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We envision a world where local grain economies that are
good for people and good for the planet can thrive.
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Thursday, July 24
 

9:30am EDT

Name Your Terms: Taking a proactive approach to your growing bakery business
Thursday July 24, 2025 9:30am - 12:00pm EDT
I was inspired by a comment from the Tinder Hearth team's presentation last year, along the lines of: Growth tends to happen to bakeries– the hardest part is doing it on your terms. I've found that communities are often quite supportive of their bakeries, sometimes even too-much-so in a way that demands and pressures a bakery to become something that it's not. 

Customers, staff, and even your own ambitions will create pressure in different ways. Without clear structures and policies, growth can feel like an unstoppable force rather than something you control. And while counterintuitive, putting structures in place can give you even more space to be creative.

Our core lessons to set the terms of your business will cover:
  • “How We Work” policies that set up wholesale and catering relationships for success
  • Pay Structure templates to give a reliable and fair structure around employee pay with growth in mind
  • Situational Leadership tools to develop leadership skills, navigate expectation-setting, and maintain a positive company culture in a growing team

This workshop is intended for owners, managers, and leaders who are actively growing their teams, and looking to do so with intention and structure. It's not intended for cottage food bakeries looking to transition to commercial work, but they're of course welcome to attend.
Speakers
avatar for Zach Martinucci

Zach Martinucci

Founder + CEO, Rebel Bread
Zach Martinucci loves telling stories about food, over food, and even through food.He studied Culinary Anthropology at UCLA, where he spent months in Italy cooking, eating, learning, and talking about food, before completing a Professional Bread and Viennoiserie program at the San... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 9:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Skowhegan Center for Entrepreneurship 181 Water St, Skowhegan, ME 04976

1:30pm EDT

Finding Hope in our Food System
Thursday July 24, 2025 1:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Speakers
avatar for Lisa J. Raiola, MPH

Lisa J. Raiola, MPH

President + Founder, Hope & Main
Lisa has more than has more than 30 years of experience in program development and advancement at non-profit organizations in healthcare and higher education with a special focus on distributive justice, social responsibility and economic development. Recently retired as the VP for... Read More →
Thursday July 24, 2025 1:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Skowhegan Center for Entrepreneurship 181 Water St, Skowhegan, ME 04976
 
Friday, July 25
 

9:30am EDT

From Hello to Thank You: Skills to Help You to Shine at the Front Counter
Friday July 25, 2025 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Running a great bakery or cafe takes more than just good pastries—it takes a confident, knowledgeable front-of-house team that can deliver standout service with every customer interaction. While many bakeries invest in their baker training, consistent training for their customer-facing staff is often overlooked.  
Led by Wai Chu—Education and Events Manager at the Bread Bakers Guild of America— this 90-minute workshop is designed for bakery owners and operators who want to better train and support their counter staff. We’ll cover the foundations of strong front-of-house service, blending practical skills with a hospitality mindset. Topics include: 
 
  • Hospitality & Storytelling: Creating a welcoming environment rooted in care and attention and sharing what makes your bakery special 
  • Counter Service Essentials: Taking orders, handling payments, managing lines and peak times 
  • Describing Food & Upselling: Talking about menu offerings with confidence and intention 
  • Handling Difficult Situations: Navigating customer complaints and challenging situations with professionalism and care 
 
You’ll leave with tools, strategies, and sample training activities to bring back to your bakery—ready to boost your team’s confidence and elevate your customer experience. 
Speakers
avatar for Wai Chu

Wai Chu

Bread Bakers' Guild of America
Wai joined the Bread Bakers Guild of America as the Education and Events Manager in March 2025, bringing over 25 years of experience in the food industry. Most recently, he worked at Hot Bread Kitchen, where he was hired as the Lead Culinary Instructor and later took on a leadership... Read More →

Friday July 25, 2025 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Skowhegan Center for Entrepreneurship 181 Water St, Skowhegan, ME 04976
 
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