The American Society of Baking (ASB) has announced Peter Rasmussen as the recipient of the 2026 ASB Rising Baker Award. The honor was presented during BakingTECH 2026 in Chicago, recognizing Rasmussen’s leadership, innovation, and contributions to the baking industry.

Rasmussen is a professional in the baking and automation sectors, currently serving as global product manager – electric actuators at Festo. In this role, he has reportedly played a pivotal part in strengthening Festo’s position as a trusted automation partner within the North American baking industry. His work has helped machine builders and bakers implement effective automation solutions to complex production challenges, ASB says.

Rasmussen began his journey in baking with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Kansas State University. During his studies, he completed a three-year internship with Bimbo Bakeries USA before joining the company full-time as a process improvement engineer. His engineering expertise contributed to a national manufacturing excellence program, improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and reducing operational costs across bakeries in the U.S. and Mexico.

After advancing into plant engineering leadership, Rasmussen transitioned to Festo, where his impact earned him a scholarship to complete an MBA in International Business Administration in Germany. Following graduation, he was promoted to global product manager, expanding his influence within automation strategy and product leadership.

Rasmussen’s commitment to ASB community spans more than a decade. He joined ASB as a student member in 2011 and quickly became involved in volunteer leadership, the org says. He served as vice chair and later chair (2025–26) of the Young Professionals Committee. He was also instrumental in helping develop and launch the Rising Baker Award itself.

He has frequently contributed to BakingTECH as a breakout session speaker and served on the 2023 BakingTECH Planning Committee. Beyond ASB, Rasmussen serves as membership chair for ANSI Z50 and as a board member of BEAG, reflecting his dedication to advancing industry standards and collaboration, ASB notes.

“Peter exemplifies the spirit of the Rising Baker Award,” says ASB CEO Kristen L. Spriggs. “His leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to industry advancement make him a strong representative of the next generation shaping the future of baking.”

The ASB Rising Baker Award honors young professionals who are making exceptional contributions to the wholesale baking industry. Per the organization, recipients demonstrate a strong commitment to their careers, a record of outstanding achievement, and meaningful impact on the profession. Nominations for the 2027 Rising Baker Award are now open here.

Related: BEAG names Jeff Shura as incoming chairperson