Leadership expansion supports ABA’s industry advocacy

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Leadership expansion supports ABA’s industry advocacy

2 Apr 2026

Maddie Lambert

Maddie Lambert is a copywriter and editor from Joplin, MO. She graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English – literary studies. When she’s not poring over the magazine or lost in the pages of a new novel, you can find Maddie exploring her local bookstores, spending time with her husband, or sharing her latest literary discoveries with fellow book enthusiasts.

WASHINGTON, DC — In order to further its strategic growth and industry advocacy, the American Bakers Association (ABA) expanded its leadership team, welcoming two new senior leaders. This move positions the association to deliver results under its strategic plan, ensuring an impactful, high-level experience for its membership.

Jennifer Bulcao is stepping into the role of chief of staff, bringing extensive experience in executive leadership support, governance and organizational strategy. Bulcao most recently served as executive director and board and governance liaison at the NAMA Foundation, where she led initiatives to empower the convenience services industry through research and advocacy. Her expertise will help strengthen ABA’s executive operations, enhance board engagement, and drive alignment across teams to deliver greater value to the association’s members.

Chris Zimmerman joins ABA as VP of finance and operations, bringing a strong background in financial leadership and organizational growth. He previously served in senior finance roles, including CFO, helping scale organizations by bringing a for-profit mindset to non-profit operations.

In his new role, Zimmerman will lead ABA’s budgeting, financial forecasting and key finance initiatives, including oversight of the International Baking Industry Exposition’s financial planning.

“These leadership appointments reflect ABA’s commitment to building a team with the expertise and dedication necessary to advance the priorities of the commercial baking industry,” said Eric Dell, president and CEO of ABA.

“By investing in both exceptional new talent and the continued growth of our existing team, we are strengthening ABA’s ability to deliver meaningful value for our members and the industry we serve.”— Eric Dell | president and CEO | American Bakers Association

In addition to welcoming Zimmerman and Bulcao to ABA, the organization also announced two internal promotions.

Samantha Moore has been promoted to VP of events and programming. In this role, Moore will continue leading the strategic design and execution of ABA’s industry events and programs, strengthening engagement across the commercial baking community, and ensuring that members benefit from high-impact networking, education and collaboration opportunities.

Thomas Bailey has been elevated to senior director of government relations. Bailey will continue advancing ABA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of commercial baking manufacturers, working closely with policymakers and industry stakeholders to promote policies that support the baking sector.

“By investing in both exceptional new talent and the continued growth of our existing team, we are strengthening ABA’s ability to deliver meaningful value for our members and the industry we serve,” Dell said.

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