Employee Spotlight - Martin Abundes

Name: Martin Abundes
Position: Head Baker Supervisor
Year Started With Highland: 1984

What led you to Highland?
I started at the company with Jim Rosen when he first founded Highland. He knew me from a bagel company I was working at. Jim and I were the first employees. [Laughs]

What is your role at Highland?
When I first started, there weren’t many people here. I’d bake early in the morning and then I’d get in a car and make the deliveries. I did everything.

I still get here early in the morning. But, now there’s a lot more people here. I check the orders and tell the bakers what bread to make. I also inspect the finished bread to make sure it’s correct and meets our standards. I’m also constantly on the computer to see if a customer has added any special items to their regular order and then I make sure those breads are included in their delivery.

What do you like about working at Highland?
I like making new breads. Whenever customers ask for a new bread or we add a bread to our line, I have a chance to learn something and grow my skills.

What is the best way to taste test bread?
You shouldn’t eat it when it’s hot out of the oven. You should wait. Wait a couple of hours for it to cool. Then you can taste all the flavors.

What’s your favorite bread?
I like the richer breads, like the Cranberry Walnut Pan Bread.

Quick, you’re making a sandwich. What sandwich? Which bread?
French Bread. Mayonnaise. Lettuce. Ham (or beef). Jalapeños.