The American Bakers Association (ABA) is welcoming two new senior leaders and celebrating two internal promotions, further positioning the organization to deliver results under its Strategic Plan to ensure an impactful and high-level experience for its membership, it says.

“These leadership appointments reflect ABA’s commitment to building a team with the expertise and dedication necessary to advance the priorities of the commercial baking industry,” says Eric Dell, ABA president and CEO. “By investing in both exceptional new talent and the continued growth of our existing team, we are strengthening ABA’s ability to deliver meaningful value for our members and the industry we serve.”  

Chris Zimmerman joins ABA as VP of finance and operations, bringing a strong background in financial leadership and organizational growth. Zimmerman previously served in senior finance roles including CFO, where he helped scale organizations by bringing a for-profit mindset to nonprofit operations. In his new role, he will lead ABA’s budgeting, financial forecasting, and key finance initiatives, including oversight of the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) financial planning. Zimmerman’s expertise in financial strategy and operational efficiency will support ABA’s long-term growth and help ensure the organization is well-positioned to achieve both its short- and long-term strategic goals.  

Jennifer “JB” Bulcao joins ABA as chief of staff, bringing extensive experience in executive leadership support, governance, and organizational strategy. Most recently, Bulcao served as executive director and board and governance liaison at the NAMA Foundation, where she led initiatives to empower the convenience services industry through research and advocacy. Her previous experience includes serving as executive assistant to the president and CEO at organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute and American Waterways Operators, managing executive office operations and board communications. Bulcao’s expertise will help strengthen ABA’s executive operations, enhance board engagement, and drive alignment across teams to ensure the association continues to advance its strategic priorities and deliver enhanced value to its members.  

In addition to welcoming new leaders, ABA is recognizing the contributions of two team members with promotions.  

Samantha Moore has been promoted to VP of events and programming. In this  role, Moore will continue to lead the strategic design and execution of ABA’s events and programs, aiming to strengthen engagement across the commercial baking community and ensure members benefit from high-impact networking, education, and collaboration opportunities.  

Thomas Bailey has been promoted to senior director of government relations. Bailey plays a critical role in advancing ABA’s advocacy efforts on behalf of commercial baking manufacturers, working closely with policymakers and industry stakeholders to promote policies that support a strong and competitive baking sector.  

Together, these leadership additions and promotions reinforce ABA’s commitment to delivering strong advocacy, innovative programming, and valuable resources that support the continued success of the commercial baking industry.  

To view the ABA professional team, click here.  

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