OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS, U.S. — The International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) elected a new president, vice-president and treasurer during its 117th annual conference and expo in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on May 2.

Joel Hoffa, corporate milling engineer at The Mennel Milling Company, in Fostoria, Ohio, U.S., was elected the 109th president of IAOM; Damon Sidles, plant manager at Miller Milling Company, in Fresno, California, U.S., was elected vice-president; and Roy Loepp, senior project engineer with Seaboard Overseas and Trading Group, Merriam, Kansas, U.S., was elected treasurer.

Hoffa announced the theme for his presidency: Input, Engage and Excel with the IAOM. Hoffa has been an active member of the IAOM since 1981. He has served as a director, representing the Gateway, Ohio Valley and Flour City Districts at different points in his career. He served as treasurer of the association from 2011-12; and vice-president from 2012-13, during which time he was also president of the International Milling Education Foundation (IMEF), a philanthropic partner of IAOM. 

Hoffa is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. He joined ADM Milling Company in 1975, and worked at the Atkinson Mill in Minneapolis until 1978, when he left to pursue a degree in milling science-operations at Kansas State University (KSU). Upon completion of his bachelor’s degree in milling science in 1980, Hoffa took a job at Pillsbury in Ogden, Utah, U.S., and stayed with the company until 1992, moving from plants in Los Angeles, California, U.S., Enid, Oklahoma, U.S., and St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. He remained in St. Louis with ADM Milling Company until 1993, when he moved to Wichita, Kansas, U.S., with Cereal Food Processors, Inc., as plant superintendent. In 1995, Hoffa joined The Mennel Milling Company as plant manager in Fostoria. In 2008, he was promoted to the corporate position of milling engineer where he currently works with all of Mennel Milling’s flour mills.

Sidles is in line to serve as the association’s president from 2014-15. Sidles has been an active member of IAOM since 1993. 

Sidles represented the Golden West District on the IAOM board of directors from 2008-12, and has served as a member of the IAOM Technical Committee since 2000. While serving as IAOM vice-president, Sidles will serve as president of the IMEF. Sidles has served as a trustee of the foundation since it was established in 2003.

Sidles is a native of Great Bend, Kansas, U.S. He graduated from KSU in 1991, with a degree in milling science and management. He joined ConAgra Mills and moved with the company from plants in Decatur, Alabama, U.S., Wabasha, Minnesota, U.S., Alton, Illinois, U.S., Blackwell, Oklahoma, U.S., and Oakland, California, U.S. In 1997, he started working at Miller Milling in Fresno, and took over as the facility’s plant manager in 2000. Sidles also serves on the board of the California Wheat Commission.

Loepp is in line to serve as the association’s president from 2015-16. Loepp has been an active member of IAOM since 1990. 

Loepp has served as a member of the IAOM Education Committee since 2000. While serving as IAOM treasurer, Loepp will also be vice-president of the International Milling Education Foundation (IMEF), a philanthropic partner of IAOM that funds a variety of educational programs related to the grain milling industry. 

Loepp is a native of Inman, Kansas, U.S. He graduated from KSU in 1989, with a degree in milling science and management. He joined Cargill, Inc., as a production manager, and worked with the company in plants in Topeka, Kansas, U.S. and Springfield, Illinois, U.S.  In 1995, he took a milling technologist position at Seaboard Corporation in Merriam. In 2001, he was promoted to his current position. Loepp has a master’s of business administration from the University of Kansas.