“I am truly grateful for the many teachers and mentors I’ve encountered throughout my education and career; the things I’ve learned have been invaluable,” he said. “It’s truly humbling for someone who is used to wearing whites on the floor of the bakery to be inducted into such a prestigious group.”

Barry Clayton, Gary Newman, Duane Waltos and Greg Worthington from Innovative Cereal Systems were recognized as a collective. Clayton and Worthington accepted the distinction on behalf of Newman, who was unable to attend, and Waltos, who passed away in 2020.

“Four of us had a dream and we lived it,” Worthington said during the acceptance speech. “There aren’t too many people who could say that. I hope today, looking around here, other people will get that chance to live a dream.”

Robert Zielsdorf, founder of Peerless, closed out this year’s ceremony with a song performed on stage outlining his career trajectory in the industry. For Erin Zielsdorf, account executive of Avant Food Media, it’s an honor to continue in her family’s footsteps as a fourth-generation member of the baking industry.

“My grandfather, ‘Bebob’, built his great legacy by being committed to serving others and having a real passion for his work,” she said. “He inspires me to show up every day with intention. He is so deserving of this great honor, and seeing him inducted into the Hall of Fame is something I’ll always carry with me personally and professionally.”