The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA

From Weekend Help to Donut Empire: Gary VanderStelt of Sprinkles Donuts | The Perfect Rise Podcast

What happens when the kid who swore he’d never work in a bakery ends up running one of the busiest donut operations in Michigan?

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Chef Kimberly Houston sits down with Gary VanderStelt, owner of Sprinkles Donuts, to talk about how a family legacy turned into a full-blown donut empire—complete with 8+ locations, a 14,000-square-foot kitchen, and over 500,000 donuts produced every month.

Gary shares how he transitioned from weekend fryer shifts to full-time founder, what it takes to scale with quality, and why their mission to "create sweet memories" is baked into every decision, from hand-cut cinnamon rolls to a ready-to-thaw donut line now heading to grocery shelves.

👉 IN THIS CONVERSATION:
• Why Gary originally said he’d never work in a bakery
• How Sprinkles scaled from a single fryer to a production powerhouse
• The real challenges of hiring and managing across 9 locations
• Lessons in leadership, legacy, and loving what you do
• The frozen donut journey: what worked, what flopped, and what’s next

Whether you're a bakery owner, donut lover, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode will leave you inspired (and maybe a little hungry).

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more stories from behind the counter.

Learn more about the Retail Bakers of America
🌐 https://www.retailbakersofamerica.org/

Learn more about Sprinkles Donuts
🌐 https://sprinklesdonutshop.com/

Evergreen mid-roll promoting Retail Bakers of America membership. Highlights RBA’s education, industry resources, and professional community, with a call to learn more at RetailBakersofAmerica.org.

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.

What does it really take to become a Certified Master Baker? In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Chef LeeAnn Adams shares her journey—from late nights in the kitchen to passing one of the most intense baking exams in the industry.

We talk about the written and practical tests, the pressure, the power of mentorship, and the lifelong impact of becoming a CMB. If you’re a baker chasing excellence or curious about what’s possible in your career, this episode will leave you inspired.

• Inside the Certified Master Baker process
 • How the RBA supports exam candidates
 • Why consistency, leadership, and practice matter
 • Encouragement for anyone considering the CMB
 • Chef LeeAnn’s legacy and impact on the industry

📌 Learn more about CMB certification
🎧 Also check out our episode with Chef Austin
📍 Find Chef LeeAnn at the RBA Baker Center at IBIE!

#CertifiedMasterBaker #RBA #BakingCareer #CMBExam #BakingMentor #PastryChef #ProfessionalBaker #BakeryIndustry #ThePerfectRise #RBAPodcast

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.

What does it take to go from actor to baker—and find your flavor voice along the way?

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, host Kimberly Houston sits down with Taylor Craft, a Kendall College grad and career changer who left a 13-year front-of-house career to chase creativity and precision in pastry. Taylor opens up about her culinary school experience post-2020, how flavor theory changed her baking game, and why staying curious is the real secret to success in the industry.

👩‍🍳 Inside this conversation:
 • The truth about culinary school in a post-pandemic world
 • Why curiosity beats perfection every time
 • Balancing creativity, structure, and flavor
 • The myth that baking is “too hard” — debunked
 • Lessons from food media, viennoiserie, and the power of failure

Whether you're just starting out, pivoting careers, or looking for new ways to reignite your culinary fire—Taylor’s story will inspire you to stay curious, embrace mistakes, and keep evolving in and out of the kitchen.

🎧 Listen, learn, and subscribe for more real talk with today’s most dynamic baking pros.

Evergreen mid-roll promoting Retail Bakers of America membership. Highlights RBA’s education, industry resources, and professional community, with a call to learn more at RetailBakersofAmerica.org.

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.

What does it take to join the elite ranks of Certified Master Bakers (CMB)? In this powerful episode of The Perfect Rise, we go behind the scenes with Chef Austin Scoles—pastry chef, educator, and one of the newest CMBs certified by the Retail Bakers of America.

From 10+ weekends of intense practice to a two-day exam that tests everything from precision to endurance, Chef Scoles breaks down the real journey to CMB status—and what most people never hear about the process.

🎓 You’ll learn:
 • What the CMB exam really demands (and why most don’t attempt it)
 • How Chef Scoles went from student to faculty at JWU
 • Why mentorship is a non-negotiable part of mastery
 • How certifications can open doors beyond the bakery
 • What aspiring bakers should know before they apply

Whether you're preparing for your own certification, curious about high-level pastry careers, or simply want an inside look at the most respected baking credential in the U.S.—this one’s for you.

🧁 Learn more about CMB and other certifications at retailbakersofamerica.org
🎧 Subscribe to The Perfect Rise for more real stories from the leaders shaping baking’s future.

Evergreen mid-roll promoting Retail Bakers of America membership. Highlights RBA’s education, industry resources, and professional community, with a call to learn more at RetailBakersofAmerica.org.

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.

From Fine Pastry to Mentorship: Chef Jennifer Hyde on Lifelong Learning in the Kitchen

What does it take to build a career in pastry that spans bread, chocolate, and mentorship? In this episode of The Perfect Rise: Conversations with the RBA, we sit down with Jennifer Hyde, Assistant Pastry Chef at the prestigious Everglades Club in Palm Beach, Florida.

With over 15 years of experience in Palm Beach pastry kitchens and certifications in baking, executive pastry, and bread making, Chef Jen brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep love for the craft. She shares insights from her journey—starting with her education at the Florida Culinary Institute to her specialties in bread, viennoiserie, fine pastry, and chocolate.

Tune in as we talk about:
 • How she’s cultivated a dynamic and diverse pastry career
 • Why continuous learning matters at every stage
 • Her passion for mentoring the next generation of bakers
 • The importance of certifications and professional development

Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow as a pastry professional, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical wisdom.

Connect with Jen on Instagram

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations with baking industry leaders and RBA members.

#pastrychef #bakingcareer #culinarymentor #RBApodcast #ThePerfectRise #JenniferHyde #breadbaking #pastryarts #culinarycertification #bakingindustry #RBAmember

Evergreen mid-roll promoting Retail Bakers of America membership. Highlights RBA’s education, industry resources, and professional community, with a call to learn more at RetailBakersofAmerica.org.

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.

From decorating cakes at age 12 to launching a bakery in memory of her son, Heather Ugorowski’s baking journey is one of passion, purpose, and perseverance. In this heartfelt episode of The Perfect Rise, the RBA podcast, Heather shares the incredible highs and lows of her career—from a 10,000-mile bakery road trip to rebuilding after floods, accidents, and personal loss.

Discover how she built the Bleu Moose Bakery café, why she believes in “one pastry at a time,” and how the baking community helped her find her way back to the kitchen again and again.

Inside this episode:
 • Heather’s pivot from cake decorating to artisan bread
 • How a cross-country road trip helped shape her bakery vision
 • The powerful role baking plays in grief, healing, and connection
 • What it means to create a bakery rooted in community first

 🌐 Learn more about the Retail Bakers of America: https://www.retailbakersofamerica.org/
📍 Visit Bleu Moose Bakery: https://www.bleumoosebakery.com/ 

Evergreen mid-roll promoting Retail Bakers of America membership. Highlights RBA’s education, industry resources, and professional community, with a call to learn more at RetailBakersofAmerica.org.

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.

What do you get when you combine a lifelong artist, a pastry chef, and an award-winning educator? You get Certified Master Baker Derek Corsino.

In this inspiring episode of The Perfect Rise, we sit down with Derek to explore his journey from eight-year-old cake decorator to Food Network competitor, high school culinary instructor, and published author. Known for pushing creative boundaries in cake design and pushing students to greatness in SkillsUSA competitions, Derek shares the real talk behind building a career in baking—and how he’s stayed relevant every step of the way.

🧁 Inside this episode, we discuss:
 • How early art classes led to culinary school and a cake business
 • The truth about cake mix, consistency, and customer expectations
 • Why Derek tells bakers to hire artists, not decorators
• The behind-the-scenes of writing and self-publishing his cookbook
• The value of spreadsheets, knife skills, and saying YES to new opportunities
• What it means to evolve as an educator and stay connected to the next generation of culinary pros

Whether you’re a bakery owner, culinary student, or passionate home baker, Derek’s story will challenge and inspire you to rethink what success can look like in this industry.

🎧 Want more episodes? Subscribe to The Perfect Rise podcast for more conversations with bakers shaping the future of the industry.

📕 Learn more about Derek’s cookbook and work: www.derekcorsino.com
🌐 Explore RBA membership and resources: https://www.retailbakersofamerica.org

Evergreen mid-roll promoting Retail Bakers of America membership. Highlights RBA’s education, industry resources, and professional community, with a call to learn more at RetailBakersofAmerica.org.

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.

What happens when a high-powered marketing consultant trades her corporate corner office for a 30-quart mixer and a dream? In this powerful episode of The Perfect Rise, Kimberly Houston sits down with Amie Smith, pastry chef and owner of a thriving scratch bakery on Cape Cod, to talk about building a second-act career from the ground up—literally.

Amie shares her unexpected journey from Manhattan tech to pastry school, the reality of launching a bakery in her 50s, and the rollercoaster of growing from a tiny café to a custom-built 3,500 sq ft bakery. You'll hear:

• Why she left a six-figure marketing business to follow a baking dream
• How she navigated major setbacks—including COVID, staff turnover, and scaling pains
• Her honest take on what it really takes to run a food business
• The reason she’ll never open a second location (and why that’s okay)
• Why every culinary entrepreneur needs a “squirrel account”

This episode is a must-listen for anyone wondering if it’s too late to follow their passion—or what’s really possible when you stop asking for permission.

🔗 Learn more about the Retail Bakers of America: https://www.retailbakersofamerica.org
📢 Subscribe for more inspiring interviews with bakers, owners, and culinary pros across the country.

#BakeryBusiness #ScratchBaking #WomenInBusiness #CareerPivot #BakingAfter50 #RetailBakersOfAmerica #ThePerfectRisePodcast #BakeryOwnerStory #Entrepreneurship #FoodBusinessTips #CulinaryCareerChange

Evergreen mid-roll promoting Retail Bakers of America membership. Highlights RBA’s education, industry resources, and professional community, with a call to learn more at RetailBakersofAmerica.org.

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.

In this inspiring episode of The Perfect Rise, host Kimberly Houston sits down with Amy Emberling, Managing Partner at the legendary Zingerman’s Bakehouse, to explore what it really takes to build a bakery business that lasts—not just in years, but in values, vision, and community impact.

Amy shares how she went from baking as a child in Nova Scotia to helping build one of the most respected bakeries in the country. You’ll hear her journey through the food industry, her surprising detour into corporate consulting, and why she ultimately returned to the world of artisan bread and purpose-driven leadership.

We dig into: ✔️ How to define your North Star as a bakery owner
✔️ The biggest shifts in baking and food safety since the ’90s
✔️ Why your dream bakery starts with knowing how you want to live
✔️ What most people get wrong about pricing and the real cost of food
✔️ Amy’s advice for aspiring bakers before they open their doors

✨ FREE BONUS ✨
 Want to design a bakery business that truly fits your life?
 Download our free visioning guide → “Design Your Ideal Bakery Life”

Whether you’re running a busy shop or dreaming of your first storefront, this episode is a must-listen for anyone in the baking industry.

👇 Drop a comment and tell us what your dream bakery life looks like!

🔗 Stay Connected:
Subscribe for more episodes: The Perfect Rise Playlist
Visit RBA: Retail Bakers of America Website
 

Evergreen mid-roll promoting Retail Bakers of America membership. Highlights RBA’s education, industry resources, and professional community, with a call to learn more at RetailBakersofAmerica.org.

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.

What happens when it’s time to step away from the bakery that’s shaped your life? In this episode of The Perfect Rise, we sit down with Shellie Slove—baker’s daughter, third-generation entrepreneur, and Head of Bakery Success at Bakesmart—to explore what comes after bakery ownership.

Shellie shares her powerful journey through grief, succession planning, and ultimately selling her family’s bakery. This raw and insightful conversation offers valuable guidance for anyone thinking about their next chapter, whether that’s scaling back, stepping away, or shifting into a new role within the industry.

✔️ What if your kids don’t want the bakery? 

✔️ How do you prepare for the emotional and strategic transition? 

✔️ Can you still support the baking industry without owning a bakery?

This is the real talk bakery owners need—and don’t often get.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:
Join the Retail Bakers of America: https://www.retailbakersofamerica.org/
Learn more about Bakesmart: https://www.bakesmart.com/
Listen to more episodes of The Perfect Rise: Play List

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About The Perfect Rise Podcast
Hosted by Kimberly Houston at the Retail Bakers of America, The Perfect Rise brings you the conversations that matter most to today’s bakers—from behind-the-scenes industry insights to personal stories of resilience, reinvention, and rising to the occasion.

Subscribe for more episodes that inform, inspire, and elevate the baking community.

#SellingYourBakery #BakeryBusiness #BakeryOwner #SuccessionPlanning #Bakesmart #ThePerfectRisePodcast #RetailBakersOfAmerica

Evergreen mid-roll promoting Retail Bakers of America membership. Highlights RBA’s education, industry resources, and professional community, with a call to learn more at RetailBakersofAmerica.org.

Evergreen closing message for The Perfect Rise. Thanks listeners for tuning in, encourages them to follow and share the podcast, and directs bakery professionals to RetailBakersofAmerica.org to learn more about RBA membership and resources.