DALLAS — Although summer has just started, NEXUS, the baking industry’s newest event, is just around the corner. BEMA and the American Bakers Association (ABA) partnered to create this unique event, which will take place Sept. 25-28 in Dallas. NEXUS is expected to connect people from all areas of the industry, including executive leadership, business development, R&D, human resources and operations.
The event will also be the site for ABA’s annual NextGenBaker Leadership Forum, a professional development program dedicated to developing rising leaders in the wholesale baking industry. The program focuses on four core pillars: professional development, public policy engagement, relationship building and industry trends education.
“NextGenBaker allows rising leaders to stay informed about the latest developments in the baking industry, making them more effective leaders through exposure to emerging industry trends, relationship building with influential individuals and learning from successful leaders,” said Liliana (Lili) Economakis, NextGenBaker co-chair and division VP, customer development non-commercial at Aspire Bakeries. “The interactive sessions at this year’s NextGenBaker Leadership Forum will focus on developing specific leadership skills, allowing attendees to incorporate the tools needed to excel in their roles and navigate the complexities of leadership.”
Who can attend the NextGenBaker Leadership Forum?
NextGenBaker is open to everyone in the industry, with participants representing a range of positions across all departments in baker and supplier companies, from managers and directors to VPs and senior VPs.
“The lifelong industry relationships formed in NextGenBaker and the emphasis on investing in leadership development is incredibly valuable not only to the individuals who participate but to the companies they represent,” said Christina Donnelly, director, industry relations and strategic initiatives at ABA.
The popular Senior Leaders panel is on the agenda this year. The event gives participants an opportunity to hear from senior industry executives. The forum will also include the Rising Leaders Roundtable, which allows attendees to share solutions, best practices and challenges on a variety of topics such as effective communication, mentoring and managing organizational change. During Coffee and Connections, participants can get to know their fellow NextGenBakers.
“Some of the many benefits of attending the NextGenBaker Leadership Forum will be gaining knowledge and insight into the industry through keynote speakers, panel discussions and workshops,” said Bradley Cain, NextGenBaker co-chair and president of Cain Food Industries. “It will also be a great place to gain motivation and inspiration from interactions with industry role models.”
To register for the forum, select NextGenBaker Leadership Forum during NEXUS registration. Note that program registration is limited to 60 people this year.
