Baking & Snack - November 2020 - 10

editorial
Waking up to a world of opportunity

When it comes to a career in our industry, the next generation of bakers, food scientists and engineers don't
fully realize the tremendous potential that's out there.
Let's face it. The industry has to do a better job with
making a key personal connection to young people before they commit to college and spend tens of thousands
of dollars on their future.
But don't believe me. That's what former high school
students say, those who are graduates of the Center for
Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) and its Future of
Food program in suburban Kansas City.
" Honestly, there needs to be a change and an encouragement by the food industry in the school systems, " said
Abby Mitchell, who attended CAPS just a few years ago
and now works in the food industry.
Laila Carter, another CAPS graduate now employed in a food science career, suggested that
bakeries and other food manufacturers open
their doors to allow students to experience how
the industry really works. If that's not possible,
discussing career opportunities in a classroom
setting is invaluable to raising awareness of the
food industry. CAPS and other programs allow
food operations to flip the switch and shine a
bright light on a potential career for high school
juniors and seniors.
" I loved going to startup companies and seeing what
they did in smaller scale production, " she said. " That is
something that is so important. It allows you to put yourself in other people's shoes and gives you more insight

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10 Baking & Snack November 2020 / www.bakingbusiness.com

and exposure. You're more comfortable seeing yourself in
situation where you have already been in that situation. "
Kirsty Gordon observed that participating in the CAPS
program paid dividends, especially while she was attending Kansas State University.
" Even at the college level, students didn't have that
same knowledge of food, or not even a foundation, that
we had from being in CAPS, " the former student said.
" The food industry is not quite connecting with people
enough. "
When it comes to the future, the baking industry needs
to start earlier in recruiting for tomorrow's workforce.
That's exactly what CAPS does, but so does identifying
talent in your workplace.
A new study by the American Bakers Association and
NDP Analytics found that entry-level frontline workers
in the wholesale baking industry have opportunities to
grow into leadership positions within their companies.
In fact, 66% of companies participating in the Baking
Industry's Frontline Workforce Landscape study reported that at least one in every four frontline supervisors or
managers were promoted from within the business last
year.
If you're looking for talented people, just look around
in your company and your community or reach out to
CAPS. The future is everywhere. Give them a chance.
They're just looking for you to show them the way to a
world of opportunity waiting just for them.
- Dan Malovany, Editor
dmalovany@sosland.com

EDITORIAL
Editor
Managing Editor
Senior Editor
Digital Media Editor
Contributing Editors:

Dan Malovany
Nico Roesler
Charlotte Atchley
Anna Wiber
Donna Berry
M. Hikmet BoyacÄ±oglu

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Baking & Snack - November 2020

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