24 Oct CEO Insights: Reflections on NEXUS 2024: A Year of Connection and Innovation

As I take a moment to reflect on this year’s NEXUS event, one thing is abundantly clear: there is an undeniable hunger in our industry for connection. In a time when many manufacturing sectors, including baking, are proceeding with caution due to a number of variables, the opportunity to bring together suppliers, manufacturers, and bakers is more important than ever. NEXUS 2024 delivered on that front, providing impactful business connections alongside impactful educational content.

Keynote Insights: Applicable, Timely and Innovative

This year’s keynote speakers resonated deeply with attendees. One highlight was Ron White our Opening Keynote speaker. Ron is a championed memory expert —an incredibly relevant topic for every person in the room, whether they were just starting their career or a seasoned veteran. In a world where relationships are the cornerstone of both life and business, remembering names and details about the people we meet helps us build stronger, more meaningful connections. That takeaway is applicable to all of us—strengthening relationships with our colleagues and partners by simply remembering the small, important things.

Penelope Brown, our Lunch and Learn Keynote, spoke on the timely topic of artificial intelligence. She gave a comprehensive overview of how AI is reshaping industries and provided resources that attendees could take back and implement within their own companies. It’s a topic I think we’ll continue to explore, and I’m looking forward to diving deeper into it with our board and the Baking Industry Forum.

Another standout was something I haven’t seen done before in my many years of attending conferences: the Closing Keynote. Shawna Suckow asked attendees to apply what we had learned throughout the event. She lead us to engage with two new people, deepening our connections while solidifying the educational content. This innovative approach added immediate value, and I believe the connections sparked will continue to bring benefits for everyone involved.

Diverse Educational Offerings

Education remains a cornerstone of NEXUS, and this year, we once again provided attendees with a wide range of topics. From interactive sessions using LEGOs to sharpen communication and business strategies, to in-depth discussions on the future workforce through CAPS, there was something for everyone. The variety is crucial for the growth of our members, and we will continue to evolve these offerings based on feedback and the needs of the industry.

A Hub for the Industry

One of the pillars of NEXUS is collaboration, and this year we had participation from 8 associations. These groups brought their expertise to the table, enhancing the value we could provide to our attendees. GFF and PMMI, in particular, made significant contributions—PMMI’s second year with us has been especially impactful. Their work is pushing the industry forward, and we are proud to play a small part. ASB also had a strong presence, with discussions around mentorship, which is so aligned with their mission of strengthening the baking industry’s future.

At its heart, NEXUS is more than just an event—it’s becoming the hub of the industry. Our goal is to create an environment that makes it easy for members to connect, collaborate, and drive the industry forward. This collaboration between associations is vital for our members and the entire baking sector, and we’re committed to fostering this spirit of cooperation moving forward.

Nurturing the Next Generation

I was fortunate to spend time with several younger first-time attendees at NEXUS this year. Their enthusiasm for every part of the event was refreshing—they found immense value in connecting with bakers and suppliers, attending the educational sessions and keynotes, and even enjoying the fun aspects like ATBI’s Topgolf and the NEXUS Tailgate. Their excitement reminds me of the importance of continually engaging the next generation in our industry.

On that note, I was incredibly impressed by the two recipients of the BEMA ASCEND scholarship. Fong Hum (AMF) and Kaleb TenHaken (HaF) made the most of every opportunity at NEXUS, attending each event and actively engaging with everyone around them. This initiative accomplished exactly what the board and committee envisioned—providing a launchpad for talented individuals from our member companies to connect with the broader industry. I believe NEXUS, through programs like ASCEND, will play a key role in helping shape the careers of the next generation of industry leaders.

Creating an Event with Life

In closing, NEXUS 2024 was not just a business event—it was engaging, lively, and filled with opportunities for meaningful connections. Even first-time attendees, like one guest from IDDBA, remarked on the event’s energy and how it stood out from other conferences. That’s a testament to the hard work, collaboration, and passion of everyone involved, and it’s something I’m incredibly proud of.

Thank you to all who attended, contributed, and made this year’s event such a success. Let’s keep connecting and innovating together.