The Food Processing Suppliers Association held its annual conference March 9-12 at the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Desert, Calif. In his message to the members, FPSA Chairman Scott Scriven announced that the association is on strong financial footing, and that PROCESS EXPO sales are incredibly strong, up over 75% from the 2010 show and growing daily.

Along with general sessions on economic trends and building better trade shows, the FPSA elected its board members for the next year.

FPSA nominated the following board members to the Executive Committee: Scott Scriven, Weber Inc., Chairman; Jeff Dahl, JBT Food Tech., Vice Chairman; Gene Teeter, Meyer Industries, Treasurer; Barry Shoulders, Oystar North America, Immediate Past Chairman; and David Camp, Key Technologies, At Large Director.

The following members will make up the 2011-2012 FPSA Board of Directors: John Atanasio, Alfa Laval Inc.; John Campbell, Separators Inc.; Bob Grote, Grote Co.; Steve Hughes, Lyco Mfg.; Tony Bayat, CFS NA; Ivo Cozzini, PrimEDGE; Ed Fay, CMC America; Tim O’Brien, Urschel Laboratories; Goran Olsson, Tetra Pak Inc.; Chad Sprinkman, W.M. Sprinkman; and Gil Williams, Poly-clip System.

The Board also thanked the following members for their service to the board: Viggo Nielsen, Mettler Toledo Safeline; John Rooney, Evergreen Packaging Inc.; Ken Hagedorn, Naegele Inc.; and Lou Beaudette, Admix Inc.

The FPSA also announced that it has reached an agreement with Chicago’s Convention and Tourism Bureau that will keep the association’s trade show, PROCESS EXPO, in Chicago for the foreseeable future. In 2013 the show will be held October 14-17, while the 2015 show dates will be October 6-9.

“With PROCESS EXPO 2011 rapidly approaching the 200,000 square foot mark, it is important to show our exhibitors, attendees, and partners that we remain firmly committed to a two-year show cycle, in the fall, in Chicago” said Scriven.

“The response and the commitment from our membership and the entire industry has been remarkable, and to honor that commitment it is important that FPSA show, that without question, PROCESS EXPO is here to stay,” noted David Seckman, President and CEO of FPSA.