Exhibitor
 We’re displaying some newer lines of product at AMI Expo because it is one of the best venues for us to reach food processors. We see key decision makers here and it’s an opportunity for us to network with them in a very short period of time.
Nathan Franck, Industry Manager Extrusion Products, Rehrig Pacific Company
 We are a long-time exhibitor at AMI Expo. We see the decision-makers here and that makes a big difference. Our goal is to show the industry what new technology is out there and how we’re changing the packing industry. Since AMI Expo is dedicated to meat processors, it’s a great venue for us. Bill Nohr, BW Cooney & Associates Inc.
 We’ve been exhibiting at AMI Expo for nearly 20 years. This show gets us face time, so we are assured a strong presence in the meat industry in North America. We have the opportunity to present our new products and new ideas, we can gather more people at one place at one time as opposed to having to travel all over the country. If you’re targeting the meat industry – then you need to be seen here and get access to the people who can make a difference for your business. AMI expo is the best way for our company to do that.
Ron Volk, Ammeraal Beltech Inc.
 We are a first-year exhibitor at AMI Expo. We’ve had a lot of good quality leads who we didn’t know before. Those leads are actively looking for a product or trying to educate themselves. This is by far the best trade show experience we have ever had. We are absolutely planning to exhibit again in Dallas.
Tod Rye, Project Manager, Evans Industrial Coatings Inc.
 We chose to debut our newest product at AMI Expo since we designed the machine to fit this market. It was designed based on customer feedback so it’s great to have them see it live and in person and see the result of that collaboration. We wanted to introduce the product as early in the year as possible, so AMI Expo’s new Spring timing was preferable for our company. At AMI Expo, we can expand market awareness and show off our capabilities in action.
Ernie Newell, Vice President, General Manager, OSSID
 We focus on food safety. Our target market is anyone who handles food processing. AMI Expo drives the right people to our booth who are interested in our products. We are also able to meet other vendors we can partner with.
Jim Sokaitis, National Sales Director, Hill Brush Inc.
 We are the second oldest supplier member of AMI. We are committed to supporting AMI as a critically important organization for the meat industry. We want to be a part of AMI so we can grow the use of meat, consumption of meat and uniqueness of meat in the industry. We exhibit at AMI Expo to show our commitment to the association, to be able to bring new news to the industry, and also to highlight our capabilities to companies we don’t know, so they can understand that we want to be there for them and build long-term relationships.
Christine Carr, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Global Communications, Griffith Laboratories U.S.A.
 As a major supplier to the industry, it is important to engage in a dialogue with our customers to gauge their needs and demonstrate our capabilities. It’s important to support the industry association for our customers. If you want to do business with processors, this is a must-attend event.
Tony Bayat, Former President, American Region, CFS Lifecycle Performance
 We exhibit at AMI Expo for three reasons. To support our existing customers, network with them, and have a single environment where we can show them all our products and reinforce the value. Second, we are an international company and so we like to meet people from around the world who come to AMI Expo. Most importantly, we are here to support the health of the industry as a long-time member of AMI. AMI is the voice of the industry to the government so they can help keep our customers viable and healthy in an ever-challenging regulatory environment.
Karl Deily, President, Cryovac Division, Sealed Air Corporation
 We are based in Germany and building a business in the US, and we thought this would be the best show to come to, based on its industry reputation. People come here to meet, network and see what’s new, they can come see a lot in one place. We exhibit in different countries. Trade shows are a big part of our marketing program.
Steve Allardice, Sales North America, Sealpac USA, LLC
 It’s important to be here to see the people using our pumps and vacuums in their equipment. We had a group from Japan come by the booth who use our vacuum pumps in their machine. It was nice to make that connection.
Richard Riffle, Field Service Specialist, Busch LLC
 It is important for us to show the interested audience about new findings, research activities and developments around high pressure technology. Meat Tech is a great forum to show our expertise because it has a technical and scientific focus. We meet a different audience – mainly quality management and R&D – during our Meat Tech session. The presentation drove more traffic and definitely more awareness of our capabilities.
Francisco Purroy Balda, DVM, Technical Sales Manager, NC Hyperbaric
 The AMI Expo has gotten us excellent leads this year – high-level executives coming through which has helped dramatically to make the show worthwhile.
Brad Kennedy, Industry Manager, Tosca Ltd.
 We think Meat Tech is a great way to help our customers solve their sodium reduction challenges. We’ve been pleasantly surprised at the turn out and the positive feedback. 70% of Meat Tech attendees have gone over to our booth afterwards. We’ve gotten good leads that will turn into relationships and potentially new business. I’m sure we’ll sign up to participate again next year.
Doyle Keffer, Quality Assurance Technical Services Manager, Salt and Deicing Technology, Cargill |
Attendee
 We are here trying to stay on top of the newest capabilities for our facility and buy new equipment to keep ahead of our competition. The only way to do that is at AMI Expo – when I am here, I can lay my hands and eyes on the equipment to see if it will do what I need it to do, without wasting time or money.
Jerry O’Brien, Plant Manager, Ramarc Foods Inc.
 Sustainability is definitely the way we need to be thinking about our resources … protecting our resources … the classes really supported that. We’re also looking for some equipment to use in our plant – you get to actually see and feel the equipment and the products. When you see them in action, that makes a difference.
Todd Hill, Director of Hoss’s Central Processing, HFX Incorporated
 If you want to meet the industry, it can only happen at AMI Expo. We brought a team of 16 people – from plant managers to project managers to operations and quality assurance – everyone sees the equipment at the same time and they can address their specific areas of interest. It is hard to get the team together at one time, under one roof, along with the multiple manufacturers it takes to run an efficient program, and AMI Expo is that opportunity.
No one does education like AMI. It is thorough; they bring the best industry experts to present. The classes this week were standing-room only – that speaks volumes. AMI Expo provides a great opportunity to discuss key industry issues and set a common direction.
Larry Odom, Chairman and CEO, Odom’s Tennessee Pride Sausage, Inc.
 There are three unique benefits that differentiate AMI Expo for our industry. First, the scale of the show: it is really one-stop-shopping. All of the equipment suppliers are here along with the key ingredients, under one roof. Second, it’s the best place for new ideas: you see the latest technology and capabilities that will generate new ideas for your business. Third, the networking opportunities: you can interact with decision-makers across the industry.
Nick Meriggioli, President, Kraft Foods/Oscar Mayer
 I have been coming to AMI Expo for twelve years. At this event, you have a lot of time to talk to suppliers whom you might not be aware of. You can find out what’s new, what needs to be done. Big time networking happens here.
Sarid Shefet, Ph.D., RDI Foods
 I came to AMI Expo from Brazil because I wanted to know about the nutrients, food technology, ingredients, and equipment that would be useful for us in both the domestic and foreign market. The classes were very good and focused on natural technologies which are important for us.
Henrique Leão Mattar, Research and Development, Sadia S.A.
 AMI is one of the most important shows in the world. This is my first time. I found it easy to do business. I want to see the new technologies and which new products are important for my business.
João Felipe Ferraz Yunes, R&D Coordinator, FUCHS Gewürze Brasil Ltd.
 I’d recommend AMI Expo because it is a diverse show with a lot of companies, new trends and products.
Joe Naresh, Account Manager, Hela Spice Canada Inc.
 I come every year because I get to see all of the suppliers and I get to see other processors I do business with. The quality of education AMI presents is excellent. I’ll be back next year because I had enough time to talk to my vendors in-depth.
Cody Lane, President, Pederson’s Natural Farms
 This is my first time at AMI Expo. It’s a great place to meet people. I was also looking for a specific machine. Everyone comes to these shows to meet other processors and share ideas. I like that the education is all-inclusive with my registration.
Ian Newbury, U.S.A. National Sales Director, Les Viandes du Breton, Inc.
 As a European food producer I like to get the information on what is going on in the Americas, because we typically see it here first. If I come to AMI Expo, I can catch up with the latest innovations and ingredients.
Paul Vos, Commercial Director, De Korrel Beheer B.V.
 This is my first time at AMI Expo. We’re diversifying our poultry company into different types of meat products. We want to establish contacts with different suppliers, we’re looking for equipment for a new plant. I attended the conference sessions, they were very good for business management and strategic thinking. The quality of education surpassed my expectations.
Joaquin H. Siles Rivera, IMBA
 We came to AMI Expo looking for specifics to help us make some changes in our business. We made appointments with the vendors we needed to see and had good one-on-one time with them. The vendors we needed to see are all here. I also participated in the conference – the session on trends for 2011 was very informative. Absolutely we found new ideas we’ll bring back to the plant.
Keith Rose, Operations Optimization Manager, New Food Classics
 For processing companies it is very convenient to get the whole production chain presented all in one place.
Victor Biryukov, CEO, Talina
 I came with some specific goals but also just wanted to see what was new. It helps expand our horizons. You can come here to learn about the latest in equipment and ingredients and meet new people. And the education sessions are outstanding.
Karen Malsom, Director of Innovation, Land O’Frost
 I’m a new attendee who is trying to get into the marketplace. I came to AMI Expo to gain a better understanding of the players and the opportunities. I have a product and I want to see if it has an application in food processing.
Craig Reuter, Sales and Marketing Manager, Phygen Coatings, Inc.
 I’ve been coming to AMI Expo for four years. Being in R&D it is nice to get a glimpse of what’s coming our way. There is a nice mix inside the exhibit hall that is unique to AMI Expo; it is geared to what I do on a daily basis. For a first-timer, it’s a great experience, the networking you can do, the people you meet, the suppliers who are genuinely asking, can I offer anything to help you – there’s a lot of networking that actually goes on.
Jay Scroggins, Associated Process Development Scientist, Johnsonville Sausage LLC
 AMI Expo is a wonderful opportunity to see in a large setting all of the equipment that is available for the industry. There are certain projects our team would like to do in 2011 and 2012 and we are looking ahead to see what equipment and services are available that could support those new processes. AMI brings together the best of the equipment providers in our industry – allowing us to do a lot of work all in one place. The most important thing for us is to stay cost efficient in our operations and AMI Expo, through its equipment offerings, helps us take advantage of that, when we see new equipment or products that can help us lower operational costs and stay competitive. Beyond the exhibits, our team can take advantage of cost-effective education. The quality and scope of the AMI education program is very good, it is on target with what is needed and getting better every year.
Dennis Vignieri, President and CEO, Kenosha Beef International Ltd.
 If you are a first-timer at AMI Expo, you will be amazed and the excitement will last all day. It’s bigger and represents more than you would think. We always bring our top decision-makers to AMI Expo because the equipment really fits with our operations. We bring more people to this show than any other. They can see what’s new for the industry and what we can add to our operations. All the top decision-makers are here – we see people that we sell to and also our competitors – it is always good to get together and reacquaint ourselves.
Greg Benedict, COO and President, American Foods Group, LLC
 I came to AMI Expo because I wanted to get an idea of the breadth of the industry, a broader understanding of the industry, and I absolutely achieved that. It’s worth your time to attend. It’s a positive experience. AMI Expo is an opportunity for me to see an “A-HA” product or process that I never even thought of before.
Curt Hyzy, Controller, Ed Miniat Inc.
 I try to keep networking with others in the meat packing business – I try to catch up with whatever is going on in the industry. We are having trouble with trade issues and I took this opportunity to meet with some people from the American Meat Institute. I am very hopeful there are things that will improve the trade between the US and El Salvador. I learned a lot while I was here – AMI always has very good speakers, this year was no exception.
Juan E. Hernandez, Director of Operations, La Unica Hernandez Hermanos
 We had a few projects we were looking for equipment, software and technology, and then walking around and networking we found other solutions as well. The education sessions were great – entertaining and educational – and a perspective I can really respect. It’s up to us as manufacturers to come up with products that meet healthier standards and so it’s nice to come here to see the new ingredients we can test with the rest of our product development team back home. It’s eye-opening – you don’t know until you experience it – and very educational.
Tanner Helm, Product Development Manager, Cloverdale Foods Company
 I’m new to the industry. I came looking mainly for ingredients – I came with a few projects in mind and the vendors have been able to provide me information immediately. You can talk one-on-one with the experts in the booth. I’ve also attended the education so I can combine learning in the classroom with the learning and interaction inside the exhibit hall.
Tabitha Roybal, Scientist I, Research and Development, Sara Lee Corporation
I am here because our company touches almost all of the meat industry. We are here to meet our partners, and to see what’s new in the industry. We know we have to adapt our technology and knowledge to existing equipment. AMI Expo is the best place to do that.
Ciprian Gaina, R&D Senior Scientist, Newly Weds Foods, Inc.
The education is our top reason to attend. The topics in the classes were very good and definitely met my expectations.
Angel Besta, Technical Resources Manager, Greater Omaha Packing Co., Inc.
I come to AMI Expo to see the new technology because it’s the most related show for my business. We found some things that we will take back to the plant and discuss, and hopefully find it applicable to our business. AMI Expo facilitates that process – they bring everything together so it’s easy to look at all phases of our operation under one roof
Steve Armstrong, VP Operations, PM Beef
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