CONTACT: Jenna Wines
jwines@vamanufacturers.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2025
McKee Foods Sponsors WiM-Virginia Conference Room
-Little Debbie® Snack Cakes Featured in 2025-
RICHMOND, VA – The Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) Event Center has a new sponsor. McKee Foods, makers of Little Debbie® and Drake’s® snack cakes and Sunbelt® Bakery granola bars, is the 2025 sponsor of the Women in Manufacturing-Virginia Chapter (WiM-VA) Conference Room.
The WiM-VA Conference Room is one of five rentable spaces within the new VMA Event Center. It is an ideal space for intimate meetings and virtual conferencing, and now users will enjoy a unique portrait of Little Debbie® and a regular assortment of snack cakes provided by McKee Foods.
“This partnership is an outstanding example of McKee Food’s 24-year commitment to the VMA and helping it expand opportunities for women in manufacturing,” said Brett Vassey, President & CEO of VMA. “The McKee Foods sponsorship of the WiM-VA conference room is literally icing on the cake.”
Shawn Pellington, VP of Operations of McKee Foods and Secretary of the VMA’s Board of Directors, shared, “The Stuarts Draft division recognizes the work of the VMA and WiM-VA to elevate and expand manufacturing in the Commonwealth. Our staff utilizes the association’s valuable programming and events, and we are proud to complement its efforts with this sponsorship.”
The VMA Event Center is comprised of five dynamic rental spaces. Member and non-member rates are available. Interested in sponsoring the Craft Beer Lounge, Legacy Member Meeting Hall, Coffee Station, or Guest Office? Contact Kimberly Noonan at knoonan@vamanufacturers.com. Learn more at vamanufacturers.com/events/event-center/.
About the Virginia Manufacturers Association
The VMA develops and advocates for constructive public policies and supports a broad array of business services and programs to help ensure that Virginia manufacturing companies can be productive, profitable, and competitive in Virginia. Virginia’s 6,000+ manufacturers employ over 239,000 individuals, contribute $49.5 billion to the gross state product, and account for over 80% of the Commonwealth’s manufactured goods exports to the global economy. For more information about the VMA, visit vamanufactuers.com.
About Women in Manufacturing-Virginia Chapter
As the state affiliate of Women in Manufacturing®, the Women in Manufacturing-Virginia Chapter (WiM-VA) is committed to supporting, promoting, and inspiring women who are pursuing or have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. With a leadership council comprised of representatives from member companies, WiM-VA is dedicated to creating opportunities for members to participate in mentoring, professional and youth outreach, and professional development through events and community engagement. Learn more at wimva.com.
About McKee Foods
McKee Foods, a family bakery with annual sales of about $1.8 billion, is a privately-held company based in Collegedale, Tenn. The McKee Foods story began during the height of the Great Depression when founder O.D. McKee began selling 5-cent snack cakes from the back of his car. Soon after, he and his wife, Ruth, bought a small bakery on Main Street in Chattanooga, Tenn., using the family car as collateral. Today, the company employs more than 6,250 people in Collegedale, Tenn.; Gentry, Ark.; Stuarts Draft, Va.; and Kingman, Ariz. It creates and produces Little Debbie® baked goods, Drake’s® cakes, Sunbelt Bakery® snacks and Fieldstone® Bakery food products. Visit mckeefoods.com for more information.