May 27, 2025 • 25 mins
Eric Dell is President and CEO of the American Bakers Association (ABA). He leads the trade group’s mission of promoting and growing the commercial baking industry in partnership with its 375+ Members. Eric joined ABA from the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) as the organization’s Executive Vice President. During his ten-year tenure at NAMA, Eric built a best-in-class advocacy program, forged new industry partnerships, revitalized the industry trade show, and invigorated high-performing teams.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
M and T Bank presents CEOs you should know, powered
by iHeartMedia. Let's meet Eric Dell. He is the president
and CEO for the American Bakers Association. Established in eighteen
ninety seven, this trade association represents the commercial banking industry
in the United States. It advocates for the industry's interests,
provides business services, and supports workforce development. They also conduct
(00:24):
research and share insights on industry trends. Before we talk
more about the ABA with Eric, I first asked him
to talk a little bit about himself, where he's from
and his origin story.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, thanks Dennison, thanks for having me in. First of all,
I want to thank him the T Bank for hosting
this series, and just really the opportunity to be on
the show here today. Grew up in South Carolina, if
you can't tell for my accent, and I've been in
the DC metro region for about twenty four years now.
Tom Flaws started really working in politics, believe or not,
(00:56):
when I was about fourteen years old. So I had
an early interest in politics and continued that really through
today for many years. Went to the University of South
Carolina for undergrad as well as law school and then
following that Reese. Most recently, I also received my NBA
at Johns Hopkins University at their campus here in DC,
(01:19):
probably about twelve thirteen years ago. So really excited to
be in this area. I really like this area. Our
family likes this area, and it's fit well and it's
just a great, great play story as a family as well.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
All right, well, we're going to talk to you, of
course about the American Baker's Association in the two and
a half years almost say, you've spent with them as
president and CEO. But I don't want to underestimate this
or bury the lead. You've got a very diverse resume,
and of course US Congress chief of staff caught my eye,
which I think is cool and I love you to
touch on that. But as you were going out of
school and you mentioned politics at a young age, what
did you want to do coming out and what was
(01:55):
the path that you kind of chose because obviously politics
were part of it.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah, yeah, so thanks for the question and diverse background.
Politics wasn't a part of that. At one time thought
I might want to run for office, but really enjoyed
the work serving as a chief of staff on Capitol
Hill for nine years for Congressman Joe Wilson from South
Carolina who's still in Congress, and actually manage his campaign
(02:20):
two thousand and one, manage his predecessor's campaign before that,
who was chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Worked at
politics literally at every level, all the way from city
council all the way up to Congress. So really an interest,
but I think unique and really my philosophy in that space.
(02:40):
It has driven everything I've done is trying to find
ways that you could work together, work across the aisle,
bring people together to create solutions. I just I like
the objective and the purpose of saying, hey, I can't
get everything I want in the political realm, right, but hey,
let's try to work together and find solutions and we
(03:00):
can all work together for what's best for the country
in the world.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Well, I'm glad you talked about that, and a little
bit later on I'm going to talk to you about
leadership and ask you about that, because I think there's
a lot of correlations to what you did before as
chief of staff to running a big association with a
lot of members, right, and communication, leadership and trickling down
and vision and all those things, So we'll talk about
that in a little bit. So we talked about your
diverse resume, and I can see why the ABA was
(03:26):
interested in you. But when it came to the American
Baker's Association, why were you interested in joining them as
president and CEO.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well, I was very happy with where I was previous
to this job. I was at an association NAMMA, and
there are multiple namas, just like there are multiple abas
in the association world. In the baking space. NAMA is
the Miller's Association. But also where I worked, the NAMA
was the National Automatic Merchandising Association, and we represented a
(03:55):
convenient services industry, which is vending machine owners and operators,
folks in the convenience business. Not comedian stores, but comedan services,
like I said, like vending machine. So I was really happy.
Had had the ability to work under some great mentors.
On Carlo Blacci, who was my chief, who was our CEO,
really just was a great mentor. I had the opportunity
(04:18):
to mentor under her and was not looking to leave.
And I was sending resumes for this job of other people,
and then they said, well why don't you apply? So
I applied and then when I met the I guess
the turning point. We had some over lapping membership because
it was food and beverage baking on the sweet good side,
(04:39):
specifically with ending. But when I met the search committee,
it just really fit, and it fit with who I am,
It fit with who they are and who the industry is,
and it just clicked. I was so impressed with their
you know, the family businesses that they had built, generational
(04:59):
businesses over the years of generations putting in hard work,
and like I said, it just clicked, and it was
a great opportunity. Truly, the opportunity to me was it
was a leadership opportunity for me to step in and
taken association that had a great foundation and was doing
well and really take it to the next level. My
(05:21):
leadership style, I like to build things. I like political
campaigns because you're kind of building things right, and I've
always enjoyed coming in and building things with a future
focus and a growth focus. And having that strong association
in place allowed me to come in and build something.
But I will say it's the people in the industry
(05:43):
that really drove my decision because they're just so humble
and hard working and they get back so much to
their communities, which we can talk about later, but it
just they are the fabric of their communities up where
they live.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
I appreciate you sharing all that, and I think you
and I I can agree it's always nice to be wanted.
But I can't tell you how many people in the
series I've talked to. And it's also happened to me
and my profession when it comes to a radio and
television and being in sports, that I wasn't looking for
a gig and all of a sudden a new one
finds me. And that's the amazing thing about this world
in our past that we take. So I'm glad that
(06:18):
you had a chance to share that. Well, let's do this.
Before we get into exactly what the ABA does, I
would like to talk about mission and vision. What is that?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
So really I'm excited with having. When I started at ADA,
which is about two and a half years ago, we
really took in our review of the organization. We looked
at our purpose, our mission, our vision, We looked at
our everything of the organization said how do we how
do we update this right? How do we go to
the next level? So the board and I think it's
(06:47):
important that when you do these type of activities to
create your new mission or your purpose or your vision
is listen. Listen more than you talk. Listen to the board,
listen to your leadership, whatever of business for profit or
not for profit, because they really know what the members
are looking for, what the industry is looking for. So
in that listening they really led the discussions around that.
(07:11):
And you know, our purpose really is really the champion
the baking industry. Be the champion for the baking industry.
Our mission is to grow, connect and enhance the baking
industry through compelling advocacy, events, and thought leadership. Those are
really the three cores of any really trade association normally
(07:32):
is advocacy, networking, and research. So really that mission, but
also our vision, which is somewhere that the board stepped
in and really pushed us, was to make the baking
industry the fastest growing segment of the food industry. To
think about that type of vision and being forward leaning,
we've really been future focused and growth oriented and it's
(07:55):
it's just been such a pleasure to work with a
board that is forward thinking.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Love to hear that, well, let's do this. If you
were to give a thirty thousand foot view. To our listeners,
especially the ones that are new to the American Bakers
Association the ABA, what would you tell them? Do you
exactly do?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
So? I would say we represent the commercial baking industry,
which are bakers, ingredient suppliers, equipment manufacturers in the commercial
baking industry, and we advocate on their behalf to help
them relay their message to Capitol Hill, to lawmakers in DC,
(08:32):
to lawmakers across the country. We also manage networking to
bring the industry together to share those best practices right
that we could share as an industry to help the
industry grow. So in long and Shore, we're supporting and
promoting the commercial baking industry and all the businesses that
make up that which are a majority of family and
individually owned.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
All right, Eric, when it comes to members membership, and
what's the criteria in how many actually associations and for
people you're working with throughout domestically the United States, what
are the numbers that we're looking at?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
So I say we are the American Bakers Association. We
also have international members because we work in a global economy. Right,
We're in a global economy now, so the majority of
the vast majority of our members are domestic and American
based companies, but like I said, some are international as well.
We have about three hundred and seventy five members, which
(09:27):
is the largest number. We talked about growth. It's the
largest number of members that ABA has seen in the
records that we can find, so we're seeing a lot
of growth. But what those members make up is that
we make up the entire supply chain in the commercial
banking sector. So it's bakers, it's the millers who actually
mill the flour or mill the ingredients that are going
(09:49):
to be delivered to the bakers. It's the ingredients suppliers
more in general, and it is also the equipment manufacturers,
so the huge ovens, the huge manufacturing systems that they
would have in their bakery. We represent the entire supply chain.
So it's really nice to be able to go in
and represent us an entire supply chain when you're telling
the story of the industry and so many of these
(10:12):
family owned businesses across the country. The other thing I
will say is we're in all fifty states. We're over
ninety nine percent of households are products that we make,
So you.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Had mentioned about advocation, and I know that's one of
your big buckets. It's on the website and featured. And
I'd like to ask you just a little bit more
behind the scenes about when it comes to advocating for
the ABA and your membership. You're going to Capitol Hill,
what are the kind of topics and what are you
advocating right now?
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Sure, there's a lot going on as we all know,
right yeah, in the world, in the United States, especially
in the government now, and I would say this is
a unique value that is our top value to our members,
and this is protecting and promoting the industry through our
advocacy work. As I said earlier, my philosophy is trying
(10:58):
to when I see a challenge, trying to turn it
into an opportunity, not just for our association, of our industry.
So where are there opportunities where we can find solutions
that help everyone? Right? So, there are a few things
obviously on the plate as of recent that are top issues,
(11:20):
some of them around nutrition. There's a lot going on.
We work very closely with FDA and Healthing Human Services
on food safety issues, so we're following those very closely.
At what's happening in those agencies and working and closely.
We've had a great working relationship over the years with
those agencies because honestly, if we don't have food safety,
(11:40):
we don't have a business. What we create is created
with a heart, it's created with a purpose, and it's
to feed America. So we want food safety. That is
the utmost important. So working with FDA and HHS in
those areas is really vital to the success of our
businesses and making sure that we know that we're in
(12:02):
compliance with whatever their regulations are. Some other topics we're
working on recently are the tariffs that we see in
the news quite often. I think there's opportunity there. We
understand the administration's focus on creating and growing and protecting
American manufacturing jobs. We understand what the intent is. However,
(12:24):
we are educating policy makers on the impacts of those
teriffs on our industry. We are excited and also about
the tax policy that's going through now currently in the House.
And everything moves quickly, sometimes quickly, and sometimes slowly right
in DC. But we're excited about the opportunities and we
play quite a role on the tax side as well
(12:47):
with ensuring that tax policies are are fair and are
positive to growth for businesses.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
So that we can create more jobs for Americans outstanding. Well, Eric,
you talked about macro, but at more of a granular level.
When you have that many members, hundreds and hundreds, obviously
there's some high level stuff you do, but there's people
that are in Tacoma, Washington, and tuscoous Alabama, and San Jose,
California that reach out to you and say, hey, I've
got these issues or I need this advocated. How does
(13:18):
it work for communication when you have such a large
membership out there. You're doing some very high level things,
but you also want to take care of that local
person too, because that's what it's all about when it
comes to the American dream in the banking industry.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Sure, and I'll at this background. A comment you said earlier,
Dentnis is about my style and having worked as a
chief of staff on Capitol Hill. To me, associations are
a lot like a job on Capitol Hill. Your members
are your constituents, so it's very similar to the organizational structure.
(13:49):
So I always treat our members as our constituents and
they come first. It's about the members, So anytime we
have a local issue come up. If we have someone
from as you said, TAKEBA Washington I think you said,
wherever they are across the country, right, they may call
and say, oh my gosh, we've got this local issue
that's popped up. We'd love for you to look into this.
(14:11):
We have within the association, we have groups where folks
can come together and discuss policy changes to engage our members.
And if we have a lot of our members engaged
in those and they meet throughout the year on policy
at the federal level as well as state so we
can take that state issue or local issue that they
(14:33):
raise if we're not aware of it yet, and we
can put it into our system and run it through
our membership and have the membership give input as well
as us as experts and advocacy. We can have input
from people across the country who are in the industry,
other ABA members. It's important that we stay out in
front on issues all the way from the local to
(14:55):
the federal level. I will say there's a lot going
on the states. You ask what we're following around the
SNAP program. The states are looking to change what folks
can purchase in that program that are on the Snap program,
so we're closely monitoring that as well and ensuring that
consumers are protected there as well, with their choice to
purchase based on what their buying patterns are and their needs.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Well, I appreciate you sharing that, and I think everybody
is excited that they have a voice, and I think
that's what it's all about. So that's great. I did
want to talk to you about events. I know that
we just finished with a real big thing that you
had going on in April, but you had mentioned when
we were in our green room a little bit earlier
about the convention that's coming up, and you know, that's
really exciting. It's a really big deal. I'd love for
(15:41):
you to talk more about it because I imagine it's
kind of I don't know if it's the super Bowl
for you guys, But you can tell us a little
bit more, give us some insight, but tell us about
that what's coming up.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Sure, I'll talk about where we just finished and then
what's coming up.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Yeah, that's okay, you bet.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
So we just finished our annual convention, which I'm so
proud of our staff and our team members who pulled
this together. We had the largest convention I think we've
ever had in terms of not only new members. So
we're seeing growth and interest in the industry. And it's
all about the industry. It's not about ABA. It's about
the industry and our members, so putting them first means growth.
(16:17):
So we just had that convention that finished up in April.
I don't want to miss this opportunity to talk about
The Super Bowl of Baking in our opinion, is our
show that we jointly own with BEMA, and that is
called IBIE, and that will be this September in Las Vegas,
and that is bringing together between twenty and thirty thousand
(16:39):
people in the Western Hemisphere primarily to our banking show.
We partner as well with the retail bakers there, so
not only do we have the commercial bakers present, but
we have the retail bakers, which are a lot of
your storefronts that you see around the country and you
know as you drive down the road and see a
corner bakery or something, those folks. So we're happy to
(17:02):
partner with all of baking for that show in September.
It's every three years, so it's going to be my
first one attending having been with ABA for two and
a half years. I'm really excited.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
That's great, It's going.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
To be the super Bowl for us.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Well, let me ask you and if I could put
a pin in work, even though work might be involved
here as a president and CEO with ABA, when it
comes to philanthropic and charity work, when it's coming to
the business, and maybe even you personally with your family,
what do you like to be part.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Of well, giving back. I'll talk about the industry real quick,
and I'll touch on myself a little bit here what
we like to do. But you know, giving back is
in the DNA. I tell people of this industry. I
go to communities and just what our bakers do. They
are so humble and they don't brag about what they
(17:50):
do because it's just their nature not to talk about it.
So part of our strategic plan, ironically, is to take
those stories and amplify those stories here. Now we're now
compiling those stories of how our industry gets back in
their neighborhoods and in their communities across this country, and
we're amplifying those stories on LinkedIn, We're amplifying across social
(18:12):
media channels, across industry channels, just telling that story to
really say hey, these are your neighbors, these are businesses
in your communities who are employing people for careers.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
You mentioned something, and I've talked to other agencies in
the DMV here in this series and also our public
affair show about sustainability, especially recycling, and I know that
that's big, that's happening in a lot of communities now.
But I imagine, without any assumptions on my part, when
it comes to doing that, with all the membership you're
working with, what are the current conversations and then what's
(18:48):
being executed right now and what would you like to
see happen in the future.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Absolutely, So that's a great topic around sustainability and we
talk about it quite a bit, and our members are
doing a lot in this space. In fact, sustainability can
be defined so broadally or so fairly right, So in
terms of energy consumption, our industry is one of the
leaders in the Energy Star program at e b A,
our manufacturing facilities. Really we receive awards a lot of
(19:15):
awards in that space, a lot of our Baker members
as well as our allied members. So we're really proud
of what they do in that energy conservation space as
it relates to sustainability. The other thing I would say
is we're seeing a lot of our members who are
making efforts in the water space, especially out West with
sustainability because of pressures on the availability of water, So
(19:40):
doing a lot of good work in the water space.
We have members who have I was out in California
last year. They have created green energy grids to power
their bakeries. So just a lot of activity in that space.
Also in the food waste space, if we have waste
(20:00):
in our bakeries, you know, making sure that that is
going to feed if it's true food waste, going to
feed animals who need food, so that it's going back
into the environment in a useful way. There's just so
much going on sustainability front from our members, but there's
still a lot of work to do, just like every industry,
right so we're open to suggestions of how we can
(20:23):
be better stewards. We do have an award that we
just created this year as part of our strategic plan
around One of the awards is what you do for
your Planet. It's related to sustainability and planet work that
we just awarded at our conventions year for the first time.
So really excited about that work in sustainability area.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Well, that's fantastic soul and that feat.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
You're sorry to interrun with us. But when you talk
about the differences in going to shows around the globe,
that was for the EBOS show that I went to
last year that I'll be going to again in Germany.
They highlighted and every booth. It was part of their
purpose and their focus was highlighting what each exhibitor did
(21:09):
in the sustainability space.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Oh I love that, you know, because the proof's in
the pudding, right, so I want that they're they're executing
it and there are great results, So I love to
hear that.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Eric.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Well, listen, I've really enjoyed this conversation, but I wanted
to give you an opportunity to give us and our
listeners some final thoughts on what we had talked about.
We're going to give the website and anything else you'd
like to add on. But Eric, the floor is your, sir.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Well, I'd just like to say thank you. But also,
the banking industry, like every other industry I think in
the country, is really on the workforce front looking for workers.
We are looking for and it's not just workers, per say,
but it's folks who want to have a meaningful career.
I would say, we're in every community in the in
(21:56):
the country, so we're and we're always looking for folks
to come and work can have a career in baking.
And we had programs around that with American Bakers Association.
At bakingworks dot org, you can find out more information
about the different jobs in the baking industry by type.
But I would just say our members are creating jobs
(22:19):
in every community. They are looking for workers. And one
example is one of the first tours I took in
a bakery and and I've seen it multiple times afterwards,
but it really educated me on the depth and breadth
of the culture in bakery. Went into the bakery. I
was going into the bakery and they had the front
(22:40):
door to the bakery, and I was getting ready to
go in, and there's a plaque on the wall, wooden plaque,
and it had these little gold you know, the little
gold rectangular thing on a plaque that has a name
year or whatever said forty years, thirty years, twenty years,
ten years, and it had all these names across it
(23:00):
for forty years of service people in the baking crew industry.
Stay around. They make it a career. It's a career,
it's a family. So I would just say to the listeners,
if you are looking for a job, seeking a job
in these times, the baking industry has their arms open.
(23:22):
We're ready for you to come in and make a
career with us, and we're happy to help facilitate that
with any of our members. But I just think it
is a destination workplace and we're really promoting that and
trying to help Americans in this career in this industry.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Well that's great, Eric, Now what's the website for everybody
so they can check out more about what you your
team in the ABA do.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Absolutely American Bakers dot org and you can find out
everything that we're doing there.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
All right, Well, listen, one final thought that I want
to leave you because I know you and I live
in the DMV. I live in northwest Washington, DC, and
I travel all the way out to Rockville, where iHeart is,
and on my forty five minute hopefully track into work
every day. Going back, I see so many bakery shops
and I don't know if it's this region. I have
no data to supply my opinion about what I'm seeing
(24:11):
but it seems like the growth is incredible and the
sustainability is there, and I'm just glad the industry seems
to be really healthy right now, and I know you're
excited about that too, so I want to share that
with you.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Yeah, the industry is healthy. The industry is doing well.
They're growing to your point, and we see this may
be what you're saying too, We see a lot We
have a lot of small to medium look call on
retail bakers now who are growing their business and they're
seeing opportunity to grow into a commercial baker or a
wholesale baker. Yeah, so they're taking that step from owning
(24:45):
their own business as a retail baker. Many of the
folks you're probably seeing what you're saying in your drives
and they're growing their business and we're there to help
them along the way if we can. But it is
an exciting industry, which is great people.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Well, that's huge. Well, Eric, thank you so much, a try,
valuable time, and I really appreciate that we could center
and talk about the American Bankers Association and feature you
on CEOs. You should know. Thank you so much and
continue success.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Our community partner M and T Bank supports CEOs. You
should know is part of their ongoing commitment to building
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As a Bank for communities, M and T believes in
dedicating time, talent, and resources to help local businesses thrive
because when businesses succeed, our communities succeed.
M and T Bank presents CEOs you should know, powered
by iHeartMedia. Let's meet Eric Dell. He is the president
and CEO for the American Bakers Association. Established in eighteen
ninety seven, this trade association represents the commercial banking industry
in the United States. It advocates for the industry's interests,
provides business services, and supports workforce development. They also conduct
(00:24):
research and share insights on industry trends. Before we talk
more about the ABA with Eric, I first asked him
to talk a little bit about himself, where he's from
and his origin story.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, thanks Dennison, thanks for having me in. First of all,
I want to thank him the T Bank for hosting
this series, and just really the opportunity to be on
the show here today. Grew up in South Carolina, if
you can't tell for my accent, and I've been in
the DC metro region for about twenty four years now.
Tom Flaws started really working in politics, believe or not,
(00:56):
when I was about fourteen years old. So I had
an early interest in politics and continued that really through
today for many years. Went to the University of South
Carolina for undergrad as well as law school and then
following that Reese. Most recently, I also received my NBA
at Johns Hopkins University at their campus here in DC,
(01:19):
probably about twelve thirteen years ago. So really excited to
be in this area. I really like this area. Our
family likes this area, and it's fit well and it's
just a great, great play story as a family as well.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
All right, well, we're going to talk to you, of
course about the American Baker's Association in the two and
a half years almost say, you've spent with them as
president and CEO. But I don't want to underestimate this
or bury the lead. You've got a very diverse resume,
and of course US Congress chief of staff caught my eye,
which I think is cool and I love you to
touch on that. But as you were going out of
school and you mentioned politics at a young age, what
did you want to do coming out and what was
(01:55):
the path that you kind of chose because obviously politics
were part of it.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah, yeah, so thanks for the question and diverse background.
Politics wasn't a part of that. At one time thought
I might want to run for office, but really enjoyed
the work serving as a chief of staff on Capitol
Hill for nine years for Congressman Joe Wilson from South
Carolina who's still in Congress, and actually manage his campaign
(02:20):
two thousand and one, manage his predecessor's campaign before that,
who was chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Worked at
politics literally at every level, all the way from city
council all the way up to Congress. So really an interest,
but I think unique and really my philosophy in that space.
(02:40):
It has driven everything I've done is trying to find
ways that you could work together, work across the aisle,
bring people together to create solutions. I just I like
the objective and the purpose of saying, hey, I can't
get everything I want in the political realm, right, but hey,
let's try to work together and find solutions and we
(03:00):
can all work together for what's best for the country
in the world.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Well, I'm glad you talked about that, and a little
bit later on I'm going to talk to you about
leadership and ask you about that, because I think there's
a lot of correlations to what you did before as
chief of staff to running a big association with a
lot of members, right, and communication, leadership and trickling down
and vision and all those things, So we'll talk about
that in a little bit. So we talked about your
diverse resume, and I can see why the ABA was
(03:26):
interested in you. But when it came to the American
Baker's Association, why were you interested in joining them as
president and CEO.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well, I was very happy with where I was previous
to this job. I was at an association NAMMA, and
there are multiple namas, just like there are multiple abas
in the association world. In the baking space. NAMA is
the Miller's Association. But also where I worked, the NAMA
was the National Automatic Merchandising Association, and we represented a
(03:55):
convenient services industry, which is vending machine owners and operators,
folks in the convenience business. Not comedian stores, but comedan services,
like I said, like vending machine. So I was really happy.
Had had the ability to work under some great mentors.
On Carlo Blacci, who was my chief, who was our CEO,
really just was a great mentor. I had the opportunity
(04:18):
to mentor under her and was not looking to leave.
And I was sending resumes for this job of other people,
and then they said, well why don't you apply? So
I applied and then when I met the I guess
the turning point. We had some over lapping membership because
it was food and beverage baking on the sweet good side,
(04:39):
specifically with ending. But when I met the search committee,
it just really fit, and it fit with who I am,
It fit with who they are and who the industry is,
and it just clicked. I was so impressed with their
you know, the family businesses that they had built, generational
(04:59):
businesses over the years of generations putting in hard work,
and like I said, it just clicked, and it was
a great opportunity. Truly, the opportunity to me was it
was a leadership opportunity for me to step in and
taken association that had a great foundation and was doing
well and really take it to the next level. My
(05:21):
leadership style, I like to build things. I like political
campaigns because you're kind of building things right, and I've
always enjoyed coming in and building things with a future
focus and a growth focus. And having that strong association
in place allowed me to come in and build something.
But I will say it's the people in the industry
(05:43):
that really drove my decision because they're just so humble
and hard working and they get back so much to
their communities, which we can talk about later, but it
just they are the fabric of their communities up where
they live.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
I appreciate you sharing all that, and I think you
and I I can agree it's always nice to be wanted.
But I can't tell you how many people in the
series I've talked to. And it's also happened to me
and my profession when it comes to a radio and
television and being in sports, that I wasn't looking for
a gig and all of a sudden a new one
finds me. And that's the amazing thing about this world
in our past that we take. So I'm glad that
(06:18):
you had a chance to share that. Well, let's do this.
Before we get into exactly what the ABA does, I
would like to talk about mission and vision. What is that?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
So really I'm excited with having. When I started at ADA,
which is about two and a half years ago, we
really took in our review of the organization. We looked
at our purpose, our mission, our vision, We looked at
our everything of the organization said how do we how
do we update this right? How do we go to
the next level? So the board and I think it's
(06:47):
important that when you do these type of activities to
create your new mission or your purpose or your vision
is listen. Listen more than you talk. Listen to the board,
listen to your leadership, whatever of business for profit or
not for profit, because they really know what the members
are looking for, what the industry is looking for. So
in that listening they really led the discussions around that.
(07:11):
And you know, our purpose really is really the champion
the baking industry. Be the champion for the baking industry.
Our mission is to grow, connect and enhance the baking
industry through compelling advocacy, events, and thought leadership. Those are
really the three cores of any really trade association normally
(07:32):
is advocacy, networking, and research. So really that mission, but
also our vision, which is somewhere that the board stepped
in and really pushed us, was to make the baking
industry the fastest growing segment of the food industry. To
think about that type of vision and being forward leaning,
we've really been future focused and growth oriented and it's
(07:55):
it's just been such a pleasure to work with a
board that is forward thinking.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Love to hear that, well, let's do this. If you
were to give a thirty thousand foot view. To our listeners,
especially the ones that are new to the American Bakers
Association the ABA, what would you tell them? Do you
exactly do?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
So? I would say we represent the commercial baking industry,
which are bakers, ingredient suppliers, equipment manufacturers in the commercial
baking industry, and we advocate on their behalf to help
them relay their message to Capitol Hill, to lawmakers in DC,
(08:32):
to lawmakers across the country. We also manage networking to
bring the industry together to share those best practices right
that we could share as an industry to help the
industry grow. So in long and Shore, we're supporting and
promoting the commercial baking industry and all the businesses that
make up that which are a majority of family and
individually owned.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
All right, Eric, when it comes to members membership, and
what's the criteria in how many actually associations and for
people you're working with throughout domestically the United States, what
are the numbers that we're looking at?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
So I say we are the American Bakers Association. We
also have international members because we work in a global economy. Right,
We're in a global economy now, so the majority of
the vast majority of our members are domestic and American
based companies, but like I said, some are international as well.
We have about three hundred and seventy five members, which
(09:27):
is the largest number. We talked about growth. It's the
largest number of members that ABA has seen in the
records that we can find, so we're seeing a lot
of growth. But what those members make up is that
we make up the entire supply chain in the commercial
banking sector. So it's bakers, it's the millers who actually
mill the flour or mill the ingredients that are going
(09:49):
to be delivered to the bakers. It's the ingredients suppliers
more in general, and it is also the equipment manufacturers,
so the huge ovens, the huge manufacturing systems that they
would have in their bakery. We represent the entire supply chain.
So it's really nice to be able to go in
and represent us an entire supply chain when you're telling
the story of the industry and so many of these
(10:12):
family owned businesses across the country. The other thing I
will say is we're in all fifty states. We're over
ninety nine percent of households are products that we make,
So you.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Had mentioned about advocation, and I know that's one of
your big buckets. It's on the website and featured. And
I'd like to ask you just a little bit more
behind the scenes about when it comes to advocating for
the ABA and your membership. You're going to Capitol Hill,
what are the kind of topics and what are you
advocating right now?
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Sure, there's a lot going on as we all know,
right yeah, in the world, in the United States, especially
in the government now, and I would say this is
a unique value that is our top value to our members,
and this is protecting and promoting the industry through our
advocacy work. As I said earlier, my philosophy is trying
(10:58):
to when I see a challenge, trying to turn it
into an opportunity, not just for our association, of our industry.
So where are there opportunities where we can find solutions
that help everyone? Right? So, there are a few things
obviously on the plate as of recent that are top issues,
(11:20):
some of them around nutrition. There's a lot going on.
We work very closely with FDA and Healthing Human Services
on food safety issues, so we're following those very closely.
At what's happening in those agencies and working and closely.
We've had a great working relationship over the years with
those agencies because honestly, if we don't have food safety,
(11:40):
we don't have a business. What we create is created
with a heart, it's created with a purpose, and it's
to feed America. So we want food safety. That is
the utmost important. So working with FDA and HHS in
those areas is really vital to the success of our
businesses and making sure that we know that we're in
(12:02):
compliance with whatever their regulations are. Some other topics we're
working on recently are the tariffs that we see in
the news quite often. I think there's opportunity there. We
understand the administration's focus on creating and growing and protecting
American manufacturing jobs. We understand what the intent is. However,
(12:24):
we are educating policy makers on the impacts of those
teriffs on our industry. We are excited and also about
the tax policy that's going through now currently in the House.
And everything moves quickly, sometimes quickly, and sometimes slowly right
in DC. But we're excited about the opportunities and we
play quite a role on the tax side as well
(12:47):
with ensuring that tax policies are are fair and are
positive to growth for businesses.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
So that we can create more jobs for Americans outstanding. Well, Eric,
you talked about macro, but at more of a granular level.
When you have that many members, hundreds and hundreds, obviously
there's some high level stuff you do, but there's people
that are in Tacoma, Washington, and tuscoous Alabama, and San Jose,
California that reach out to you and say, hey, I've
got these issues or I need this advocated. How does
(13:18):
it work for communication when you have such a large
membership out there. You're doing some very high level things,
but you also want to take care of that local
person too, because that's what it's all about when it
comes to the American dream in the banking industry.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Sure, and I'll at this background. A comment you said earlier,
Dentnis is about my style and having worked as a
chief of staff on Capitol Hill. To me, associations are
a lot like a job on Capitol Hill. Your members
are your constituents, so it's very similar to the organizational structure.
(13:49):
So I always treat our members as our constituents and
they come first. It's about the members, So anytime we
have a local issue come up. If we have someone
from as you said, TAKEBA Washington I think you said,
wherever they are across the country, right, they may call
and say, oh my gosh, we've got this local issue
that's popped up. We'd love for you to look into this.
(14:11):
We have within the association, we have groups where folks
can come together and discuss policy changes to engage our members.
And if we have a lot of our members engaged
in those and they meet throughout the year on policy
at the federal level as well as state so we
can take that state issue or local issue that they
(14:33):
raise if we're not aware of it yet, and we
can put it into our system and run it through
our membership and have the membership give input as well
as us as experts and advocacy. We can have input
from people across the country who are in the industry,
other ABA members. It's important that we stay out in
front on issues all the way from the local to
(14:55):
the federal level. I will say there's a lot going
on the states. You ask what we're following around the
SNAP program. The states are looking to change what folks
can purchase in that program that are on the Snap program,
so we're closely monitoring that as well and ensuring that
consumers are protected there as well, with their choice to
purchase based on what their buying patterns are and their needs.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Well, I appreciate you sharing that, and I think everybody
is excited that they have a voice, and I think
that's what it's all about. So that's great. I did
want to talk to you about events. I know that
we just finished with a real big thing that you
had going on in April, but you had mentioned when
we were in our green room a little bit earlier
about the convention that's coming up, and you know, that's
really exciting. It's a really big deal. I'd love for
(15:41):
you to talk more about it because I imagine it's
kind of I don't know if it's the super Bowl
for you guys, But you can tell us a little
bit more, give us some insight, but tell us about
that what's coming up.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Sure, I'll talk about where we just finished and then
what's coming up.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Yeah, that's okay, you bet.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
So we just finished our annual convention, which I'm so
proud of our staff and our team members who pulled
this together. We had the largest convention I think we've
ever had in terms of not only new members. So
we're seeing growth and interest in the industry. And it's
all about the industry. It's not about ABA. It's about
the industry and our members, so putting them first means growth.
(16:17):
So we just had that convention that finished up in April.
I don't want to miss this opportunity to talk about
The Super Bowl of Baking in our opinion, is our
show that we jointly own with BEMA, and that is
called IBIE, and that will be this September in Las Vegas,
and that is bringing together between twenty and thirty thousand
(16:39):
people in the Western Hemisphere primarily to our banking show.
We partner as well with the retail bakers there, so
not only do we have the commercial bakers present, but
we have the retail bakers, which are a lot of
your storefronts that you see around the country and you
know as you drive down the road and see a
corner bakery or something, those folks. So we're happy to
(17:02):
partner with all of baking for that show in September.
It's every three years, so it's going to be my
first one attending having been with ABA for two and
a half years. I'm really excited.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
That's great, It's going.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
To be the super Bowl for us.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Well, let me ask you and if I could put
a pin in work, even though work might be involved
here as a president and CEO with ABA, when it
comes to philanthropic and charity work, when it's coming to
the business, and maybe even you personally with your family,
what do you like to be part.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Of well, giving back. I'll talk about the industry real quick,
and I'll touch on myself a little bit here what
we like to do. But you know, giving back is
in the DNA. I tell people of this industry. I
go to communities and just what our bakers do. They
are so humble and they don't brag about what they
(17:50):
do because it's just their nature not to talk about it.
So part of our strategic plan, ironically, is to take
those stories and amplify those stories here. Now we're now
compiling those stories of how our industry gets back in
their neighborhoods and in their communities across this country, and
we're amplifying those stories on LinkedIn, We're amplifying across social
(18:12):
media channels, across industry channels, just telling that story to
really say hey, these are your neighbors, these are businesses
in your communities who are employing people for careers.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
You mentioned something, and I've talked to other agencies in
the DMV here in this series and also our public
affair show about sustainability, especially recycling, and I know that
that's big, that's happening in a lot of communities now.
But I imagine, without any assumptions on my part, when
it comes to doing that, with all the membership you're
working with, what are the current conversations and then what's
(18:48):
being executed right now and what would you like to
see happen in the future.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Absolutely, So that's a great topic around sustainability and we
talk about it quite a bit, and our members are
doing a lot in this space. In fact, sustainability can
be defined so broadally or so fairly right, So in
terms of energy consumption, our industry is one of the
leaders in the Energy Star program at e b A,
our manufacturing facilities. Really we receive awards a lot of
(19:15):
awards in that space, a lot of our Baker members
as well as our allied members. So we're really proud
of what they do in that energy conservation space as
it relates to sustainability. The other thing I would say
is we're seeing a lot of our members who are
making efforts in the water space, especially out West with
sustainability because of pressures on the availability of water, So
(19:40):
doing a lot of good work in the water space.
We have members who have I was out in California
last year. They have created green energy grids to power
their bakeries. So just a lot of activity in that space.
Also in the food waste space, if we have waste
(20:00):
in our bakeries, you know, making sure that that is
going to feed if it's true food waste, going to
feed animals who need food, so that it's going back
into the environment in a useful way. There's just so
much going on sustainability front from our members, but there's
still a lot of work to do, just like every industry,
right so we're open to suggestions of how we can
(20:23):
be better stewards. We do have an award that we
just created this year as part of our strategic plan
around One of the awards is what you do for
your Planet. It's related to sustainability and planet work that
we just awarded at our conventions year for the first time.
So really excited about that work in sustainability area.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Well, that's fantastic soul and that feat.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
You're sorry to interrun with us. But when you talk
about the differences in going to shows around the globe,
that was for the EBOS show that I went to
last year that I'll be going to again in Germany.
They highlighted and every booth. It was part of their
purpose and their focus was highlighting what each exhibitor did
(21:09):
in the sustainability space.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
Oh I love that, you know, because the proof's in
the pudding, right, so I want that they're they're executing
it and there are great results, So I love to
hear that.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Eric.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Well, listen, I've really enjoyed this conversation, but I wanted
to give you an opportunity to give us and our
listeners some final thoughts on what we had talked about.
We're going to give the website and anything else you'd
like to add on. But Eric, the floor is your, sir.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Well, I'd just like to say thank you. But also,
the banking industry, like every other industry I think in
the country, is really on the workforce front looking for workers.
We are looking for and it's not just workers, per say,
but it's folks who want to have a meaningful career.
I would say, we're in every community in the in
(21:56):
the country, so we're and we're always looking for folks
to come and work can have a career in baking.
And we had programs around that with American Bakers Association.
At bakingworks dot org, you can find out more information
about the different jobs in the baking industry by type.
But I would just say our members are creating jobs
(22:19):
in every community. They are looking for workers. And one
example is one of the first tours I took in
a bakery and and I've seen it multiple times afterwards,
but it really educated me on the depth and breadth
of the culture in bakery. Went into the bakery. I
was going into the bakery and they had the front
(22:40):
door to the bakery, and I was getting ready to
go in, and there's a plaque on the wall, wooden plaque,
and it had these little gold you know, the little
gold rectangular thing on a plaque that has a name
year or whatever said forty years, thirty years, twenty years,
ten years, and it had all these names across it
(23:00):
for forty years of service people in the baking crew industry.
Stay around. They make it a career. It's a career,
it's a family. So I would just say to the listeners,
if you are looking for a job, seeking a job
in these times, the baking industry has their arms open.
(23:22):
We're ready for you to come in and make a
career with us, and we're happy to help facilitate that
with any of our members. But I just think it
is a destination workplace and we're really promoting that and
trying to help Americans in this career in this industry.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Well that's great, Eric, Now what's the website for everybody
so they can check out more about what you your
team in the ABA do.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Absolutely American Bakers dot org and you can find out
everything that we're doing there.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
All right, Well, listen, one final thought that I want
to leave you because I know you and I live
in the DMV. I live in northwest Washington, DC, and
I travel all the way out to Rockville, where iHeart is,
and on my forty five minute hopefully track into work
every day. Going back, I see so many bakery shops
and I don't know if it's this region. I have
no data to supply my opinion about what I'm seeing
(24:11):
but it seems like the growth is incredible and the
sustainability is there, and I'm just glad the industry seems
to be really healthy right now, and I know you're
excited about that too, so I want to share that
with you.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Yeah, the industry is healthy. The industry is doing well.
They're growing to your point, and we see this may
be what you're saying too, We see a lot We
have a lot of small to medium look call on
retail bakers now who are growing their business and they're
seeing opportunity to grow into a commercial baker or a
wholesale baker. Yeah, so they're taking that step from owning
(24:45):
their own business as a retail baker. Many of the
folks you're probably seeing what you're saying in your drives
and they're growing their business and we're there to help
them along the way if we can. But it is
an exciting industry, which is great people.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Well, that's huge. Well, Eric, thank you so much, a try,
valuable time, and I really appreciate that we could center
and talk about the American Bankers Association and feature you
on CEOs. You should know. Thank you so much and
continue success.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Our community partner M and T Bank supports CEOs. You
should know is part of their ongoing commitment to building
strong communities, and that starts by backing the businesses within them.
As a Bank for communities, M and T believes in
dedicating time, talent, and resources to help local businesses thrive
because when businesses succeed, our communities succeed.
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