Exchange Education Tracks

Join us for an engaging panel discussion on Dust Explosion, where industry experts will delve into the critical causes and prevention strategies vital for ensuring safety in facilities. Our panelists will unpack the latest updates to NFPA 660, highlighting both the evolving standards and the enduring elements that impact the grain and feed industry. Attendees will gain insights into prioritizing key requirements from NFPA standards, understanding the differences between risk assessments and DHAs, and exploring effective protection methods tailored to specific scenarios. This discussion promises to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance safety protocols and foster a culture of proactive hazard management in your organization. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the best in the field and ensure your facility is prepared for the challenges ahead!

Moderator: Craig Froehling

Panelists: Brian Edwards, Jeramy Slaunwhite, Timothy Henex

Speakers

Craig FroehlingCargillManufacturing Technology Lead WW Grain

Brian EdwardsFike CorporationGlobal Explosion Protection Consultancy Manager

Jeramy SlaunwhiteRembe IncChief Technical Officer – Explosion Safety

Timothy Heneks, PEDustcon Solutions, Inc.Director, Engineering Services

The reality is that behind industry gates across this country, plant employees are being tasked to engage in one of the most hazardous professions in history without training in the processes and procedures that ensure their safety and the safety of others. The reality is that the onus is on us to provide the education and safe work environment needed to get all rail workers home in one piece at the end of the day.

Speakers

Russell YorkRail Safe TrainingDirector of Program Development

We will provide a breaker for this demonstration where we will walk through the steps involved in breaker testing and will allow the participants to see a breaker trip in the end.

Speakers

Adam DittbennerInterstatesInstrumentation Manager

This interactive station will demonstrate how to use a life line properly and a mechanical means of rescue. Attendees will learn how to prevent an incident and how to mitigate dangers for grain bins and confined spaces.

Barge loading is one of the most dangerous tasks an elevator has to do. The dangers of barges themselves are compounded by snapping lines, heavy machinery, fast-moving currents, and cold water. Join us for this session to learn some best practices and new technologies for keeping yourself and your workers safe when loading barges at a grain elevator.

Speakers

April SloanCargill Plant Manager

Learn about:

Sprinklering requirements and the inefficiency of sprinklers on grain piles and deflagration events

Smoke hatches for firefighting and the reluctance of local fire officials to use them in an event

Square footage requirements for fire areas and the nature of open floor plan processing facilities

Proper egress from unoccupied structures and their relevance to the IBC

Speakers

Travis Beck, NCARB, AIAVAAArchitectural Department Manager/Senior Associate

Update on emerging regulatory issues within the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Topics will be announced closer to conference.

Speakers

Jess McCluerNGFAVice President, Safety and Regulatory Affairs

A thorough review of NFPA 660, a new standard from the National Fire Protection Association, that combines all existing combustible dust standards into one. Learn the ins and outs of this new standard. More details coming soon.

Speakers

Jess McCluerNGFAVice President, Safety and Regulatory Affairs

The various fall protection regulations and standards can be overwhelming to understand. So we will boil them down to the latest information you need to effectively manage your safety program. We will cover rescue requirements and solutions. There are numerous grain industry-specific fall protection solutions that we will explore as well. It is also critical to be aware of engineering and structural considerations. Finally, we will explore the importance of ongoing inspection best practices to ensure that your fall protection is ready to perform if an incident occurs.

Speakers

Bill KrekeTritech Fall ProtectionTechnical Sales Manager

“Networking Ninja: Strategies for Event Success” is a comprehensive guide to mastering networking at events. It stresses the importance of mental readiness and goal setting, urging attendees to approach networking with positivity and clear objectives. Key takeaways include strategic networking methods, such as identifying vital contacts and engaging in meaningful conversations, along with leveraging technology tools for better outcomes. The session also addresses common challenges like networking anxiety and burnout, providing actionable tips to boost confidence and resilience. Ultimately, participants will leave equipped with practical strategies to enhance their networking impact and foster enduring professional relationships.

Speakers

David BrysonDavid BrysonSpeaker/Networker/Realtor

Many sales and or buying opportunities go by the wayside leaving neither the buyer nor the seller fulfilled— why? Buyers hold their cards close to the ves— why? Because they don’t trust salespeople. And why would they—sellers are professionals at making assumptions, jumping to conclusions shouting features and benefits, often to the wrong problems. It’s a dance and both want to lead, causing frustration, unmet expectations a lack of fulfillment and sore toes. What if there was a better way? There is!

Speakers

Frank GustafsonSandler by Strategic Training Partners Inc.President

A learning organization is a company that facilitates the continuous development of its employees and promotes a culture of knowledge sharing and adaptability. Key elements include systems thinking, which views the organization as an interconnected whole; personal mastery, which encourages individuals to achieve their full potential; and mental models, which involve challenging and refining assumptions and perceptions. Shared vision is essential, providing a common goal for the organization to strive toward. Team learning fosters collaboration and innovation, enabling groups to achieve more together than individually.

Speakers

Tim deHaanAdvanced Material HandlingChief Operating Officer

This session introduces the basic concepts, fundamental theories, and best practices commonly employed by organizations to justify critical investment decisions. It addresses key aspects of financial statements and investment decision modeling, as well as how individuals can use the information provided within these statements to create successful business cases that justify investment proposals. In short, by learning the “language of business”, participants will improve their likelihood of receiving funding request approval for key investment projects.

Speakers

Kevin KoharkiCAE Consulting, LLCFounder

Join us for this panel discussion, where we’ll dive into proven strategies to take control of your team’s performance. Discover how to turn raw potential into real technical results, fostering a culture that drives effective outcomes. Get ready to transform capable individuals into a high-performing team that delivers (and how to manage the ones who don’t respond)!

Speakers

Christie MohlkeTodd & SargentVice President of People

Kristen IrelandPeople Spark ConsultingCo-Founder

Beth NealAGIHuman Resources Director

Recruit to win-Building your team in a remote world. The war for talent is real and finding your organizations next leaders has never been more challenging. In this session I address the biggest issues companies face when trying to attract and retain the industry’s best. We’ll discuss real world examples of strategies that deliver and break down what it is that motivates todays ag professionals.

Speakers

Dustin TobermanOmni Ag Consulting – Naples, FLPresident

Eighty percent of employee turnover is due to bad hiring decisions: a failure often caused by focusing on experience rather than analyzing the best indicators of future performance on your team. This session will teach you the four primary components of hiring the right employee for your team, which are easily overlooked in a challenging and experience-driven market. Companies that are often frustrated when new employees fail to meet their expectations may be overlooking a few simple solutions. Join us to learn the steps you can take in the hiring process to avoid that frustration and increase your odds of a successful hire, including a simple exercise that will reduce your hiring risks.

Speakers

Mark WaschekAg1SourcePresident

In this workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to share valuable insights and collaborate with others. We’ll focus on clearly defining the goals and objectives of successful community engagement, as well as learning how to set actionable steps to achieve them. This is your chance to create workable Action Plans. Participants will explore their roles within the broader community and discover how these connections can foster both personal growth and industry advancement.

Speakers

Frances TreleaseTrelease CommunicationsCompany Owner

Studies show that face-to-face interactions in the workplace have taken a hit, reflecting on that same general trend in society. We’re returning to a “Dilbert” environment. What are the do’s and don’ts best practices? Learn some helpful tips to bring back to your workplace.

Speakers

Frances TreleaseTrelease CommunicationsCompany Owner

Producers work hard to do everything they can to harvest high yield crops. However, once the crop has been harvested the hard work doesn’t end there. Eighty percent of in bin grain storage occurs each year without a grain monitoring and conditioning system in place. Having a grain monitoring and conditioning system in your bins gives the grower unparalleled access and data to easily monitor and know the condition of the grain at all times. It also provides an efficient and effective means to condition your automatically, removing the guesswork. This efficiency gets your grain into an optional safe storage condition, helps to mitigate the risk of spoilage and brings peace of mind when needed most.

Speakers

Kent WingertOPIsystems, Inc.Product Manager

The interactive station will demonstrate how to use a life line properly and a mechanical means of rescue. Attendees will learn how to prevent an incident and how to mitigate dangers for grain bins and confined spaces.

Grain handling and processing operations need to be future-ready, today. Is your operation ready for a shrinking workforce, additional regulations, and other external pressures? Could you quickly adapt to remain competitive as the industry evolves? What happens when the “guy who’s always done it” retires or is promoted? This session will demonstrate how grain handling operations can future-proof their business operations.

Speakers

Royce SchulteCADAROPresident/CEO

Josh McGuireCADAROCTO

The rise of data centers with AI computing power is doubling down on the electrical grid demand while EV charging demands continue to rise. As grid demand increases, the risk of external power quality events such as interruptions or outages also increases. New and mature technologies within a grain facilities’ electrical system create internal power quality challenges such as noise and harmonic distortion. Managers need to understand these changing risks and the corresponding impact to their plant operations. Improved monitoring, harmonic correction, and backup power solutions can all be used to improve plant resiliency against downtime due to power quality events.

Speakers

Sam FopmaInterstatesEngineering Manager

The objective is to go beyond the preconceived idea that bucket elevator capacity can be increased simply by increasing operating speed or the number of buckets, both of which can lead to more problems than they solve. We intend to generate awareness of how the bucket elevator system, in its entirety, needs to be understood. The use of an illustrative configurator will show these interactions in real time. This presentation will empower attendees to build confidence in their own abilities and know when to seek outside expertise.

Speakers

Carl Swisher4B Components, Ltd.Sales Manager Material Handling Products

Aeration is a critical piece of outside and temporary grain storage. It’s what holds the tarp onto the pile and keeps the commodity protected from the elements. Airflow within the grain is also critical for maintaining grain quality. Striking a proper balance between airflow going out and makeup air coming in is the key. Our presentation will address the challenges locations face with aeration from determining what’s needed for a particular pile to controlling costs. In addition, attendees will learn easy, relevant tips and tricks that they can implement right away.

Speakers

Brandee PolandSoles Enterprises Inc.Sales and Marketing Manager

In “Blueprint for Success: Building a Capital Project from Start to Finish – on Time and on Budget,” we will explore the essential stages of capital project management, from initial planning to final execution. This presentation will provide practical strategies for effective budgeting, resource allocation, and risk management, ensuring that projects stay on track. Attendees will learn how to create a cohesive project plan that aligns with organizational goals while maintaining quality and efficiency. Join us to discover how to navigate the complexities of capital projects and achieve successful outcomes every time.

Speakers

Jon BrownMKC – Mid Kansas CoopDirector of Facilities – Project Manager

Many facilities upgrade their systems to include VFDs, premium efficiency motors, soft starts, and other products and claim a savings on operational and maintenance cost without evaluating the projects before, or verifying after. This seminar is a brief introduction into the methods of finding the largest users of energy and maintenance costs, implementing solutions, and measuring results. This will avoid capital costs going into technology that do not have a benefit, or may be eventually costing even more money in the long run.

Speakers

Martin BimaFWS GroupSenior Process Engineer

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will transform Operational Technology (OT) in grain facilities, driving improvements in security, predictive maintenance and operational efficiency. This presentation will outline key steps to prepare for AI integration, focusing on foundational elements like data management, network visibility and cybersecurity readiness. Attendees will learn how AI can strengthen security through advanced threat detection, ensure reliable equipment performance with predictive maintenanceand streamline operations for greater efficiency. Preparing the right infrastructure is essential to unlocking AI’s full potential in grain facilities.

Speakers

David SmitInterstatesOT Architect

This presentation is a modification of bootcamp training sessions I have presented to maintenance, reliability and operations personnel over the last 10 years of one of the largest grain companies in the world. It has been very well received by hundreds of their personnel from their enterprise businesses in grain, oilseeds, logistics, cocoa and salt. The material covers common installation, lubrication and maintenance issues that lead to multiple types of failures. The material also covers the correct strategies to improving life and reliability for small and large reducers. This can be applied to bucket elevators as well as nearly any other application that a reducer would be applied to.

Speakers

Jon SiverlingRegalRexnordHeavy Industry Sales Manager