Lee Sanders, CAE

About Lee Sanders

Lee leads ABA’s government relations team representing the baking industry before Congress, federal agencies, and international policy making bodies. She advises association Members and industry on critical legislative and regulatory issues, while serving as a spokesperson on behalf of the industry. Lee is Co-Chair for the Food and Beverage Issue Alliance (FBIA) – a group of 60+ FDA- regulated food industry trade associations. The FBIA serves as a platform for communications with various federal agencies on food industry priorities. FBIA works together to develop unified positions on nutrition and food safety issues and meets quarterly with FDA officials.

A member of the Board of Directors for the Business Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC), Lee also serves on the National Association of Manufacturers’ Food Policy Committee. She is a past chair of the Wheat Quality Council as well as past chair of the American Association of Cereal Chemists International (AACCI) Milling and Baking Division. Lee is a founding member and current President of the Society of Bakery Women.

Before coming to the industry 27 years ago, Lee served in several government roles including legislative aide to Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) and as a political appointee in the Administration of George H.W. Bush.

Lee holds a B.A. Degree in Journalism from the University of Mississippi and currently sits on its Political Science Advisory Board. She holds executive education certificates from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in Leading Teams for Growth and Change as well as Strategic Analysis and Decision-Making. Lee is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), American Society of Association Executives.

Honors and Awards

• 2017 Full Kernel Award, Wheat Quality Council, outstanding contributions to the improvement of wheat and flour quality in the United States

• 2009 AACCI Myron D. “Mike” Baustian Memorial Award for outstanding service

• 2009 Influential 20 List, Baking Management Magazine

• 2009 Leadership Award, Baking & Snack Magazine

Lee’s Expertise, Roles, and Responsibilities

• ABA Corporate Secretary

• Government Relations

• Legal Professionals Group

• Commodity and Agricultural Policy Professionals Group

• Food, Nutrition, and Labeling Policy

• Food and Beverage Issue Alliance (Co-Chair)

• Department of Homeland Security Food & Agriculture Sector Council

Baking Industry Groups:

• Society of Bakery Women (President)

• Grain Foods Foundation Marketing Committee

• Grain Chain Chair

• Wheat Innovation Research

• Wheat Quality Council (Past Chair)

• American Association of Cereal Chemists International (AACCI) Milling and Baking Division (Past Chair)

• Partner Organization Groups:

• Business Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) (Board of Directors)

• National Association of Manufacturers’ Food Policy Committee

Favorite Baked Goods

Sweet favorite: Chocolate glazed yeast-raised donut

Savory favorite: Rye bread

ABA Boilerplate

The American Bakers Association (ABA) is the voice of the baking industry. Serving Members from global wholesale baking companies and suppliers to baking industry entrepreneurs, ABA is the only bakery-specific national and state trade association, delivering results on priorities affecting the companies that feed the world.

Since 1897, ABA has worked to increase protection from costly government actions, build the talent pool of skilled workers with specialized training programs, and forge industry alignment by establishing a more receptive environment to grow the baking industry. ABA's Membership has grown to represent more than 300 companies with a combined 1000+ facilities.