Tag Archives: seminar

pH Workshop

phThe course will be facilitated by Nelson-Jameson’s in-house pH expert, Steve Zdun. The workshop is perfect for an array of food and beverage industry producers to learn more about the basic principles of successful, and effective pH analysis in the processing environment.

Participants will garner insight into a host of topics, including: sample preparation techniques, choosing the best electrode/meter for the job, the importance of Automatic Temperature Compensation, calibration techniques, cleaning/maintenance procedures, and basic trouble shooting. Steve has also planned time for a question and answer session, as well as one-on-one consultation. By the end of the session that runs from 9am-12pm, class participants will leave with a constructive base of information to take with them into their facilities, as well as receive a certificate of course completion.

Sign up for the course by giving us a call and requesting item #333-3333. Our Customer Service Representative will take down your name, title, and organization. Cost for the course is $75. Register early as space is limited!

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Back to Cow-llege

cheesecertificateSix years ago, I had the honor of going back to school. Before you start envisioning a Rodney Dangerfield ‘80’s movie, I can assure you that it wasn’t that kind of school. Yes, it took place at the renowned party academic institution of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but this was cheese school. The Wisconsin Cheese Tech Short Course, to be exact. I had just joined Nelson-Jameson, Inc. after working in the retail and merchandising industry for a decade, and I needed to learn about the core business of my new employer. So, like many of my colleagues before me, I was sent to Madison for a week of immersive classes provided by the UW’s Center for Dairy Research, one of the world’s premier dairy research institutions with which Nelson-Jameson has always held a close relationship.

Taught over the course of a week, the Cheese Tech Short Course covers cheese making production principles and technology and includes an optional cheese making lab that offers hands-on experience in cheese production. When the CDR describes the course as “intensive”, they aren’t kidding. I used every bit of my high school and college knowledge of chemistry, biology and algebra to comprehend the over two dozen lectures that included topics such as “Secondary Microflora”, “Pasteurization” and “Starter Cultures”. Even seemingly easy-sounding subjects (“Shredding and Slicing”, I’m looking at you), proved to be much more complicated than one would think. I took comfort in the fact that I wasn’t the only novice in our class whose previous experience with cheese mostly revolved around consumption. My classmates ranged from Marketing Directors for Fortune 500 food companies to novice Cheesemakers to QA Managers at local dairies to R&D Executives from foreign countries. To someone new to the food processing world, the diversity of our group clearly demonstrated the importance of the cheese and dairy category in the global food industry and solidified my choice to join a company that contributed so greatly to what was clearly a dynamic and important part of the food production world.

It was a fascinating week that I’ve never forgotten, and the information that I learned served me well in my early days in sales. Now, as a marketer, it’s provided an intellectual foundation for my creative process in communication and promotions. And, as I grow with Nelson-Jameson, the knowledge taken from the Wisconsin Cheese Tech Short Course will surely supplement any role that I may undertake. Turns out that not only does the cheese stand alone, it also stands out.

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A Chance to Get a pHantastic pHoundational Knowledge of pH!

phOn March 22nd, Nelson-Jameson is excited to offer our “pH Workshop” at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County. The course will be facilitated by Nelson-Jameson’s in-house pH expert, Steve Zdun. The workshop is perfect for an array of food and beverage industry producers to learn more about the basic principles of successful, and effective pH analysis in the processing environment.

Participants will garner insight into a host of topics, including: sample preparation techniques, choosing the best electrode/meter for the job, the importance of Automatic Temperature Compensation, calibration techniques, cleaning/maintenance procedures, and basic trouble shooting. Steve has also planned time for a question and answer session, as well as one-on-one consultation. By the end of the session that runs from 9am-12pm, class participants will leave with a constructive base of information to take with them into their facilities, as well as receive a certificate of course completion.

Sign up for the course by giving us a call and requesting item #333-3333. Our Customer Service Representative will take down your name, title, and organization. Cost for the course is $75. Register early as space is limited! Remember, too, further educational opportunities are available through our partnership with Cherney Microbiology. We’ll hope to see you in the classroom! Keeping checking back here for further information on upcoming seminars and workshops or visit our Learning Center & Events page.

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A Year of Learning: Food Safety & QA/QC Courses Offered

Food Safety CalendarYou may have seen our announcement earlier this year that we started working with Cherney Microbiological Services to provide educational opportunities for customers interested in learning more about food safety, sanitation, and a host of other topics.

Well, we are happy to announce that Cherney has released their Cherney College course offerings for 2016!

Contact us at sales@nelsonjameson.com or call 800-826-8302 if you would like to learn more about any of the following course offerings or to register (early bird discounts are available for registrations submitted 30 days prior to the course date). Courses are held in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Course Dates Cost
Advanced Food Microbiology February 24-25, 2016 $995.00
Plate Interpretation March 15, 2016 $595.00
Food Safety for Suppliers March 16, 2016 $695.00
Sanitation and Environmental Monitoring Essentials April 13-14, 2016 $1295.00
Introduction to Food Microbiology – The Basics June 8-9, 2016 $995.00
Chemistry Analysis in the Food Laboratory August 16-17, 2016 $995.00
Plate Interpretation September 21, 2016 $595.00
Advanced Food Microbiology November 9-10, 2016 $995.00

Custom on-site training is also available from Cherney; contact us for more information.

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The Constant Student: The Importance of Continuing Education in the Food Industry

Books and appleBenjamin Franklin is famously quoted as saying, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” In the food industry, this old adage is put to the test each time consumers open up a food product or sit down for a meal. The ability to create a safe and high-quality product demands critical thought, innovation, vigilance, and a willingness to seek out best practices. The return on this investment comes in creating a product one can be proud of and in protecting the best interests and health of one’s customers.

Yet, making sense of regulations, rules, and best practices can be somewhat daunting for the average producer. Small and medium-sized operations especially may view something as comprehensive as the Food Safety Modernization Act as an imposing and confusing path they are not sure how to navigate. So, how can one balance the want for excellence with these sometimes seemingly overwhelming demands placed on food industry interests? Simply put, the best weapon against being overwhelmed comes through education.

Nelson-Jameson is working with Cherney Microbiological Services to provide accessible educational opportunities for operations of all sizes and levels of experience. This April 21st-22nd, consider taking part in “Sanitation and Environmental Monitoring Essentials,” a course for employees involved in facility control programs where attendees will learn about food microbiology, sanitation, and environmental programs in an interactive environment. The course will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin and an early registration discount is available through March 25th ($1195 early or $1295 after March 25th).

Contact us for additional information or to learn more about the course. We would like to know your ideas/thoughts on needed topics that you would like to see addressed in future courses and/or training opportunities, leave a reply in the comments section below or contact us at sales@nelsonjameson.com.

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