Policy, leadership and economic insights took center stage at the ABA 2026 Convention on Monday, April 20 as speakers and industry leaders examined the forces shaping the future of commercial baking. The day’s programming also emphasized leadership development, new attendee engagement and the importance of strong teams in navigating a rapidly evolving business environment.
Welcoming New Voices to the Convention
Monday began with the New Attendee Orientation and Ambassador Meet-Up, designed to help first-time participants make the most of their Convention experience. The session connected new attendees with fellow first-timers, the ABA staff and ATBI Ambassadors, offering insider guidance on navigating the event and building connections across the industry.
NextGenBaker Brunch Examined Leadership in the AI Era
Leadership development was a key theme during the NextGenBaker Brunch, where speaker Jorge Rosas, CEO of WeWow USA, presented on “Accountagility: Leading in the AI Era.”
Rosas encouraged executives to adopt what he described as accountagility—a blend of accountability and agility that enables organizations to adapt while maintaining strong performance. In a rapidly changing business landscape, Rosas emphasized that leaders must act like owners, make smarter decisions and maintain the human connections that foster trust and collaboration.
This year, ABA welcomed Josh Bickford, President of Clyde’s Donuts, and Jill Stang, Vice President of Sales and Business Development at Lesaffre, as the new Co-Chairs of NextGenBaker, ABA’s leadership development program for the commercial baking industry.
Industry Leaders Discuss the Future of Baking
The Convention’s afternoon business sessions opened with welcoming remarks from ABA Chair Bill Quigg, President and CEO of Richmond Baking, and Eric Dell, ABA President and CEO, who highlighted the importance of collaboration and industry leadership in a time of change.
They were followed by the executive panel “Shaping the Future of Baking: Executive Insights from Industry Leaders,” moderated by Dell and featuring Quigg alongside Paula Marshall, Chairman and CEO of The Bama Companies, Inc., Brian LeComte, President and COO of Gold Medal Bakery, and Tyson Yu, CEO of Aspire Bakeries.
Panelists examined the current state of the baking industry, discussing the challenges and opportunities facing commercial baking manufacturers. The discussion explored shifting consumer behaviors, market dynamics and external pressures affecting the sector, while offering forward-looking insights on how companies can position themselves for long-term success.
Understanding Geopolitics and Economic Change
The first keynote of the Convention was delivered by Andy Busch, former first Chief Market Intelligence Officer for the U.S. government and economic futurist at AndrewBusch.com. In his session, “Geopolitics in the Economy—Opportunities to Grow,” Busch explored how geopolitical developments are increasingly shaping the global economy.
He described the current environment as “Globalization 2.0,” where shifting trade relationships, conflicts and evolving immigration and tariff policies are transforming markets. Busch also examined how these dynamics are impacting commercial baking, highlighting how companies can identify opportunities for growth by anticipating change and leveraging emerging technologies such as generative and agentic AI alongside trusted business networks.
Building “Legendary Teams”
The day concluded with the Executive Roundtable: Legendary Teams, led by Jorge Rosas. The interactive discussion encouraged leaders to reflect on what distinguishes high-performing teams from others.
The conversation focused on three key drivers of organizational success – talent density, leadership evolution and cultural transformation – and how these factors influence execution speed, innovation, and long-term competitive advantage. Executives exchanged perspectives on how leadership behaviors and team dynamics shape organizational momentum.
Together, Monday’s sessions highlighted the leadership, strategic thinking and collaboration needed to guide the baking industry through an era of rapid change.
