CHICAGO — During the American Society of Baking’s (ASB) BakingTECH 2024, held February 27-29, Catherin Herrera, director of baking technology – technical service at Bimbo Canada, was named the recipient of this year’s Rising Baker Award.
The Rising Bakers program is one of ASB’s highest honors and is intended to recognize young professionals making outstanding contributions to the commercial baking industry.
“Catherin inspires co-workers and industry peers alike to stretch the limits on innovation and see what’s possible,” said Peter Rasmussen, chair for the Rising Baker Award, in a video presented during the award ceremony. “On behalf of ASB, I want to congratulate Catherin as this year’s Rising Baker Award recipient.”
Carter Wands, manager of technical sales and innovation at Miller Milling Co. and chair of ASB’s Young Professionals Committee, presented the award to Herrera on Rasmussen’s behalf during the Future of the Baking Industry lunch.
“I have the honor and privilege of standing before you,” Herrera said. “This amazing community that I respect and value so much has given an award that means so much to me.”
Herrera has served in the industry for 18 years with experience spanning companies including Carrefour Columbia, Puratos, AIB and Bimbo Bakeries USA.
“I take great pride in calling myself a baker,” she said. “I’ve had the chance to work with bakers from all over the world during the last 18 years, always working not being the youngest one in the room but always humbled and inspired by our great veterans in baking who have been serving 20, 30, 40-plus years.”
She’s also shown a dedication to the next generation of baking industry leaders, managing student research projects at Kansas State University and volunteering her time to propel the future of baking forward.
“In a world where you don’t hear many young students or professionals becoming bakers, we must continue to promote, enhance and make our industry more attractive, technical, knowledgeable, passionate, kinder, united and committed to nourish a world responsibly not through words alone, but with our example and leadership,” Herrera said.
Herrera is the third recipient of this ASB honor. The Rising Baker Award was first created in 2023 with James Happ and John Hinds named the inaugural recipients of this recognition.
