
Jim Rosen
Founder/CEO/President 1984-2015
In 1984 Jim Rosen founded Highland Baking Co. as a family-owned fresh delivery business here in the Chicagoland area. With over forty years of baking industry experience Jim's passion for both great bread and great service has fueled the company's growth. Under Jim's steadfast leadership the modest five-person operation has since grown to include two commercial manufacturing plants, employing hundreds of team members, with distribution services spanning the nation. Since his passing in 2015, we continue to honor Jim's legacy by providing our customers the highest quality products and exceptional customer service that have made Highland Baking Co. a respected leader in the commercial baking industry. Jim is survived by his wife of over 35 years, Gail Rosen (co-founder), three children and six grandchildren.

Stu Rosen
CEO/President
As a fourth generation baker, Stu Rosen continues the family tradition as Highland Baking Co.'s trusted CEO and President. Having served alongside founder Jim Rosen, Stu continues the legacy set forth by his father. He brings with him a continuing passion for bread, commitment to service and an eye for innovative baking solutions. Stu lives with his wife and four children here in the Chicagoland area.

Francisco Nevarez
Plant Manager, Northbrook
Joining the Highland Baking family right after finishing school, Francisco has been with us since 1998, working his way up from a Special Delivery Driver then a Sanitation Manager then a Quality Assurance Supervisor to an Assistant Plant Manager and now Plant Manager. He is married with one son.

Gaby Cid Leal
Director of Quality Assurance IL,SC
Gaby Cid Leal joined the Highland Baking family in 2009. She grew up in Mexico, within a family where baking was always a treat. She owned and operated a Bakery in Chicago for several years. Gaby lives in Northbrook and has two sons.

Andy Gorey
VP of Supply Chain

Jason Holt
Director of Special Projects
Jason joined the Highland Baking family in 2018. He has more than 25 years of baking and engineering experience. Jason enjoys the outdoors and currently resides in Germantown Wisconsin with his son Jaden.

Victor Duran
Production Manager, Northbrook

John Updegraff
VP of National Sales
John joins Highland Baking Co. with over 30 years of experience in the foodservice industry and 20 years of bakery sales experience. Having led sales teams at Sara Lee Bakery, Hazelwood Farms Bakeries and Pennant Foods, John has extensive experience in all facets of sales in the Foodservice and In-Store Bakery channels. John and his wife live in the Chicagoland area. Their oldest daughter works at De Paul University, and their youngest is attending seminary in Minneapolis, MN.

James Scher
Director of National Accounts
James joins the Highland team with over 35 years in the food Industry. Starting as a chef, James' experience covers retail deli and bakery operations, food manufacturing, business development, innovation and NPD with such companies as Lunds/Byerly's, Sargento and International Multifoods. He's also a founder and past director of the Research Chefs Association. James has four grown children, and although a proud Minnesotan, he now calls Chicago home.

Tracy Faloon
Director of National Accounts
Tracy has been in foodservice sales for over 25 years, working with Regional and National Chain Accounts. Before joining the Highland Family, she worked for Mission Foods and prior to that with Otis Spunkmeyer and Sara Lee Bakery. She has experience with a wide variety of baked goods in both commercial and non-commercial settings. She works with our National Customers collaborating with them to find the optimal solution for their menu needs. She resides in Chicago, IL.
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Lori Segreti-Walker
Director of Frozen Supply Chain
Lori joined the Highland Baking family in 2011. With over 12 years of experience working in the foodservice industry, Lori brings an extensive background from the baking industry. Lori is a lifetime Chicago resident.

Liana Fishel
Director of Information Technology
Liana joined Highland Baking Family in 2013. She holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Chicago with a major in Computer Science, as well as MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Business. Liana brings 20+ years of experience in various fields of IT. She is married and has 2 children

Michael Galenson
VP of Operations
Michael, a USSR émigré and holder of a degree in Food and Restaurant Management from a college in Moscow, has a long history in the foodservice industry. Starting off as a restaurant manager first in his home country and then in the US, Michael joined Highland in 1996 as our plant manager. He is married with a daughter and lives in Northbrook, IL.

Nathan Norris
Plant Manager, Spartanburg
Nathan has over 40 years of experience in the baking industry. He holds a Degree in Business Management from Zane University in Ohio and completed the American Institute of Baking's Certified Baker Program in 2002. Nathan served in the United States Army in 1988 where he received extensive training in leadership, motivation, and empowerment. Nathan is a member of the American Society of Baking (ASB), he's served on its Board of Directors and is presently serving as it's Treasurer.

Adrienne Cash
Quality Assurance Manager, Spartanburg
Adrienne joined the Highland Baking Team in 2015 with over 16 years of experience working in the baking industry. She has worked for Flower's, Mrs. Smith's, Schwan's and Arytza Otis Spunkmeyer Bakeries. She grew up in Spartanburg, SC area which she currently resides.

Rudolph Abiera
Research and Development Manager
Rudolph has over 28 years in the bakery business - first opening his own retail bakery, then joining a commercial bakery in the QA area and then moving into R&D. He joined Highland as our R&D Manager. He currently resides in Pingree Grove, IL with his wife, three daughters and two grandsons.

Raul Rodriguez
Packaging Manager, Northbrook

Marco Nava
Production Manager, Spartanburg
Marco joined the Highland Baking family in 2012 with over 8 years of experience in the baking industry, with companies including Mrs. Smith's, Schwan's, Nestle and Spartan Foods of America. He grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and moved to Spartanburg, SC in 2003 where he currently resides with his wife and children.

Stacy Jo Thompson
Director of National Accounts
Stacy Jo came to Highland Baking Co. with more than 25 years of Chain and National Account sales experience. Before joining our family, she was most recently a team member at Icelandic USA and Maplehurst Bakeries, Inc. Stacy Jo and her husband reside on the West Coast of Florida.

Robin Slivovsky
Director of National Accounts
Robin has been in foodservice sales for over 20 years working with National and Regional Chain Accounts. Most recently she worked for McCormick Foods and spent time with Hormel and Sara Lee. She has experience with a wide variety of baked goods and their menu applications and through that knowledge helps chain accounts meet their menu needs through custom solutions. She lives in Arlington Heights, IL with her husband and two sons.

Rusty Hicks
Director of Retail Business Development
Rusty comes to Highland Baking with more than 20 years of experience in consumer products sales and marketing within the Grocery, Mass, Club, Dollar, Military and Natural Channels leading customer strategy. Most recently he worked for Dawn Foods, a global bakery ingredients and frozen product supplier, as Director of Sales for National Accounts. He is recognized for authentic leadership, integrity and consistently producing outstanding results over 20 years with Pillsbury, Kellogg Sales and Dawn Food Products. Rusty lives in Belmont NC with his wife and brood of Boston Terriers.

Brian Belot
Director of National Accounts
Brian came to Highland Baking with more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the Convenience Store channel. Most recently, he worked at Gehl Foods as the Director of Convenience Store Sales for North America. Brian has extensive experience in creating and implementing foodservice solutions that increase profitability for the nation's largest convenience store retailers. He lives in Madison, WI with his wife and three sons.

Catherine Policella
Director of Culinary CCP
Catherine has spent the last 17 years as a Concept Development Chef as well as a Culinary Manager and an Innovation Team Leader for several International Companies in the Bakery Manufacturing Industry. A graduate of the CIA and recipient of the Francis R. Roth Award for Outstanding Performance, Catherine's achievements include spearheading Innovation Programs based on consumer insights and the ever changing world market.