Stephen Bastasch has grown a successful business from the ground up by being unafraid to tinker with engineering, hiring, sales models, products, and more.  In this talk, he will share his story – from a family heritage in the baking industry to stints in finance to door-to-door cold calling – that highlights the mindset, methodology and benefits of being a professional tinkerer, and how those same attributes and practices can grow business and retain employees Classroom Engagement.

Stephen will employ an “ask and answer” technique to highlight how challenges in life and career form leaders, and how the lessons learned therein are essential to growing a successful business.  The audience will share their answers.  Stephen will share his.  We will discuss.

Topics will include:

• Starting a business or new business extension
• How to identify ideal business opportunities in terms of market need, potential growth, and existing capabilities within a company
• How to create a clear and sustainable competitive advantage (What’s your moat?)
• What problems can you solve for customers?  Should the new business focus on small things or large things?
• The “crawl, walk, run” approach to new business ventures.
• How to lead through calmness, ambition, and incentives.  Ensuring your service is as good as your product.
• How to create a truly “listen first” sales strategy.
• How to turn customers into loyalists.
• How to pivot business without losing your bearings or your strengths.

Learning Objectives

• Confidently grow their business and find new streams of revenue.  Enhance leadership skills to retain and attract employees.  Improve selling skills and solifigy customer relationships.  Learn how to extend existing skills and capabilities toward new ventures.
• Has your current business stopped growing?  Then grow your market share, learn how to identify new and growing markets, increase profit margins, and find a sustainable competitive advantage.
• To perform the tasks (star, lead, sell, and succeed) takes low proficiency.  To perform the tasks WELL takes a high level of skill and determination.  These are lifetime skills that can be applied in multiple avenues and will always have room for refinement and improvement.

Presenter
Stephen Bastasch, Lenexa Manufacturing Co.

Dan is the Founder and CEO of Upcycled Foods Inc., the leading innovation platform for upcycled food. The company specializes in using patented technology to create novel ingredients from previously overlooked and undervalued supply chains. In partnership with food makers, we develop new food products and menu items featuring certified upcycled ingredients. Dan was a cofounding officer of the Upcycled Food Association and Upcycled Food Foundation, and can often be seen pioneering the movement on the frontlines. He’s a thought leader on the upcycling food movement, often a featured speaker at industry conferences and sought after by the media. He earned his bachelors from UCLA, where underage home brewing started it all, as well as an MBA in sustainable business from Presidio Graduate School.

Presentation Information
How the Circular Economy Integrates Upcycled Food and Regenerative Agricultural Systems
Thursday, March 2, 2023
11:00am – 11:35am

MBA from EGADE and Industrial Engineer specialized in finance. Responsible for all the renewable energy solutions worldwide in Grupo Bimbo, in charge of making sure the company complies with all regulations in energy matters, and of mixing strategies to optimize the use of energy and minimize costs. Eleven years in Grupo Bimbo, and 9 years of experience in Energy, managing the Wind Farm Piedra Larga since 2012, responsible of the Virtual PPA signed by Grupo Bimbo in the United States, the PPAs signed in Chile, Argentina, and Colombia among others, which made the company 85% Renewable by 2021. In 2018 Grupo Bimbo inaugurated Bimbo Solar, which led by her, involved 30MW of solar rooftops in 96 sites, including the largest rooftop in Mexico with 2.2MW, the largest rooftop in Chile with 2.3MW and the largest one in Peru with 1.1MW. She is leading the way for Grupo Bimbo to become 100% Renewable electricity by 2025.

In 2020 she became Global Head of Net Zero Carbon, with the challenge to take Grupo Bimbo to Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2050.

Recognized 3 years in a row as one of the 30 women committed with the environment in Mexico. Panelist and international speaker for Renewable Energy and Net Zero Carbon.

Presentation Information
Resilience to Reach Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050: A Process Every Bakery Must Adopt to Thrive
Thursday, March 2, 2023
2:10pm – 2:25pm

Session Information
Closing General Session
Thursday, March 2, 2023
2:00pm – 3:30pm