CHICAGO — During the American Society of Baking (ASB)’s BakingTECH 2022 conference, held March 1-3 in Chicago, Brittny Stephenson Ohr, director of product management for Villa Rica, GA-based Sugar Foods Corp., was named the association’s 2022-23 board chairman.
She succeeds immediate past chair Rod Radalia, VP of innovation for Ft. Wayne, IN-based Aunt Millie’s Bakeries.
“I am so proud to represent all facets of the baking industry together in this room,” Stephenson Ohr said when she took the gavel in Chicago. “I look forward to developing our training and education program to ensure this wealth of knowledge is carried on for generations to come.”
Stephenson Ohr has been an ASB member since 2012 as a way to build her professional network as a young baker. In 2013 she joined ASB’s Young Professionals Committee, where she helped welcome other new entrants to the industry and association. She also served on the BakingTECH planning committee in 2015 under the leadership of board chairman Anthony Turano, VP of operations for Berwyn, IL-based Turano Baking Co., and BakingTECH program chair Wendi Ebbing, VP of Marketing for Bundy Baking Solutions.
In the coming year, ASB will place a heavy emphasis on training and education, a critical need for the industry.
“We’re really focused on how we can support the wholesale baking industry and our members,” Stephenson Ohr said. “When you think about everyone struggling to find talent — or just finding people to show up and work in the plants — you have to get them the right training and skills to do the job. There’s a huge gap … we need a robust training program that’s supported by bakeries and equipment and ingredient suppliers. ASB is well-positioned to bring all those people together and build a dynamic, meaningful and sustainable training and education program that can help the industry.”
To support the initiative, ASB recently hired Amy Leigh Beecher as its first director of education and training.
"There’s plenty of room to do things a little differently, to try new things and see what works and what doesn’t. Now is the time to engage with the future of bakeries.” —Brittny Stephenson Ohr | ASB 2022-23 board chairman | director of product management, Sugar Foods Corp.
After the successful execution of the first in-person BakingTECH since 2020, Stephenson Ohr took great pride in seeing ASB member companies, reuniting with industry colleagues and friends. It was a true testament to ASB’s commitment and the resiliency of the industry.
On many levels, though, the work has just begun, and increased engagement tops the priority list.
“There’s a tall order for the year ahead,” she said. “My goal for ASB is to create more engagement for members so we can continue addressing the needs of wholesale bakers with programs and events they want to participate in.”
With more mid-size bakeries experiencing growing pains and needing more resources such as automation, Stephenson Ohr recognizes the support that ASB can provide.
“We have the resources and the people, and we can connect them with suppliers and allieds, to help them grow their business,” she said.
With her ASB roots with the Young Professionals, Stephenson Ohr is not afraid to “shake things up” for the organization.
“The industry is full of so many influential leaders, and tradition is a good thing,” she said. “But there’s also plenty of room to do things a little differently, to try new things and see what works and what doesn’t. Now is the time to engage with the future of bakeries.”
Stephenson Ohr will also work with Monica Kline, director of business operations and education for the EnSol Group and 2023 BakingTECH program chair, with the theme “Resilience.” The word represents not only the past few years in the industry but also each generation of bakers.
“They’ve all faced their own challenges, and they’ve all risen to the occasion to overcome them,” she said. “Resilience is just ingrained in a baker.”
The full 2022-23 ASB board of directors was also announced during BakingTECH, including the executive committee, which for the first time in the association’s history, includes four female executive committee members.
The board is as follows:
Executive Committee
Chairman – Brittny Stephenson Ohr, Sugar Foods Corp.
1st Vice Chairman – Eric Lewis, Flowers Foods
2nd Vice Chairman – Cindy Chananie, Cinch Bakery Equipment
3rd Vice Chairman – Xochitl Cruz, Bimbo Bakeries USA
Treasurer – Monica Kline, The Ensol Group
Board Members
Ash Gurney, Dawn Foods
Scott Houtz, Air Management Technologies
Rod Cunha, Bimbo Bakeries
Matt Bowers, Genesis Baking Company
Bruce Campbell, AMF Bakery Systems
Marrissa Stubbs, Caldic USA
Scott McCally, Auto-Bake Serpentine
Dave Krishock, Grain Craft
Sarah (Moore) Tsocanos, Pepperidge Farm/Campbell Snacks
Jeremiah Tilghman, Chef Shamy Gourmet Butter
Rod Radlia, Aunt Millie’s Bakeries
Harrison Helmick, Student
Rod Harris, Shick Esteve
Danielle Wedral Licata, Jungbunziauer
