The 2021 two-day virtual forum included a variety of meet-and-greet networking sessions, as well as presentations featuring speakers covering a range of professional-development topics. Highlights from the proceedings included:

• “New Ways of Shopping: The Bakery of 2022,” featuring Brad Alexander, COO, Flowers Foods; Cyrille Filott, global strategist, consumer food, Rabobank; J.P. Frossard, vice president, consumer foods analyst, Rabobank; and Kelly Mariotti, NextGenBaker co-chair and director, people programs and processes, Weston Foods
• American Bakers Political Action Committee (PAC) Townhall, featuring Kelly Knowles VP, political and state affairs, American Bakers Association; Stephanie Tillman, chief legal counsel, Flowers Foods; and Juan Williams, Fox News contributor and best-selling author
• “Leadership and Emotional Intelligence,” featuring Kevin Ames, founder, Ames Leadership Institute, and Campbell Williams, NextGenBaker co-chair and co-president, B.C. Williams Bakery Service and BCW Food Products
• “A Discussion on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Baking Industry,” followed by “The Future of Capitol Hill Panel,” featuring Josh Kelley, chief of staff, Senator Mike Braun; Nikki Lang-Perkins, head of diversity, equity, and belonging, Bimbo Bakeries USA; Kelly Mariotti; Isaac Rocha, director, West Zone, McDonald's & chief inclusion officer, The Bama Companies, Inc.; Nick Rockwell, legislative director, Representative G.T. Thompson (PA-15); Felisa Stockwell, senior director, Global People & Culture, Dawn Foods; Lauren Williams, director of government relations, American Bakers Association

The 2022 NextGenBaker Virtual Leadership Forum will take place April 26 to 28, 2022. Click here to register.