“Is anyone having difficulty in closing on some of your projects with processors?” That simple question brought forth an avalanche of responses. “We are bidding on more projects than ever, but the customers can’t seem to pull the trigger.” “The money just isn’t there.” “Banks aren’t even looking at new financing.”
That question and the ensuing responses took place at a board of directors meeting of the Meat Industry Suppliers Alliance (MISA) last March at the FPSA Annual Conference in Cancun. The board was discussing potential topics for the annual Operations Conference that MISA sponsors every September. And, since he raised the question, Gil Williams, President of Poly-clip System, was appointed to head up a program committee to develop a conference which would address the topic of financing. What followed is really a description of not only the development of a conference, but the essence of what an association is all about.
Following the meeting at which the Ops Conference was discussed, Gil attended the opening reception of the FPSA Annual Conference. There he met a first-timer to the conference and brand new member of FPSA, Bob Seeds, President of International Financial Services Corporation (IFS). Bob expressed great interest in the topic of new financial strategies to meet today’s challenges and volunteered his services to the conference.
Another conversation at a networking break led Gil to a regional accounting firm located in Chicago that was developing some innovative approaches working with food processors in project financing and other financial strategies. The accounting firm, Blackman Kallick, recommended that Gil contact Wells Fargo Bank who also had increased its profile in the food industry. And thus from one contact to another…a phone conversation here and an e-mail there, the 2010 Financial Strategies Seminar was born.
While the conference was developed by MISA, because of the timely nature of the topic and its reach into all facets of the food industry, all FPSA members are invited to attend and participate. Not only is this a timely topic for CFO’s, but many companies will be sending their key sales people as well. Some of the speakers will be inviting some of their processor accounts to the seminar and we will encourage members to invite their customers as well.
If you are interested in learning more about the program, please go to http://www.fpsa.org/council-events or call our office for a program brochure. And, next time you have a question or an issue dealing with your business, let us know and maybe we can create the next seminar as a response to that question.
Sincerely,
David Seckman, President
FPSA
