How far are you willing to go for non-dues revenue?  How about Egypt or Thailand?  Those are two of the places the Global Cold Chain Alliance, led by CEO Bill Hudson, has been running educational programs using the association’s expertise here.
 
The Alexandria-based Alliance is an umbrella group that includes a foundation (World Food Logistics Organization), and three associations (for Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold Storage Construction, and Refrigerated Transportation.  What the heck does “cold chain” mean?  Bill tells us that refers to the steps that get the food you eat “from the farm gate to the food plate.” Doing it right takes know-how, and Bill has lent his association’s knowledge (they have 13 scientists on staff) to USAID, USDA, EU, and UN programs that teach the skills abroadfor example, in the Philippines, Ghana, and Ethiopia, where it’s teaching the beef industry to export.

Besides being good for the Alliance’s bottom line, the educational gigs further Bill’s mission to “maximize the international component” of its operations in the global food industry.  (Bill is also CEO of the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses, which has 450 corporate members from 65 different countries.)  He also likes the humanitarian aspect:  for instance, helping women in distressed Mozambique become successful exporters of chicken. In the fall, the Alliance and its members donated time, services, and storage space to the International Breast Milk Project and helped it distribute 55,000 ounces of breast milk to needy children in South Africa and Tanzania.

Despite his passion for international work and travelthat whole wall is covered with pics from abroadBill says he’s “keeping his eye on the ball” in North America, which still generates most of Alliance dues and remains his focus. A big part of that is being responsive to members; he makes it the Alliance’s goal to answer all questions within 24 hours.  We decided to test him. Bill answered immediately:  “Ice cream is ideally stored at 20 degrees.”