What does it take to transform baking skill into a business that can grow, endure, and eventually operate beyond its founder?

Matt D’Agostino is a Certified Master Baker, former president of the Retail Bakers of America, and former owner of La Bonbonniere Bake Shoppes, now Labon Bake Shoppes, in central New Jersey. During more than 45 years in retail baking, Matt worked his way from dishwasher and apprentice to baker, decorator, general manager, CEO, and board chairman. At its height, the family business operated 10 locations and employed approximately 130 people.

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Matt shares how his family’s baking legacy began, what opening a second location taught him about systems and leadership, and why centralized production became essential to maintaining quality across multiple stores. He also explains how middle management gave him room to lead strategically, why protecting company culture led him to reduce the number of locations, and how reviewing a five-year plan annually kept the bakery moving forward.

The conversation also explores the development of RBA’s Certified Master Baker program, Matt’s early attempt to bring the baking industry into the virtual world, the professional value of industry service, and the role SkillsUSA plays in preparing the next generation. Matt closes with a vital lesson for bakery owners: building a sustainable company requires understanding financial performance, developing capable people, and creating a business that does not depend entirely on the owner’s hands.

Whether you are building your first bakery, expanding to multiple locations, preparing the next generation, or considering your eventual exit, this episode offers hard-earned wisdom about profitability, leadership, succession, and legacy.

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.

Millions of social media views may generate attention, but attention alone does not create book sales, sold-out tours, or a lasting business. Coinneach MacLeod, internationally bestselling author and the personality behind the Hebridean Baker, has built a global brand by remaining rooted in the recipes, language, folklore, and everyday life of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Coinneach joins host Kimberly Houston to discuss how creators can turn an online audience into a genuine community. He explains why being niche is an advantage, how storytelling moves people from digital content to live experiences, and why consistency and familiarity are essential when building a recognizable brand.

Coinneach also shares what changed when his work expanded from social media into publishing and television, how he evaluates commercial partnerships, and why accepting an off-brand opportunity is rarely worth the money. He even offers an exclusive first look at his fifth cookbook, A Scottish Christmas.

Whether you are building a bakery, developing a personal brand, or sharing traditions from your own family and community, this conversation offers an honest look at creating meaningful growth without becoming broader, more generic, or disconnected from what made people care.

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.

Growth rarely happens exactly as planned, especially when you are responsible for carrying a family legacy forward.

In this episode, Kimberly Houston speaks with Max Jacobson-Fried, Managing Partner of Freed’s Bakery, a third-generation Las Vegas bakery founded in 1959. Max shares how an unsuccessful expansion reshaped his approach to leadership, communication, delegation, and operational growth.

They explore what must be in place before opening another location, how technology can protect quality across a growing company, and why leaders must create systems that allow decisions to happen without them. Max also discusses Freed’s expansion into major Las Vegas venues, the challenges of nationwide cake shipping, and the difference between preserving a company’s legacy and refusing to evolve.

This is a candid conversation about mistakes, resilience, and building a business that can grow beyond any one person while remaining grounded in quality, service, and respect.

Book Mentioned in the Episode: Unreasonable Hospitality

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 earn the title of Certified Master Baker, and what can the credential unlock in a baker’s career?

In this encore episode of The Perfect Rise, Kimberly Houston speaks with Chef LeAnn Adams, CMB, about one of the baking industry’s most respected professional certifications. Chef LeAnn shares her journey to becoming a Certified Master Baker, the intense preparation required for the practical exam, and why even highly experienced bakers must stretch beyond their specialties to succeed.

The conversation also explores the career opportunities, professional community, and credibility that can come with certification. Most importantly, Chef LeAnn explains why mentorship, openness to feedback, and a willingness to support the next generation are essential parts of mastering the craft.

Whether you are considering certification, mentoring another baker, or looking for your next opportunity to grow, this conversation offers an honest look at what it means to pursue excellence in baking.

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.

The baking industry has always celebrated resilience, grit, and the ability to push through. But what happens when the cost of that resilience becomes too high?

In this re-released episode of The Perfect Rise, Kimberly Houston sits down with Jasmine Papadopoulos, Chief Growth Officer of CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach & Wellness), for a conversation that is just as relevant today as when it first aired. Together, they explore the mental health challenges facing food and hospitality professionals, why burnout has become so common, and how bakery owners and leaders can begin creating workplaces where people thrive instead of simply survive.

Jasmine shares the powerful story behind CHOW's founding following the loss of Anthony Bourdain, explains how the organization now supports hospitality professionals through free peer meetings, workplace training, and practical wellness resources, and offers actionable steps any bakery can take to normalize conversations around mental health. Kimberly also opens up about her own journey through injury, identity loss, and recovery, making this one of the most personal episodes of the podcast.

Whether you're a bakery owner, pastry chef, educator, or team leader, this episode is a reminder that healthier businesses begin with healthier people.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why burnout is one of the industry's biggest challenges
• How to recognize the signs that someone may be struggling
• Practical ways leaders can create psychologically safe workplaces
• The role vulnerability plays in building stronger teams
• Free mental health resources available through CHOW

Because the future of our industry isn't just about sustaining great bakeries. It's about sustaining the people who make them possible.

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.

Building a successful business rarely starts with a perfect plan. More often, it begins with recognizing an opportunity that everyone else has overlooked.

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Kimberly Houston sits down with Kevin O'Reilly, founder of Satin Fine Foods and the creator of Satin Ice, to explore the journey from a family bakery in Dublin, Ireland, to leading one of the world's most recognized cake decorating brands.

Kevin shares how growing up in his family's bakery shaped his work ethic, why he chose entrepreneurship over the family business, and how a simple observation about the American fondant market led to the creation of Satin Ice. Together, they discuss the importance of staying focused, developing a business plan, adapting through industry changes, navigating the challenges of COVID, and building a company culture rooted in quality, relationships, and continuous improvement.

Whether you're opening your first bakery, growing an established business, or simply looking for practical wisdom from someone who has spent decades in the baking industry, this conversation is filled with lessons on leadership, resilience, and creating a legacy that extends far beyond the products you sell.

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 great in the pastry industry?

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Kimberly I. Houston sits down with award-winning executive chocolatier Justin Fry, founder of JF Chocolat and President of the National Pastry Conference, for a conversation about the habits, mindset, and community that shape exceptional pastry professionals.

Justin shares how years of competition taught him that mastery isn't about talent. It's about repetition, discipline, and continually improving your craft. He also discusses the transition from competitor to entrepreneur, building a sustainable chocolate business, and why he believes the future of the pastry industry depends on creating opportunities for professionals to connect, compete, and learn from one another.

Whether you're a bakery owner, pastry chef, culinary student, educator, or simply passionate about baking, this episode offers practical insights into craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, leadership, and the power of community.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why competition builds better bakers, even if you never plan to compete
• How repetition creates mastery in the kitchen
• The mindset shifts required to transition from pastry chef to business owner
• How JF Chocolat balances creativity with profitability
• Why the National Pastry Conference was created and what makes it unique
• The importance of mentorship, networking, and continuous learning
• Justin's advice for the next generation of pastry professionals

Subscribe to The Perfect Rise for conversations with the people shaping the future of the baking and pastry industry.

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 build an internationally recognized cake artistry career from the ground up?

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Kimberly I Houston sits down with award-winning sugar artist, educator, author, and Sweet Art Master founder Julia Fedorova.

After immigrating to the United States in 2015 without speaking English or having a background in the cake industry, Julia taught herself sugar artistry, competed her way to mastery, and became one of the industry's leading voices in botanical sugar flowers.

Together, they discuss:

• Julia's journey from newcomer to internationally recognized artist
• The discipline behind botanically correct sugar flowers
• Why competitions can accelerate growth and confidence
• Common mistakes decorators make when competing
• What judges are really looking for
• The inspiration behind her book, Sweet Botany
• The importance of community, mentorship, and continuing education

Whether you're a cake decorator, pastry professional, educator, or competitor, this conversation offers valuable insights into craftsmanship, creativity, and lifelong learning.

Learn more about Julia Fedorova and Sweet Art Master:
https://sweetartmaster.com

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

Follow RBA for education, certification opportunities, and industry resources.

#ThePerfectRise #RetailBakersOfAmerica #JuliaFedorova #CakeArtist #SugarFlowers #CakeDecorating #PastryArts #BakingIndustry #SweetArtMaster

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.