Evolving value

The Convention is the most valuable and premier event for commercial baking industry executives, Moore opines, and organizers expect to welcome more than 550 attendees this year, making it one of the largest annual gatherings for the industry. 

“A testament to the growing importance of this gathering, the 2025 Convention showcased this growth, bringing together representatives from 56 leading baking companies and drawing over 130 first-time attendees whose fresh perspectives added energy and insight to the program,” she notes. 

Part of the reason why new attendees register and veterans come back, Moore says, is the association’s continual effort to keep evaluating the programming and pursuing a strategic evolution to better serve the commercial baking industry.

“Following a 2023 rebrand that modernized the event and refreshed its purpose, ABA has continued to elevate the Convention experience in alignment with the association’s five-year strategic plan,” she adds. “This plan sharpened ABA’s mission, vision, and core ideology, ensuring the Convention delivers a higher-level impact to members throughout the entire programming.”

Image Credit: ABA

To accomplish this, ABA expanded its business session content, introduced new leadership programming, and brought in “cutting-edge” speakers—from both inside and outside the baking industry—to challenge thinking and inspire new approaches to business.

Image Credit: ABA

“With extended networking opportunities and richer educational content, the Convention has become the premier forum for executives to deepen relationships, gain actionable insights, and help propel the industry and their businesses forward,” she finishes.

Sessions and speakers

The 2026 NextGenBaker Brunch (April 20, 11 am), sponsored by equipment company Mecatherm, will feature a keynote by renowned speaker Jorge Rosas, CEO of business and HR consultancy WeWow USA. With his global leadership expertise (including more than 1,000 keynotes and three TED Talks), his keynote will aim to inspire the baking industry’s rising leaders. According to Moore, the brunch will explore how emerging executives can amplify their influence, make smarter decisions, and preserve the human connection that builds trust, 

For the Convention’s main program, ABA has reportedly put together a speaker lineup designed to equip the baking industry with clarity, strategy, and leadership insight needed for the future. 

• Economist Andy Busch will open the program with a forward-looking analysis of how geopolitics is now the global economy, offering attendees practical guidance on leveraging AI, navigating policy shifts, and identifying new opportunities in an increasingly complex market. 
• Jon McNeill (CEO of company creation platform DVX Ventures, formerly president of Tesla and COO of Lyft) will deliver a masterclass on innovation and scalability, breaking down where AI creates value for manufacturers and providing a board-ready framework for disciplined, high-impact transformation. 
• F-16 fighter pilot, PGA professional, and Folds of Honor founder Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney will share his CAVU (Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited) training leadership philosophy, offering a purpose-driven roadmap for leading with resilience, clarity, and service in turbulent times. 

Image Credit: Jenni Spinner

“Together, these three speakers bring unmatched expertise, spanning economics, advanced manufacturing, and high-performance leadership, to help ABA members anticipate change, innovate with confidence, and lead their organizations into the next era of commercial baking,” Moore adds.

The Convention agenda also features a range of educational content. Bill Quigg, ABA board of directors chair and president and CEO of Richmond Baking Co., says what excites him most about this year’s program is how intentional it is. 

Image Credit: Jenni Spinner

“The content is forward-looking, practical, and designed specifically for executives who are navigating rapid change,” he explains. “From global economic forces and AI to leadership under pressure and policy realities, the programming meets leaders where they are and gives them tools they can actually use. It’s a strong reflection of how the ABA Convention continues to evolve alongside the industry it serves.”

The 2026 Convention program emphasizes the policy landscape shaping the commercial baking industry—for example, it includes a series of sessions dedicated to helping attendees understand and navigate the regulatory and legislative issues impacting their businesses.

According to Pippa O’Shea, senior manager, events and programming, ABA, the org will host the following: 

• Two Gist Breakfasts, focusing on state and federal affairs, will provide concise, high-value updates on emerging policy trends, state-level developments, Capitol Hill activity, and recent regulatory shifts.
• Building on these briefings, ABA’s Government Relations team will lead sessions offering a comprehensive look at the upcoming review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) impacting trade, and the federal nutrition policy changes that could lead to shifts in consumer behavior and federal action.

“Together, these sessions equip attendees with the intelligence, context, and advocacy insights needed to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving environment and to understand how ABA is working to protect and advance the industry’s interests,” O’Shea shares.

Image Credit: Jenni Spinner

In addition, as part of the business program, analyst Anne-Marie Roerink (principal and owner of 210 Analytics) will lead a featured session on new consumer insights and trend analysis from ABA’s latest Bakery Playbook research. Her presentation will aim to highlight shoppers’ evolving buying habits, and the marketplace forces shaping demand for baked goods. Roerink will also introduce new Bakery Playbooks and will be joined by grocery retail and foodservice leaders to discuss how the baking category can drive growth and create stronger connections with today’s shoppers.

Social activities

This year’s conference reportedly will offer more ways than ever for members to connect, unwind, and build meaningful relationships across the industry. 

“We’ve grown to two golf tournaments, added a variety of specialty activities, including a Garden of the Gods hike, pickleball clinics, archery, pasta-making, and skeet shooting, and expanded our signature moments, such as cocktail receptions, networking breaks, and the Dine Around Dinners,” shares O’Shea.

New attendees should feel right at home with the Convention’s enhanced New Attendee Orientation and Ambassador Meet-Up, she adds. In addition, all attendees can come together for some of the most anticipated events of the week, including but not limited to:

• Golf Tournament (April 19, 8 am), the first of two tournaments at Convention. Registration includes greens fees, cart rental, free beverage cart access, two sleeves of golf balls, and other accessories.
• Garden of the Gods Guided Hike (April 19, 8:30 am), where attendees can explore red rock formations, learn about geographical forces shaping the landscape, and discover plant and animal life in the area.
• Pickleball 101 Clinic (April 19, 10:30 am), where newbies to the sport can learn how to play in a fun, low-pressure environment. Only 16 spots are available. 
• Millers’ Welcome Reception (April 20, 5 pm), the official opening reception and kickoff to Convention.
• Dine Around Dinners (April 20, 6:45 pm), a Convention tradition where ABA selects the time, the hotel on-site restaurant, and each attendee’s small group of 6-8 people. Each group is curated based on feedback provided by each attendee after registering.
• The Bakers Give Back service project (April 21, 12:30 pm)—this year, ABA is supporting K9s For Warriors, the nation’s largest provider of trained service dogs for veterans living with PTSD and brain injuries.
• The “One Night Only” Live with ABA celebration (April 22, 7 pm), where attendees can mingle with industry leaders, discover what’s next for ABA, and be part of a lively experience, the org says.

Image Credit: Jenni Spinner

Final thoughts

Quigg says the Convention is where the commercial baking industry steps out of day-to-day operations and into strategic thinking. 

“It brings together the people, insights, and conversations that help leaders see what’s coming next and make smarter decisions for their businesses,” he explains. “Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a longtime participant, the value comes from the combination of high-level content, trusted peer connections, and the ability to engage directly with the policy issues shaping our industry’s future.”

Image Credit: Jenni Spinner

Moore agrees, saying that throughout the Convention, attendees will engage in conversation about ABA’s active engagement with the administration, Congress, federal agencies, and state legislatures.

“[This ensures] the voice of the baking industry is reflected in national conversations on workforce, nutrition, labeling, state activity, and more,” she notes. “In today’s rapidly evolving environment, staying informed and connected is more critical than ever, and this year’s sessions offer companies the timely intelligence they need to understand current challenges, identify opportunities, and prepare their businesses for what’s ahead.”