WASHINGTON, DC — The Independent Bakers Association (IBA) elected new executive officers during its 39th annual meeting at Washington, DC, June 18-19. The group’s new chairman is Ron Cardy, CEO of BelPastry, Inc., Omaha, NE.

“Ron is a longstanding member of IBA, committed to expanding IBA’s membership,” said Nick Pyle, IBA’s president, speaking for the group. “We are excited about the upcoming IBA activities under Ron’s leadership.”

The association named Joe Davis, vice-president and general counsel of McKee Foods, Collegedale, TN, as its first vice-chairman; Scott Barth, president and CEO of Barth Packaging, Copley, PA, as second vice-chairman; Brian Stevenson, principal of B. Stevenson Associates LLC, Kansas City, MO, as secretary; and Heidi Brenner, president of Quality Bakers, Inc., Knoxville, TN, as treasurer.

In a related action, IBA also accepted an extended board of directors at the meeting.

Mr. Pyle praised outgoing chairman Len Amoroso, president of Amoroso Baking Co., Philadephia. “Len is an invaluable leader for independent wholesale bakers across the country,” he said, “and we hope to retain his guidance as IBA moves forward.”

IBA plans its fall 2013 meeting for Oct. 6-9 at Las Vegas to coincide with the 2013 International Baking Industry Exposition.