7:30am - Networking & Coffee
8:00am - Panel Event
Join Alvernia for a FREE panel event on Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Innovators! We will be discussing innovation and means of taking your company to the next level in both growth and profitability. Sign up today.
MEET THE PANELISTS
Gregg Shemanski, President and co-founder of Custom Processing Services
Gregg Shemanski is President and co-founder of Custom Processing Services, in Reading, PA. He and Jeff Klinger founded the company, which specializes in particle size reduction and allied services for numerous technical grade and cGMP materials, including technical ceramics, waxes, pigments, minerals and pharmaceutical ingredients. CPS excels in commercializing the production of nanoparticles by utilizing fluidized bed jet milling and media milling. The company has grown to over 125 employees at locations in Berks and Montgomery Counties.
Gregg and the company were honored twice by the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and won Governor’s ImPAct Awards in 2013 and 2015.
Gregg had previous experience with pulverizing equipment, micronizing, and mineral processing, including importation of raw material and international manufacturing.
Gregg graduated from Reading Central Catholic High School and earned a Bachelor’s
degree from Lehigh University. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Alvernia University Board of Trustees and is on the boards of Berks Catholic and Immaculate Conception Academy.
Justin Spannuth, Unique Pretzel Baking Co.
Justin Spannuth is part of the 6 th generation of Unique Pretzel Bakery, Inc. in Muhlenberg Township and has been working with the company since 1999. He is dedicated to learning, creating, and growing in whatever he does and he has done just that with Unique Pretzels.
Justin has learned all operations of Unique spending his first 9 years in production understanding the machines, product and baking, and overall production operations. He then moved into a front office roll to start managing the communication of production operations and creating a synergistic approach to wants, needs, and capabilities.
In 2011, Justin and his brother Bill spent time on a strategic approach of new products which included the Pretzel Shells and Sprouted Grain line. Both were unique to the industry and had helped take Unique from a small regional brand to starting to become a nationally recognized name.
With the growth from the new items Unique needed more production so Justin lead his team in land acquisition, building design, equipment purchasing for the new 75,000 sq ft facility.
The cycle of learning, creation, and growth for Justin hasn’t stopped. With no formal post high school education Justin is sure to be engaged with leadership groups and likes to read books on innovation, successes, and leadership.
Today Unique Pretzel’s wholesale business is 5.5x greater than when he moved to the front office in 2008. With new packaging, website/marketing, certifications, and more new industry shaking products on the way Unique is poised for more extreme growth in the next few years.
Linda Anderson, co-founder and managing partner of Anderson Group
With a focus on measurably impacting business success, Linda helps companies grow profitability, build stronger customer relationships and experiences, and compete more effectively in a digitally led world—ultimately adding value to customers and employees.
Linda is the co-founder and managing partner of Anderson Group, a brand marketing and communications agency, where she has acted as a brand strategist and marketing consultant for more than 30 years. Her marketing and brand optimization experience has helped more than 50 companies (start-ups through Fortune 500 companies) evolve and transform using market/customer research, brand platforms, messaging strategies, and integrated marketing and development plans.
Sponsored by Herbein + Company in conjunction with The Center for Entreupreneurial Leadership at Alvernia University, The O'Pake Institute and Leadership Berks.
