KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, U.S. — The 2014 Purchasing Seminar will be THE seminar for purchasing executives to attend. The 37th annual seminar takes place June 1-3, at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

Featuring 22 different presentations and speakers of critical importance to purchasing executives, along with new opportunities for engaging with attendees. Early bird registration ends May 15, 2014, and space is filling up faster than ever. Register today to ensure you are in the front row of this year’s most talked about event.

Letter from the President

The Purchasing Seminar will be here soon, and we are expanding this year's program as well as moving the annual gathering to the newly updated Kansas City Sheraton hotel. This year is our 37th event and our speakers will again provide a broad and in-depth perspective on the current markets and the outlook for the year ahead. The opening evening reception will be Sunday, June 1, at the historic Union Station across from the hotel. 
 
This year's seminar will feature 22 different presentations and speakers along with new opportunities for engaging with attendees. The expectations are for 2014 to bring the largest audience, and the new venue and facilities will create a setting for a productive and positive experience for years to come. For more information, please contact Christina Sullivan at 816-756-100 or csullivan@sosland.com. You may also visit: www.purchasingseminar.com. 
 
We look forward to seeing you later this spring and hope that you're planning to attend Sosland Publishing's annual Purchasing Seminar.

Mark Sabo
President
Sosland Publishing

 
2014 PURCHASING SEMINAR AGENDA
                                                                                                                                                
Sunday, June 1

2:00 – 4:30 p.m.            MARKET FUNDAMENTALS
Chris Morley, Chief Executive Officer/Owner, Global Risk Management Corp.

6:00 – 7:30 p.m.   Cocktails 
            
Monday, June 2
            
6:30 – 8:00 a.m.            Breakfast 
 
8:15 – 8:20 a.m.     WELCOMING REMARKS
Mark Sabo, President, Sosland Publishing Co.

8:20 – 9:05 a.m.        GRAINS AND THE GLOBAL FOOD DEMAND                                         
Steve Freed, Vice-president of Research, ADM Investor Services, Inc.

9:05 – 9:50 a.m.       WHEAT AND WORLD PROSPECTS FOR NEW CROP                            
Bill Lapp, President, Advanced Economic Solutions

9:50 – 10:20 a.m.      FEED GRAINS AND MILLFEED
Ankush Bhandari, Director of Economic Research, The Gavilon Group L.L.C.

10:20 – 10:45 a.m.    BREAK

10:45 – 11:35 a.m.    WORLD WEATHER AND THE IMPACT ON MARKETS
Drew Lerner, President, World Weather, Inc.

11:35 a.m. – 12 p.m.    GRAINS PANEL

Moderator:         Hayden Wands, Bimbo Bakeries, USA

Panelists:          Paul Meyers, Foresight Commodity Services, Inc.
Steve Freed, ADM Investor Services, Inc.
Matt Beeson, Beeson & Associates, Inc.
Bill Lapp, Advanced Economic Solutions

12:00 – 1:30 p.m.          LUNCH 
                  
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.       SUGARS/SWEETENERS                                   
Pedro Figueroa, Business Development Director, ED&F Man Sugar 
Paul Meyers, Chief Agricultural Economist, Foresight Commodity Services, Inc.

2:15 – 2:45 p.m.       EDIBLE OILS AND SHORTENING 
Paul Meyers, Chief Agricultural Economist, Foresight Commodity Services, Inc.

2:45 – 3:15 p.m.       SHORTENING PANEL
Moderator:        Matt Beeson, Beeson & Associates, Inc. 
Panelists:          Paul Meyers, Foresight Commodity Services, Inc.
Steve Freed, ADM Investor Services, Inc. 
Brian Harris, Global Risk Management Corp. 
Dave Reeble, Moving Parts, L.L.C. 
                        
3:15 – 3:30 p.m.        BREAK                                                                                                             
                                                                                                
3:30 – 4:15 p.m.        Breakout Session I – Choices Below
            
DAIRY 
Sara Dorland, Analyst, Daily Dairy Report
                        
SPICES 
Thomas Schmidt, Jr., Vice-president of Sales and Client Services, Van de Vries Spice Corp.
                                   
NUTS 
Chris Nubern, Vice-president of Procurement, Flagstone Foods
                        
PROTEINS 
Steve Meyer, President, Paragon Economics, Inc.

4:20 – 5:00  p.m.  Breakout Session II – Choices Below

EGGS 
Richard Broad, Vice-president, Bender-Goodman Co., Inc.                      

COCOA
Kip Walk, Director of Cocoa, Blommer Chocolate Co.

FRUIT 
Derek Klein, Regional Sales, Batory Foods - Massey Fair

PROTEINS 
Steve Meyer, President, Paragon Economics, Inc.

6 – 8 p.m. Cocktails & Hors D’oeuvres 
  
Tuesday, June 3

6:30 – 8:00 a.m.            Breakfast 
 
8:30 – 9:30  a.m.      GLOBAL ECONOMY & MARKET ISSUES
Ron Insana, Senior Analyst, CNBC, Financial Industry Expert

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.     THE KEY ENERGY COMPONENTS AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE NEAR TERM
Tim Statts, Vice-president of Risk Management, Schneider Electric

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.    BREAK

10:45 – 11:15  a.m.  THE RAPIDLY CHANGING DYNAMICS OF TRANSPORTATION
John H. Miller, Group Vice-president of Agricultural Products, BNSF Railway

11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.    CONSUMER DYNAMICS
Charlie Arnot, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Food Integrity