RBA Roadshow-Chicago

John Roeser IV discusses recent product additions and his growing role at the party store attached to Roeser's Bakery in Chicago during the morning bakery tours. "I like to think of myself as a jack of all trades at the bakery," he said. Bakery tour lunch Bakery tour lunch: The Sebastopol Sandwich--ham, cheese, Dijon, mayo and pickles on a fresh baguette, prepared by Jory Downer, Bennison's Bakery in Evanston. (Not pictured: chips and one enormous chocolate chip cookie.) Vendor showcase Bakers check out the Vendor Showcase before the afternoon educational sessions. Hedecker receives CMB certificate An emotional Heidi Hedecker, who recently earned her Certified Master Baker designation, is awarded with a certificate from RBA by Chicago Area RBA members Jory Downer (second from right), owner of Bennison's Bakery, Evanston, Ill., and Bob Fleckenstein (right), owner of Fleckenstein's Bakery, Mokena, Ill. "I was mentored by the very best," Hedecker said. Michelle Boyd demonstration Michelle Boyd demonstrates lo-tech, high impact sugar work. Photo courtesy of Retail Bakers of America. Pat Jacoby Pat Jacoby, award-winning cake designer and owner of Patty-Cakes Bakery, Highland, Ill., shows off the finished product: a suspended sprinkling can cake after her "Internal Structure 101" demonstration at the RBA Roadshow. Jonna Parker, of the Nielsen Perishables Group, discusses in-store bakery growth during her presentation. Attendees in class Attendees listen to Kendall instructor Sue Tinnish's presentation on guerilla marketing tactics. "There has been a democratization in the ability to self-publish," she said of the growth of social media. Plated desserts Milky Way in a Glass, featuring dark chocolate ganache mousse and caramel "nougat" filling, prepared by Heidi Hedecker, CMB. Renee Rouwhorst "Throw out different options to customers," Renee Rouwhorst, owner of Ryke's Bakery, Muskegon, Mich., said, when discussing how to approach pricing as-seen-on-TV cakes. "We created a pricing book for different cakes that I have as a tool for our staff. They'll look at it with the customer ... and help them meet their need." Photo courtesy of RBA. Raffle Beth Fahey, co-owner of Creative Cakes and the lead event planner of the Chicago Roadshow, announces the winners of the prize drawing. The prizes included gift certificates, a cake kit and a chocolate fountain. Networking party From left: Renee Rouwhorst, Ryke's Bakery, Muskegon, Mich.; Marlene Goetzler, Freeport Bakery, Sacramento, Calif.; Ken Downey, RBA president and bakery director, Kings Supermarkets, Ken Jarosch, Jarosch Bakery, Elk Grove Village, Ill.; and Beth Fahey, Creative Cakes, Tinley Park, Ill. "Six weeks ago, Beth came to me with this crazy idea for the show ... and I told her,' Just do it!' And six weeks later, here we all are, thanks to Beth," Downey said during the cocktail hour. Networking party Attendees enjoy snacks and cocktails during the networking event at the end of the day. On an unseasonably warm December day in Chicago, more than 200 bakers, vendors and volunteers converged at Kendall College to help kick off the Retail Bakers of America (RBA) Roadshow. Read all about the event here.  No