitator; HACCP Trainer (AGWEST Registered in Process); and SQF2000CM Facilitator (AGWEST Registered in Process). He is a member of the IBWA Technical Committee, American Chemical Society, Sigma Xi, Science Honors Society, and Phi Kappa Phi, Honors Society.
Bottled Water in the Media: The Raging Battle to Shape Consumer Perception – Breck Speed, Mountain Valley Spring Water Co.
Breck Speed will discuss how the anti-bottled water movement got started, the state of the media battle now, and what the industry needs to do to favorably shape consumer perception. This presentation will provide an insightful look at the dynamic changes the bottled water industry has undergone and continues to face. He will talk about key issues like future growth prospects for retail and HOD water companies, and packaging changes.
Breck has been in the bottled water business for 20 years and is currently the CEO of Mountain Valley Spring Water. Prior to purchasing Mountain Valley with a group of investors in 2005, he and his brother, John Speed, started and managed a multi-state HOD water company known as Clear Mountain Spring Water. Mountain Valley Spring Company, established in 1871, is America's oldest continually operating bottled water company. It has nearly 200 HOD and retail distributors throughout the United States and has established international distribution in diverse places like Canada, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. Besides being known for its storied history, Mountain Valley is also widely recognized for bottling its product in glass and being the first water company to used recycled PET bottles.
The Political Climate – Joe Doss, IBWA
IBWA President Joe Doss will provide an update on the many important legislative and regulatory issues confronting bottled water companies in 2010. He will also share his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities that our industry will face in the coming months and years, such as the continued criticism from environmental groups, concerns about plastic container safety (e.g., BPA), and groundwater resource management.
Joseph K. Doss has served as President and CEO of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) in Alexandria, Virginia since 1999. Mr. Doss has extensive experience in association management, food and drug, government affairs, public relations and legal issues. His previous positions include: Senior Vice President and Director of Public Affairs, Consumer Healthcare Products Association (formerly the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association); Special Counsel at the law firm of Covington & Burling; Assistant General Counsel and Director of State Government Relations, Consumer Healthcare Products Association; Government Affairs Representative, National Stone Association; and Legislative Analyst, LEGI-SLATE of Congress. Mr. Doss has a B.A. in government from The College of William and Mary and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He has completed an executive management course at the Center for Creative Leadership. Mr. Doss is a member of the Bar in Virginia and the District of Columbia. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Food and Drug Law Institute and is a member of the American Bar Association.