Washington Potato Conference to host two keynotes next February

The ever-expanding Washington State Potato Conference & Trade Show will turn another corner in February 2007 when it showcases two keynote speakers at the annual event in Moses Lake.

Ed Barlow will deliver the first keynote “Would You Know Opportunity If You Tripped Over It?” at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at BBCC’s ATEC Conference Center.  President of Creating the Future, Inc., Ed Barlow's insight and experience have been incorporated into a variety of settings including keynotes, think tanks, seminars and strategic planning activities averaging over 120 a year.  He has undertaken economic development for then-Governor Dirk Kempthorne and facilitated a Rural Economic Development Summit for Idaho. 

In addition to regular media interviews, Ed Barlow has testified before Congress regarding issues of workforce, transportation, travel and tourism.  A list of clients includes the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, National Association of Farm Coops, Federal Express, Growmark, Hewlett Packard, Federal Reserve Bank Systems, Kimberly Clark, the U.S. Navy, CEMIG of Brazil, Paine Webber and Pepsi.  Ed Barlow holds a Master's degree in management from the University of Notre Dame.  His speech will again be videocast to the Trade Show Stage at the Ardell Pavilion at Grant County Fairgrounds.

“The keynote address has become a very popular feature of the Conference,” says Dale Lathim, president of the Conference board of directors.  “We got an enormously positive response to Lowell Catlett this year, so we looked for someone else who could address the challenges of farming.  Additionally, the guys said ‘Bring back Ray Cesca.’”

Ray Cesca was the first Conference keynote speaker in 2003.  Because he was scheduled as the Conference opener and people weren’t used to having a keynote, a number of attendees missed his speech.  Cesca is the former Managing Director of McDonald’s World Trade.  He helped craft world trade strategies that were used in emerging regional trading blocks and negotiated with governments to make a borderless environment within the McDonald’s system.  As Director of Global Purchasing for McDonald’s, he guided the process of moving from a country specific supply system to a global network.

Cesca is currently founder, President and CEO of GAEÁ International, specializing in supply chain integration. Focusing primarily in the food and agricultural sectors, GAEÁ promotes the development of small to medium sized enterprises and enables them to compete aggressively in international trade.  He will speak at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8 at BBCC’s ATEC Conference Center on “Is the World Becoming Flat?”.

With the additional keynote come other changes in the event schedule.  The Trade Show will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for two full days, Feb. 6-7.  The Production Sessions will be held 8:20-11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7, and 8:20-11 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8.

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2007 Washington State Potato Conference and Trade Show

Schedule

Subject to change

Monday, February 5

5-7 p.m.              Early Bird Reception                           Best Western Lake Inn

Tuesday, February 6

                        Spouses program                             

9 a.m.-5 p.m.      Trade Show                                     Ardell Pavilion, Fairgrounds

8 a.m.                Continental Breakfast                         ATEC East Gallery, BBCC

8:30 a.m. - 12:30    Spanish session                                ATEC Conference Center , BBCC

10 a.m. - 12 noon   Cultivar Performance Workshop            ATEC Conference Center, BBCC

5-7 p.m.              Trade Show Reception                        Ardell Pavilion, Fairgrounds

Wednesday, February 7

                        Spouses program

9 a.m.-5 p.m.      Trade Show                                     Ardell Pavilion, Fairgrounds

8 a.m.                Continental Breakfast                         ATEC East Gallery, BBCC

8:20-11 a.m.        Production sessions                            ATEC Conference Center , BBCC

11 a.m. - 12  noon Keynote – Ed Barlow                           ATEC Conference Center, BBCC

12:30-1:30 p.m.    Potato Bar                                       Ardell Pavilion, Fairgrounds

6-9 p.m.              Potato Foundation Banquet

Thursday, February 8

8 a.m.                Continental Breakfast                         ATEC East Gallery, BBCC

8:20-11 a.m.       Production sessions                            ATEC Conference Center , BBCC

11:a.m.- 12 noon   Keynote – Ray Cesca                         ATEC Conference Center, BBCC

Noon – 1 p.m.     Lunch break                                     ATEC, BBCC

1- 4:30 p.m.       Production sessions                            ATEC Conference Center , BBCC

Karen Bonaudi
Assistant Executive Director
Washington State Potato Commission
108 Interlake Road
Moses Lake   WA   98837
509.765.8845 phone
509.765.4853 fax

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