The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA

What does it take to grow a small-town bakery into a thriving regional business?

In this episode of The Perfect Rise Podcast, host Kimberly Houston sits down with Lynn Schurman, co-owner of Cold Spring Bakery in Minnesota and former Education Director for the Retail Bakers of America.

Cold Spring Bakery began as a small family operation in 1946, founded by Lynn’s in-laws after her father-in-law learned baking while serving in the Nav...

What does it really take to become a Certified Master Baker—and then choose to teach the next generation?

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, I sit down with Jesse Jackson III, CMB, Baking & Pastry Instructor at the Culinary Institute of America and one of only two African American Retail Bakers of America Certified Master Bakers.

This conversation isn’t just about titles.
 It’s about discipline. Standards. Repetition. Legac...

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, we sit down with Chad Ecklof, third-generation owner of Ecklof Bakery, to talk about legacy, leadership, and why profit literacy—not just passion—is the difference between survival and sustainability.

Chad shares how nine years in the U.S. Navy shaped his leadership style, what it’s like working side by side with his father in a legacy bakery, and how outdated pricing systems led him to build The...

What does real mastery look like when nobody’s watching?

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, I’m joined by Colette Christian—chef, educator, and certification powerhouse—whose career started in professional kitchens at 14 and evolved through hotels, production baking, business ownership, and culinary education.

We talk about the unsexy truth behind skill: repetition, systems, and the willingness to take on the jobs most people avoid...

Buddy Valastro is often introduced as Cake Boss—but long before television, books, and global recognition, he was (and still is) a retail baker.

In this episode of The Perfect Rise: Conversations with the Retail Bakers of America, Buddy joins host Chef Kimberly Houston for a grounded, honest conversation about what it really takes to run a bakery in today’s market. From leadership inside a multi-generation family business to staffin...

Most people think a career in baking means spending your life inside a kitchen—but today’s guest proves the industry is far bigger, more innovative, and more full of possibility than most bakers ever imagine.

In this episode, Kimberly sits down with Kelly DeFusco, a Principal Bakery Scientist at Tastepoint by IFF with 34 years in the flavor industry. Kelly’s journey started with homemade 3D birthday cakes, a family restaurant, and a...

What happens when you spot a gap in the market that should exist… and decide to build it yourself?

BagelFest was born from that exact moment — an idea that didn’t make sense not to exist. In today’s episode, Chef Kimberly sits down with the “Bagel Ambassador” himself, Sam Silverman, to explore how a first-time festival in Bushwick evolved into the beating heart of global bagel culture.

This episode dives into:

• The surprising origins...

What if one cake could change everything?

In this heartfelt episode of The Perfect Rise Podcast, Chef Kimberly Houston sits down with Tracy Quisenberry, founder of Icing Smiles, a nonprofit that brings joy to critically ill children and their families through custom celebration cakes made by volunteer bakers.

Tracy’s journey didn’t begin in the kitchen—it started with service. After years as a tax professional and volunteer for Make-...

What if the same passion that drives your success is quietly breaking you down?

In this powerful episode of The Perfect Rise, Chef Kimberly Houston sits down with Jasmin Vitolo Parks-Papadopoulos, Chief Growth Officer at CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach & Wellness), to unpack the unspoken truth of life in hospitality — and what it really takes to build healthier kitchens.

You’ll hear:
 • The emotional story behind CHOW’s f...

What does it really take to become a Certified Master Baker—and a true master of your craft?

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Chef Kimberly Houston sits down with Chef Cody Middleton, professor and department head of Baking & Pastry at the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach (HGTC), to explore the intersection of skill, humility, and leadership in the pastry world.

From studying at École Nationale Supérieure de P...

What does it take to rise to the top of the pastry world? In this episode of The Perfect Rise: Conversations with the RBA, Executive Pastry Chef Matthew Ratliff shares his journey from the Culinary Institute of America to competing (and winning) on Food Network, earning elite certifications, and leading the pastry team at the prestigious Everglades Club.

Chef Matt opens up about:
 • The lessons competitions teach that kitchen wo...

What happens when a fine dining pastry chef faces a career-ending injury? For Tracy Mattson, it became the spark that launched Cookie Take a Bite—a boutique cookie brand built on elevated flavors, thoughtful presentation, and a deep commitment to local partnerships.

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, host Kimberly Houston sits down with Tracy to unpack her inspiring journey:
• How six weeks on the couch turned into the founda...

From Pastry Chef to Industry Leader: Scott Calvert’s Baking Journey

In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Scott Calvert—President of Tootie Pie Co. and immediate past president of the Retail Bakers of America—shares his 35+ year journey in the baking industry. From his start at the New England Culinary Institute to building The Cake Plate, and now leading in wholesale production, Scott’s story is one of adaptation, leadership, and le...

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+ l...

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 yo...

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 ...

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 mo...

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...

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 bel...