Schedule

*Program will be updated as planning progresses. Review the schedule below for topics that are traditionally included in the program.  

Monday, March 31, 2025

7:45 am – 3:00 pm

Golf Outing at Raven | Networking Event

Chairs: 

Scott Jay, World Water Works

Justin Olson, World Water Works

9:00 am – 4:15 pm

NEW! Networking Event – Scavenger Hunt & Game Show Battle | Networking Event

We have an exciting two-hour scavenger hunt planned through old Scottsdale, featuring three game stops and a fun photo scavenger hunt that’ll encourage creativity and teamwork on a 14-passenger pedal bike (with a motor assist!). Following the scavenger hunt, we’ll team up for a Game Show Battle and lunch!

Chairs: 

Arnell Bell, Aquacycl

Anna Koch, CRB Water
Rob Parker, Gannet Fleming
Rob Rust, CRB Water
Sue Dill, CWT

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Registration

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Session Chair & Co-Chair Meeting

5:00 pm – 5:30 pm

First Timers Reception | Networking Event

Is this your first time attending FBEC? Join the FBEC Steering Committee, Conference Chair and past chairs to learn more about what to expect from the conference and get insider tips.

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Welcome Reception | Networking Event

The Welcome Reception at FBEC kicks off the conference and sets the tone for successful days of education and networking. Enjoy drinks and light bites with your fellow attendees.

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Hospitality Suite, Hosted by Woodard & Curran | Networking Event

Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while catching up with old friends and making new ones at the Hospitality Suite, hosted by Woodard & Curran. 

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

7:15 am – 12:00 pm

Registration

7:15 am – 8:15 am

Breakfast

8:15 am – 8:45 am

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Wesley McGhee, 2025 FBEC Chair, Dawn Foods

8:45 am – 9:30 am

Keynote Speaker | Education

Megan Greenwood, Founder and Owner of Greenwood Brewing

 

Megan Greenwood is the Founder and Owner of Greenwood Brewing located in Phoenix, Arizona. Megan is an engineer and worked in manufacturing engineering for over a decade before launching Greenwood. After receiving a home-brew kit for her birthday in 2014, Megan started brewing regularly and built a microbrewery in her garage where she had multiple beers on tap! She worked full-time while renting space from a local brewery to launch her flagship beers into restaurants and taprooms throughout Arizona. She opened her self-funded Downtown Phoenix Microbrewery and Beer Garden in July 2020 and her beer is now in over 400+ Restaurants, Grocery and Retail Stores throughout Arizona.

9:30 am – 10:30 am

Session 1: Sustainability | Education

Chair: Katlyn Gonzalez, Idahoan Foods
Co-Chair: Erica Pann, Antea Group

Co-Chair: Angelique Giraud, Montrose Environmental

 

This session will focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) metrics, setting science-based targets (SBTs), and the practical actions needed to achieve them. Speakers will guide attendees through the process of defining and measuring GHG emissions, emphasizing how setting and meeting SBTs can be directly linked to business continuity and risk reduction. By establishing clear, science-based targets, companies can contribute to global climate goals and mitigate potential regulatory, financial, and reputational risks.

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Break

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Session 2: Compliance Trends | Education

Chair: Kevin Sobnosky, PepsiCo
Co-Chair: Katie Jeziorski, Trinity Consultants

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Networking Lunch

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

New! Keynote Presentation | Education

Haley Paul, Arizona Policy Director for Audubon Southwest This special presentation will share details on her work with Audubon Southwest, Governor’s Water Policy Council and Arizona Water Security Plan

1:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Ad Hoc Session A: Brine Disposal | Education

Chair: Dennis Leikam, Idahoan Foods

Co-Chair: Brian Arnsten, Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions

Co-Chair: Justin Olson, World Water Works

 

Mesopotamia, the birthplace of agriculture, was known as the “breadbasket of the world.” But that isn’t the case anymore, and it is more accurately described as a dust bowl. So, what happened? Salinity happened. Join the discussion with us as we bring context to the issue of brine disposal – and if you don’t think this impacts you might be surprised. Be part of the discussion. Be part of the (brine) solution. 

1:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Ad Hoc Session B: Sustainability | Education

Chair: Kendall Vanderhoof, Niagra Bottling

Co-Chair: Arnell Bell, Aquacycl

3:30 pm – 4:45

FBEC Steering Committee Meeting

4:45 pm – 5:45 pm

Poster Sessions & Social Hour | Networking Event

Chair: Olivia Hughes, MARS
Co-Chair: Domagoj Gotovac, Woodard & Curran

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Session 4/Dinner: Enforcement Horror Stories | Education

Chair: Josh Milleson, Land O’Lakes
Co-Chairs Ted Holt, WesTech Engineering
Co-Chair: Melissa Bitter, Foth

8:00 pm – 8:45 pm

Poster Sessions & Social Hour | Networking Event

Chair: Olivia Hughes, MARS
Co-Chair: Domagoj Gotovac, Woodard & Curran

9:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Hospitality Suite, Hosted by Woodard & Curran / Networking Event

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

7:00 am – 12:00 pm

Registration

7:00 am – 8:00 am

Breakfast

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Session 5: Air | Education

Chair: Joanie Giuliani, Molson Coors
Co-Chair: Jasmine Lee, Brown & Caldwell
 
Unlocking Air Compliance: Beyond Permits and Into RMP Insights

Is your Air Compliance strategy truly comprehensive? It’s time to think beyond just permits! Join us for an engaging session where we explore the full spectrum of Air Compliance programs. Discover how Risk Management Planning (RMP) plays a crucial role in air regulations. We’ll break down the essentials of RMP requirements and highlight the latest updates to the RMP rules. To bring these concepts to life, we’ll share compelling case studies from Molson Coors, showcasing real-world experiences and lessons learned from EPA regulatory inspections. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your Air Compliance knowledge and practices!
Speakers:
Janeth Rodriguez – Molson Coors
Kyle Barfield –Jensen Hughes

9:00 am – 9:45 am

Session 6: Packaging and Waste | Education

Chair: Elena Grimm, Niagara Bottling
Co-Chair: Houston Flippin, Brown & Caldwell

9:45 am – 10:00 am

Break

10:00 am – 11:15 am

Session 7: Nutrients/Bio-Gas | Education

Chair: Mark Ritsema, JBS
Co-Chair: Robert Rust, Riverbend Labs
Co-Chair: Bernie Sheff, US Renewable Energy Development Capital

 

11:15 am – 12:30 pm

Ad Hoc Session A: Next Steps on Water Reuse Action Plan 5.7 for Food & Beverage Industry | Education

Chair: Paul Bowen, BIER Roundtable
Co-Chair: Erica Pann, Antea Group
Co-Chair: Pete Capponi, GHD
 
The purpose of the session is a discussion and understanding of specific food and beverage industry water reuse decisions. USEPA’s Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) Program is designed to promote water reuse applications in both public and private sectors. WRAP Action 5.7 included an evaluation of the regulatory, technology and stakeholder engagement challenges associated with water reuse in the beverage industry and a summary of issues associated with each challenge. In this session, we will first present a summary of key findings published in the White Paper, “Advancing Water Reuse in the Beverage Industry.” Next, we will discuss the mission of the follow-up WRAP Program Action, including an assessment of decision-making criteria of both the food and beverage industry for evaluating water reuse opportunities throughout production. Finally, members are asked to share specific water reuse decisions, the why and the why not of implementation, real-life impediments, associated root-causes, and the proper solutions and alternatives available to implement reuse. This session provides unique opportunities for producers to share their journeys and assess best practices among peers, as well as including summaries of previous workshops and panels.

11:15 am – 12:30 pm

Ad Hoc Session B: Stormwater | Education

Chair: Lindsey Hughes, Amazon
Co-Chair: Rob Parker, Gannett Fleming

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Technical Tour / Networking Event

Chair: Brian Mulinix, HDR Inc.

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Community Event at St. Mary's Food Bank

Chair: Erica Pann, Antea Group

 

The community event during FBEC is historically an opportunity for attendees to join together and give back through a local service project that supports networking amongst participants. Activities in the past have included helping at a local food bank, beach clean-up, gardening and more.

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Networking & Business Time / Networking Event

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Women’s Hapy Hour / Networking Event

Chair: Katlyn Gonzalez, Idahoan Foods

Inspired by the increasing number of women attendees, FBEC 2025 is honored to host a women’s networking event for female food industry environmental professionals to connect and network. 

Thursday, April 3, 2025

7:00 am – 11:00 am

Registration

7:00 am – 8:00 am

Breakfast

8:00 am – 9:30 am

Session 8: Water Conservation/Water Reuse | Education

Chair: John Kirkpatrick, Basic American Foods

Co-Chair: Brian Arnsten, Veolia Water Technologies

Co-Chair: Nathan Lovell

This session will focus on the practices and technologies implemented by Food and Beverage facilities to reduce water consumption, minimize wastewater generation, and maximize water reuse within their operations. This approach is crucial for sustainable water management, especially in water-stressed regions and industries with high water demands.

9:30 am – 10:15 am

Session 9: Hazardous & Regulated Waste | Education

Chair: 

Co-Chair: Joe Weisgerber, Hixson

 

EPA RCRAInfo Team Lead Scott Christian will give an overview of the eManifest system for using hazardous and regulated waste manifests. As of 1/22/2025, this system became required for SQG and LQG. VSQG are also encouraged to use it. He will describe the eManifest system’s capabilities, advantages over paper recordkeeping, and tips for use.

10:15 am – 10:30 am

Break

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Session 10: PFAs 2.0 | Education

Chair: Brett Whittleton, TreeHouse Foods
Co-Chair: Anthony Urciuoli, Veolia Water Technologies

12:15 pm – 1:15 pm

Networking Lunch

1:15 pm – 1:30 pm

FBEC 2026 Location Announcement

Time to find out where we’re headed in 2026!

Lindsey Hughes, Amazon

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Session 12: Wastewater | Education

Chair:  Joe Herrud, FairLife Dairy
Co-Chair: James Frazier, Leprino

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

FBEC 2026 Planning Meeting

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Poster Sessions & Social Hour | Networking Event

Chair: Olivia Hughes, MARS
Co-Chair: Domagoj Gotovac, Woodard & Curran

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

FBEC Closing Event | Networking Event

Offsite event at Cham Pang Lanes

Let’s close the conference out with a bang. Enjoy drinks and food with your new and old friends and see who will take home the conference’s biggest awards!

8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Hospitality Suite, Hosted by Woodard & Curran | Networking Event

Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while catching up with old friends and making new ones at the Hospitality suite, hosted by Woodard & Curran.
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