The International Society of Beverage Technologists (ISBT) offers our industry a great forum to collaborate on the challenges and threats to our business. The best part of ISBT is how technically focused we are. Experts from across the industry are able to work together, share knowledge, network, and create change. The Guidelines generated from ISBT allow the industry to harmonize and focus. The programs and meetings are able to inform on key concerns, trends, and new technology which will drive us forward. Being able to develop relationships, both professional and social, here in ISBT is what keeps me coming back every year.

The ISBT is a great meeting point for the Beverage Industry community, the society allows meeting people from all different technical areas of the beverage industry, and different regions of the world, then we can be able to not only befriend them but learn from each other and share knowledge and experiences that help our beverage business. Also, the ISBT allows to all members access to updated guidelines and knowledge according to the beverage market evolution, using that valuable information has given me a better understanding of the issues and facts of the beverage production lines, so I can offer faster and more accurate solutions to my customers.

The work done by ISBT serves to create a lasting legacy. Future generations in the beverage industry will use ISBT to learn from as they start and expand their career. Similarly, the ISBT Guidelines help guide and ensure the quality and safety of beverages globally. Helping to shape and create that legacy is personally very rewarding.

What I love about ISBT is that is a wonderful society where I feel at home my professional and personal interests, where I can easily collaborate with professionals across the globe. It is a special society where competitors in the market become partners in the betterment of the industry as a whole, where diverse voices will be heard to share what we know, where we can learn and have fun along the way. I have been honored to meet a lot of wonderful and highly skilled professionals in different areas of the industry. Many of them I am happy to call my friends. I have learned along the way with ISBT, increasing my knowledge of the industry and ISBT has enormously enhanced my professional network.

No other professional society has the depth and breadth of technical leaders as compared to ISBT. As an executive for a small company, I have the opportunity to collaborate with global leaders in the beverage industry, and often find our involvement has an immediate impact on technical, scientific and regulatory issues. As an active member, I've experienced significant personal and professional growth, an attribute common amongst members of the society.

There are many things that I love about the ISBT. Being a member of the ISBT has meant to me a lot of rewarding moments from meeting exceptional beverage industry professionals to contributing to the education of important subjects such as beverage microbiological control and sanitation. I have also gained a lot of knowledge from the excellent programs that the ISBT prepares every year. They always cover the current technologies, packaging, regulations, ingredients, innovative sanitation and microbial control technologies, and water treatment — among others. I am proud to be a part of this organization.

The ability to network with colleagues from across the industry.

It provides an informal, thought provoking forum where producers and solution providers can come together, exchange ideas, and further the cause of improving state of ART in beverage production. It also facilitates production of unique guidelines, assembled by industry experts, as well as several good refresher topics in the basics of Beverage manufacture. When it comes to beverages, if you have problems, you will most likely locate possible avenues to pursue solutions at ISBT.

I have had many roles in operations, engineering, innovation, and supply chain, and the ISBT has brought value to me in all of these roles, which created a benefit to my company. The ability to have visibility to all of the issues, advances, and changes in the industry allowed me to prepare my organization for the future. Being part of an organization that gives you the opportunity to talk openly and directly to the people who have the knowledge to identify / quantify the problems facing the industry and have them provide you with actionable steps to take that will solve that problem at your business is invaluable.