Jim Kline
The EnSol Group, LLC
Jim Kline is the founder of The EnSol Group, LLC, a firm providing process engineering, project management, and consulting services to baking, snack, and allied industries. He has over 30 years of engineering and manufacturing experience including senior management positions at Bestfoods, George Weston Bakeries, and Frito-Lay.
He has led seminars and educational programs on leadership and project management in business and educational forums. He has written more than 60 columns and featured articles for Bakery & Snack Magazine, and was a contributing editor for the 4th Edition of “Baking Science and Technology.” Jim is a 35-year member of ASB, a member of BEMA, and the co-founder of BIF (the Baking Industry Forum). Jim has a BA in Applied Mathematics and Physics, a Certificate in International Management from Cambridge University, and an MBA in Operations Management from Rutgers University.
Josh Becker
Harpak-ULMA
Josh Becker is the newly appointed Bakery/Confection Segment Manager for Harpak-ULMA Packaging LLC. In this new role, Mr. Becker will be responsible for replicating ULMA’s global footprint in the bakery and confection markets in North America. Prior to making the transition to Harpak-ULMA, he worked for 24 years in various senior engineering and operations leadership roles at Frito Lay, Kraft Foods, Bimbo Bakeries and The Hershey Company. In his last role at The Hershey Company, he was Senior Manager of the Packaging Systems Engineering group. He has a passion for the packaging industry and was an active member of PMMI’s OpX Leadership Network over the past several years.
Gary Brodsky
Consultant
Gary Brodsky started his Baking Career with Brownberry Oven, (Peavy Mills), in 1975 as Plant Manager of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. There he had the opportunity to meet and work with Kathrine Clark the founder of Brownberry. She educated Gary in what it means to make natural wheat bread the old way and variety breads that made Brownberry a leader of the times. Prior to that he worked for Banquet Food as Project Manager in multiple plants.
In 1980 Gary accepted a position with Oroweat Foods/ Arnold Bakers in the Florida Plant. The Arnold Baking Company, became a part of CPC Baking Group, and Best Food Baking Company. Gary was instrumental in expanding the Florida Operation with the addition of a Thomas English Muffin operation. Mr. Brodsky was the founding President of the Florida Bakers Production Club which was created for the growth of the Florida Baking Industry.
In 1995 Gary accept the position of Director of Operations for East Balt. Bakeries. In 1998 after building and starting up East Balt’s Japan and South Korea Plant, Gary was promoted to Vice President of Operations. As Senior Vice President of Operations, he was Instrumental in the Expansion of East Balt’s. overseas operations in China, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Italy, and Turkey. Mr. Brodsky’s, has the ability to build teams to make a facility successful, especially in international markets. That’s what makes him a Leader, Teacher and Mentor to those who work with him. He transformed the industry’s relationship with the fast-food sector by altering the way bakeries around the world supply restaurants.
Mr. Brodsky also served as chairman of A.S.B. in 2005 to 2006 with his theme “The Heritage of Baking” and the creation of the Baking Hall of Fame. Gary was Baking and Snack Operation Executive of the Year in 2007 and received the Robert A. Fisher Award in 2009. Mr. Brodsky currently works as a consultant for McDonald’s APMEA Region (Asian Pacific Middle East and Africa). Supporting plants in India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, and building a facility in Jordan.
John Keane
AMF Bakery Systems
John Keane joined AMF Bakery Systems, a company in the Markel Food Group, in 1996 after working for The Cardwell Machine Company, a manufacturer of tobacco processing equipment. During his time at AMF his focus has primarily been on the Mechanical Engineering functions from drafting to group leadership.
Mr. Keane was appointed to the role of Product Group Leader in 2020. In this role he leads the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Assembly teams that manufacture the bakery basket and case handling equipment supplied from AMF’s Richmond Virginia facility.
Outside of the workplace Mr. Keane mentors high school students as they prepare for life after high school. He helps manage a short-term church mission trip focused on middle and high school students performing free home repairs for those in need.
Michael Lucchesi
Gonnella Baking Co.