BEMA's Lifetime Achievement Award will now be titled the Fred Springer Lifetime Achievement Award
OVERLAND PARK, KAS. — At a luncheon at the 2018 BEMA Summit in Chicago, BEMA announced that its Lifetime Achievement Award will be renamed the Fred Springer Lifetime Achievement Award to honor Fred Springer, president of Burford Corp. and 2018 award recipient.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is BEMA’s highest award and was created under Fred Springer’s chairmanship in 2001. The first recipients were Tom Belshaw of Belshaw Brothers and Dale LeCrone of LeMatic. Since its inception, 20 men and women have received the award. According to BEMA’s committee, Mr. Springer embodies what it means to be a BEMA member by keeping BEMA’s best interests in the forefront of all he does.
Mr. Springer accepts the award at the 2018 BEMA Summit in Chicago.
“Fred is a role model for us all,” said Allen Wright, vice-president of sales at Hansaloy and nominating committee chairman. “He is always at the center of ideas and has initiated so many great changes that continue to move BEMA forward.”
Mr. Springer was chairman of BEMA in 2001 and has been a leader on BEMA committees and the board of directors where he led efforts like increasing membership and creating opportunities at international trade shows. He played a significant role in the creation of BEMA Tech, and since 2013 has represented BEMA on the IBIE committee as chairman of the Technology task force. Mr. Springer also represented BEMA on the American Bakers Association board of directors for three years and was a member of the American Society of Baking executive committee in the 1980s. He also has served on the boards of directors for the American Institute of Baking and the Allied Trades of the Baking Industry.
“Fred’s decades of dedication, commitment, wise council and investment have had a uniquely positive effect on moving the mission of BEMA and the entire industry forward,” said Kerwin Brown, president and c.e.o. of BEMA. “His diplomatic leadership has been instrumental in creating and sustaining a culture of cooperation, innovation and commitment with so many other organizations.”
Clay Miller, sales engineer, Burford, along with other BEMA members, presented Mr. Springer with the award.
While a role model for many today, Mr. Springer lists Don Ivey of Burford, Dick Pulver of Pulver Systems, Steve Wright of Hansaloy and Dale S. LeCrone of LeMatic as his mentors. Among his many accomplishments at BEMA, he said that involving bakers at BEMA’s Convention and working with the Baking Industry Forum are among the most important to him.
Mr. Springer’s example extends to his local community as well, especially regarding veterans. He works to hire veterans and makes active duty easier on his employees. Most recently he organized Operation Military Care Package that challenged the industry and others to send care packages to soldiers abroad.
The award was presented by BEMA members Kurt Miller, sales director, J&K Ingredients; Clay Miller, sales engineer, Burford; and Mark Hotze, vice-president, Corbion, all who have worked for Mr. Springer at Burford and described him as mentor and coach. In addition to Mr. Wright and Mr. Brown, the nominating committee included Terry Bartsch, president and c.e.o., VMI, and Don Osborne, food business team leader, Intralox.
