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.
Speakers:
Kyra Power- Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
Tom Raymond- Hormel Foods
Sean Devine- Ventura Foods
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
Join us for an insightful and comprehensive review of the latest environmental compliance and enforcement trends at the federal and state level. Hear about USEPA’s enforcement priorities, key enforcement cases directly and indirectly affecting the food and beverage industry, and emerging developments from the new administration.
Speaker:
Brooks M. Smith – troutman pepper locke
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 Haley Paul is the Arizona Policy Director for Audubon Southwest. In this role, she distills complex natural resource policy and water management issues—via blogs, webinars, infographics, and more—to demonstrate why policy is important and how it impacts rivers, lakes, groundwater supplies, and wildlife habitat. Alongside a powerful network of Audubon advocates, Haley seeks to improve the water outlook in Arizona and in the Colorado River Basin—for people and birds. With career stops along the way at the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and the Town of Gilbert’s water department, Haley is passionate about working with people to protect our lands and waters in the southwest.
1:45 pm – 3:15 pm
Ad Hoc Session A: Salty AF - Avoiding Failure in Brine Disposal | Education
Chair: Dennis Leikam, Idahoan Foods
Co-Chair: Brian Arnsten, Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions
Co-Chair: Justin Olson, World Water Works
Location: Salon 1-2. Meeting Level
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: Synergistic Sustainability: How Can You Make Your Lights Less Thirsty | Education
Chair: Kendall Vanderhoof, Niagra Bottling
Co-Chair: Arnell Bell, Aquacycl
Location: Grand Ballroom- Ballroom Level
This session will explore the water-energy-food nexus (WEF nexus) through an interactive discussion. As demand on water, energy, and food increases with population growth and urbanization, it is imperative that food & beverage producers and vendors approach projects in a systematic manner to conserve resources and improve efficiencies. Food and energy productions are both water intensive, and water purification can be energy intensive. What can you do to conserve all three?
3:30 pm – 4:45
FBEC Steering Committee Meeting
Location: Executive Boardroom- Meeting Level
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm
Poster Sessions & Social Hour | Networking Event
Co-Chair: Domagoj Gotovac, Woodard & Curran
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Session 4/Dinner: Enforcement Horror Stories | Education
Co-Chair: Ted Holt, WesTech
Topic: As The World Turns
Whether at work or the local pub, you never know who is listening. Let’s explore how unexpected connections impact environmental enforcement.
Speakers: Leah Ziemba, Michael Best
Topic: “We’ll just pay the fine!”
This presentation will showcase how an industry’s choices directly correlate to day-to-day operational decisions in food processing plants. The largest metal machining operation in the world owned by one of the “Big 3,” made decisions to “Hit your daily production quotas or else!!!!!”. This high-pressure real-time inventory driven environment caused company leaders to put production over compliance, deciding to “pay the fine,” which ultimately led to a wastewater backup into the facility, production space and ultimately a local waterbody. Workers walked off the job. Discussion will include decision points that would have changed the course of events that led to multiple violations levied against the company.
Speaker: Carter Hanson – EMCO
8:00 pm – 8:45 pm
Poster Sessions & Social Hour | Networking Event
Co-Chair: Domagoj Gotovac, Woodard & Curran
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Hospitality Suite, Hosted by Woodard & Curran / Networking Event Location: Goldwater Room- Lobby Level
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
7:00 am – 12:00 pm
Registration
7:00 am – 8:00 am
Breakfast- NEW LOCATION: Grand Ballroom- Ballroom Level. Updated from printed program.
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Session 5: Unlocking Air Compliance: Beyond Permits and Into RMP Insights | Education
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!
Janeth Rodriguez – Molson Coors
Kyle Barfield –Jensen Hughes
9:00 am – 9:45 am
Session 6: Packaging and Waste | Education
9:45 am – 10:00 am
Break
10:00 am – 11:15 am
Session 7: Nutrients/Bio-Gas | Education
Co-Chair: Robert Rust, Riverbend Labs
This session will focus on; the State of the Biogas Market in the US, some very exciting new developments in the digestion of food waste management, and nutrients for cattle. Specifically, we will look at the current status of laws and incentives for biogas projects from DC and any significant state initiatives. Then we will take a deep dive in to a new food waste digestion facility in the NE going to the voluntary market. Finally, we have new information on the use of digestate from rye grass as a feed supplement in the beef cattle market while still making renewable energy. Don’t miss this great opportunity to catch up on the new developments in this technology.
Speakers:
Heather Dziedzic, VP Policy American Biogas Council
Eric Fitch, President, Purpose Energy
11:15 am – 12:30 pm
Ad Hoc Session A: Next Steps on Water Reuse Action Plan 5.7 for Food & Beverage Industry | Education
Co-Chair: Pete Capponi, GHD
11:15 am – 12:30 pm
Ad Hoc Session B: Stormwater | Education
Stormwater management plays a critical role in the food and beverage industry due to the complex relationship between cost, efficiency, regulatory requirements, and environmental impact. Join a group of industry professionals from Conagra, PepsiCo, Mapistry, Amazon, and Gannett Fleming for an open panel discussion on a variety of stormwater topics that are directly related to the food and beverage industry.
Panel Guests: Adam Platt (ConAgra), Tracy Hasson (PepsiCo), Ryan Janoch (Mapistry)
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Technical Tour / Networking Event
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.
Boxed Lunch pick-up: Salon 5. Pre-registered attendees only.
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.
Location: Goldwater Room- Lobby Level
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
Co-Chair: Brian Arnsten, Veolia Water Technologies
Co-Chair: Nathan Lovell
Location: Grand Ballroom-Ballroom Level
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
Co-Chair: Joe Weisgerber, Hixson
Location: Grand Ballroom- Ballroom Level
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
Co-Chair: Anthony Urciuoli, Veolia Water Technologies
Welcome to PFAS 2.0!
The use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is under global scrutiny across multiple authorities and industries. PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are a wide-ranging class of chemical compounds known for their heat resistance, durability, and waterproof qualities. In 2024, U.S. EPA established nationwide, legally enforceable drinking water limits for several well-researched PFAS chemicals.
With ongoing restrictions and bans entering into force at an accelerating pace, it is necessary to be knowledgeable of, and compliant with, the latest regulatory trends. As a follow up to our 2024 session, PFAS 2.0 will include a recap of PFAS chemistry, an update on EPA drinking water regulations and wastewater biosolids, PFAS vulnerability & awareness, and litigation stories based upon real-world food & beverage manufacturing experiences.
Speakers:
Joe Quinnan – Arcadis
Mary Gade – Gade Environmental Group LLC
John Peichel – Veolia
Adam Sowatzka – McGuire Woods
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 - How Do Salts Impact My Plant and What Can I Do? | Education
Impact of Salts on Wastewater Treatment
This presentation will discuss the impact of salts such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium on biological wastewater treatment, specifically addressing how salt imbalances negatively affect microbial floc formation and subsequent settling and dewatering properties. Approaches to mitigating salt imbalances will also be discussed through case studies.
Speaker:
Dr. Matt Higgins
Faculty Director for the Bucknell Center for Sustainability & the Environment
Bucknell University
Additional Case Studies of Combating Salt Impacts on Your WWT Systems
Additional examples will be presented that demonstrate impacts on divalent/monovalent ratio on Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) flux rate, effluent TSS, and effluent aquatic toxicity. Case histories will also be presented that demonstrate impacts on effluent TDS on BOD removal rates and effluent TSS. Lastly, the differences in the effectiveness of substitution practices of traditional products or the addition of products to mitigate imbalances. Followed by Q&A.
Houston Flippin
Brown and Caldwell
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
FBEC 2026 Planning Meeting
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Poster Sessions & Social Hour | Networking Event
Co-Chair: Domagoj Gotovac, Woodard & Curran
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
FBEC Closing Event | Networking Event
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
