This year’s Bakery Equipment Manufacturing Association (BEMA) Convention took place on Marco Island in Florida. The Women’s Bakery is thankful to be able to attend this year’s convention both in person and virtually. Founder and CEO, Markey Culver was joined in person by Madeleine Binsfrahm, our Development and Communications Director. Tessa Soni, our South Regional Manager, Zoomed in to present updates about what The Women’s Bakery has been up to over this past year of challenges and innovations.
Most notably the theme of innovation shared by Duncan Wardle resonated with Madeleine, in that “Children are the most innovative because they play, they ask questions, they can build, they can innovate, they have no limits. Adults, on the other hand, often think reductively, not expansively.” In reflecting upon the past year at The Women’s Bakery, we have certainly asked new questions and tested the bounds of our innovation to adapt to the ever-changing conditions of COVID-19.
Inspired by the keynote address on the topic of innovation, Madeleine posed the following question to our Development and Communications Associate, Uma.
Madeleine: Where do you come up with your best new ideas?
Uma: When I’m not consciously trying to come up with new ideas!
As such, it is clear that people come up with their best ideas outside of work. It is up to us as innovators and leaders to create enough space for team members to do this. For some people, this innovation process takes place when they are outside walking in nature, for others it happens in the shower, and sometimes it might even take place in the office with the support of their colleagues in an open brainstorming session. At The Women’s Bakery, we are constantly looking for new ways to innovate and streamline our processes. This session inspired us to think of ways in which we can encourage innovation in and out of the workplace while maintaining work-life balance.
In addition to the keynote address, there were several BEMA Convention sessions which were relevant to the challenges and innovations addressed by The Women’s Bakery in the past year. Specifically, the information shared at the Intel Presentation reinforced that we are not alone in the strife that we have faced. New challenges around COVID-19, in addition to managing increasing raw material costs, increased transportation costs, as well as addressing an increased demand for attracting and retaining a workforce have been shared struggles across the baking industry. Perhaps one of our key takeaways was that we should constantly be thinking about how we can innovate solutions to the barriers that stand in our way.
For example, at TWB, we pride ourselves in our nationally accredited baker training program. Not every woman that joins our team has a background in baking but we are intentional in the training we provide to remove any barriers for the women to become bakers, if that’s what they wish to do. In other words, all work is skilled work, but we must think about how we can harness the skills that an individual comes to us with and help develop them into something that aligns with our company.
In addition to meeting several partners - both new and old - The Women’s Bakery was represented at a presentation led by Tessa updating the BEMA community about our work over the past year. Tessa honed in on what it means for TWB to be a true social enterprise, pairing the business of running a bakery with the social impact of a nonprofit organization. Moreover, Tessa demonstrated the impact of #BreadPower when it comes to empowering our #StrongWomenBakingBread and the communities in which they participate both socially and economically. We were also excited to share that our bakery in Gicumbi reached profitability this year! The presentation concluded with updates on our One Bread Project, The Women’s Bakery school feeding program in Rwanda which now serves over 3,000 students daily!
Tessa’s presentation inspired this year’s new Chairman of BEMA, Tim Cook, to hold an impromptu fundraiser at the Chairman’s Ball. BEMA members pledged $25,000.00 to support The One Bread Project, our school feeding program in Rwanda. BEMA and its member organizations have been a true support system to The Women’s Bakery over the past few years, but especially in the last year of unprecedented challenges. As Markey shared “You got us through a very difficult time last year, and because of that we’re able to be with you today,” Our gratitude to the baking industry community and BEMA extends beyond words and we are thankful to grow in the future alongside such strong leaders and innovators.
