As we, our members and the rest of the world continue navigating challenges, changes, inconveniences and opportunities, we find ourselves re-emerging into a community revitalized by passion, resilience and gratitude. This past fiscal year we were gifted a sense of normalcy, in that we could return to our regular, in-person event schedule while also continuing to utilize and grow our digital capabilities.
Thank you to our supporters – sponsors, donors, speakers, exhibitors, instructors and volunteers – for continuing to show up for PMCA and the industry. Whether you’ve been with us for decades or only a few months, we appreciate you.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate all we’ve accomplished together since July 1, 2022! We’re really proud and we think you should be, too.
VOLUNTEERS
“It’s really amazing when you think that many of us work for competitor companies, and in the marketplace, we compete. But we take our hats off when we come into these rooms and we work for the good of the industry, which I think is just a really unique thing we have within the confectionery industry.” – Steve Genzoli, PMCA President, 2023 Annual Meeting of Members
80+
VOLUNTEERS
60+
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Welcome, New Board Directors!
David Hambright, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates
Anne Puzak, Mars
INDUSTRY EDUCATION
Thank you to our course hosts!
Panning Course | Paulaur Corporation, NJ
“Great class! Thank you so much for the opportunity to network and grow in knowledge and skill in the confection industry!” – Course Attendee
Premium Chocolate Centers Course | Tomric Systems, Inc., NY
“Thank you for all the great information and hands-on, PMCA and all the instructors were patient, thorough, knowledgeable and professional – great people ALL. Long live chocolate! ” – Course Attendee
50
ATTENDEES
from 26
DIFFERENT COMPANIES
12
INSTRUCTORS & ASSISTANTS
Learn more about these and other past courses on our course highlights page, where you can find who instructed, who attended, who donated and lots of photos.
ANNUAL PRODUCTION CONFERENCE
“This was my first year and I will absolutely be going back! I loved the variety of topics that were covered…it was great to hear other people’s perspective and hear the little things that got my gears turning about random problems. I LOVED how open everyone was to just introducing themselves and made me feel right at home. I left with a very happy heart, and I was sad it was over!” – 2023 Conference Attendee
583
ATTENDEES
106
EXHIBITORS
22
PRESENTERS
23
EVENT SPONSORS
19
CANDY DONORS
The Annual Production Conference is our largest event and takes all year to plan. Our Program Committee volunteers put tons of time and consideration into making each year informative and fun, with lots of opportunities for networking. Learn more about the conference here.
RECOGNITION
Marie Kelso Memorial Award
“Many of you know that between the time I had agreed to do the paper, back in 2021 to do it for 2022…I had kind of a traumatic event in my life….So, what I learned quickly after that was something I always knew in my heart but this confirmed it….The people in this industry just proved to me how special this industry is….If I can give back only 10 percent of what this industry has given me, I will feel that my career has been truly successful.” – Pam Gesford, The Hershey Company
Distinguished Service Award
“I attended my first American candy conference in April 1960, 63 years ago. It was the PMCA production conference held at Franklin & Marshall, right here in Lancaster. I guess that’s when I fell in love with PMCA. And 63 years later, here I am this evening, receiving this award.” – Reg Ohlson, retired, Mars Inc.
Dennis L. Zak Education Award
“I didn’t know this was an industry as a child, I always thought that this was a dream to be able to make candy and be Willy Wonka.…Being able to feel welcome in a community like this is beyond anything I could have ever asked for. Thank you so much for this award and thank you so much for being welcoming toward future generations of food scientists, confectionery scientists and food creators.” – Skylar Moreno, University of Florida
Cheers to 20 Years!
“I’ve said this many times throughout my years with PMCA and I still say it today, that I’ve been really blessed to spend most of my career in this industry…I’d really like to thank all of you, for helping to make such fond memories for so long. We’ve done a lot of events together, we’ve laughed together, we’ve made candy together, we’ve shared stories together and most of all, we’ve had fun together.” – Yvette Thomas, PMCA Chief Operations Officer
STUDENT OUTREACH PROGRAM
“I appreciated how kind everyone was. Not only in the program, but the whole industry. I never felt out of place or unwelcome….Thank you for this amazing opportunity! I hope to return very soon.” – Student Outreach Program Participant
23
2023 STUDENT PARTICIPANTS
11
UNIVERSITIES
14
MENTORS
396
TOTAL STUDENT PARTICIPANTS
Are you interested in helping guide future generations of confectionery professionals? Become a student mentor! Learn more about the program here.
LEARNCANDY ONLNE RESOURCE FOR MEMBERS
“I just opened my LearnCandy portal. I LOVE this! THIS is a fabulous reason to become a PMCA member, in my opinion.” – Thalia Hohenthal, Guittard Chocolate Company
“I thought it all looked great and was super easy to search/use. Great work bringing access to so many valuable materials!” Meriel Loquasto, Mars
275
DOWNLOADS
533
DOWNLOADABLE FILES
49%
AUDIENCE GROWTH
121%
INCREASE IN TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS
LOOKING FORWARD
Distinguished Service Award Nomination Period
Opens Sept. 1, 2023
Learn More
What Makes Chocolate So Good? The Art & Science of Chocolate Processing
Save the Date: Feb. 27-29, 2024
Hosted by Utah State University
Contact us to be notified when registration opens
77th Annual Production Conference
Save the Date: April 15-17, 2024
Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square
Lancaster, PA
OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH US
VOLUNTEER
There are lots of ways to contribute your enthusiasm, knowledge and talents to the association. Join a committee, help instruct a course, present at our conference or become a student mentor. There are lots of opportunities to become involved. Contact us to find the right fit for you.
DONATE
Companies that donate ingredients, product, equipment and other items to our events contribute immensely to their success. Contributors are recognized in event materials, on our website and in press releases. Contact us if you’re interested in donating in the future.
HOST
We would not be able to deliver high-value courses without the generosity of our host facilities. Benefits of hosting include complimentary registration for up to two employees as well as recognition in the trade press and several PMCA publications. Contact us to learn more about hosting.
PMCA STAFF
Yvette Thomas
Chief Operations Officer
Brandy Kresge
Project Manager & Operations Assistant
Rachel Halkias
Marketing Projects Manager & Operations Assistant
To each and every one of our volunteers and members, we’d like to say
We hope you’ll continue to learn, connect and grow with us as we move into our 2023/2024 fiscal year.
PMCA is an international association that enhances the companies and careers of confectionery and snack professionals through inspired learning and the building of long-term personal connections, which empowers our members to create products that bring people joy.
Produced by Rachel Halkias, PMCA Marketing Projects Manager & Operations Assistant in conjunction with PMCA staff