James Walsh, Tate & Lyle

James (Jake) Walsh’s award-winning presentation Formulation Challenges & Solutions in Reduced Sugar Gummies was given Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the 77^th Annual Production Conference. The award will be presented at the 78^th Annual Production Conference dinner held April 8, 2025 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square.

Jake Walsh is a tech service scientist with the food and beverage solutions business unit of Tate & Lyle. His work focuses on reducing sugar in confections, and nutrition bars specifically through fibers and rare sugars. Most of his time is focused on attempting to make no sugar added gelatin or pectin gummies whose texture is close to full sugar gummies.

Jake graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2015 and joined Tate & Lyle shortly after.

Marie Kelso served as secretary to the Production Conference Committee for 38 years, and her name became synonymous with the event itself. In her youth, she was secretary to Hans Dresel, a salesman for Felton Chemical Company in Philadelphia, PA. As her boss worked tirelessly to organize and promote the PMCA Annual Production Conference, as well as AACT events, she organized and managed tirelessly as well.

After Marie left her job at Felton Chemical, the production conference became her life’s work. She was also active for many years in the Philadelphia Section of AACT.

Marie Kelso passed away in September 1995.

Jenna Derhammer, Blommer Chocolate Company

Ms. Derhammer presented There’s No Sugarcoating It: Formulating with Alternative Sugar Ingredients in Chocolate Tuesday, April 18, 2023 during the 76th Annual Production Conference.

Pam Gesford, The Hershey Company

Ms. Gesford presented Rheology of Sweets April Monday, 11, 2022 during the 75th Annual Production Conference.

Sarah Woodling Houle, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

Ms. Houle presented Nuts, Almonds, Chocolate – Functionality, Shelf Life & Liking August 10, 2021 during the 74th Annual Production Conference, which was conducted virtually.

Nina Puch, Knechtel, Inc.

Ms. Puch presented Advancements in Gummies Wednesday, April 18, 2019 during the 73rd Annual Production Conference.

Carly Meck, Blommer Chocolate Company

Ms. Meck presented Mysteries of Conching Revealed Wednesday, April 18, 2018 during the 72nd Annual Production Conference.

Jeffrey Bogusz, Ferrara Candy Company

Mr. Bogusz presented Panning Equipment – Classic, Belt, Automated and Future State of the Art as part of the Basics & Beyond Seminar Monday April 3, 2017 during the 71st Annual Production Conference.

John Ashby, California Natural Products

Mr. Ashby presented Beyond Corn Syrup as part of the Basics & Beyond Seminar Monday April 11, 2016 during the 70th Annual Production Conference.

Mark Kline, The Hershey Company

Mr. Kline presented Natural Pasteurization of Tree Nuts & Peanuts Wednesday, April 15, 2015 during the 69th Annual Production Conference.

Kerry Kaylegian, The Pennsylvania State University

Ms. Kaylegian presented Milk-Derived Ingredients for Confections as part of the Basics & Beyond Seminar Monday, April 14, 2014 during the 68th Annual Production Conference.