Meet The Family

Jim Rosen - CEO & President

Coming from a long line of bread makers, Jim has more than 35 years experience in the baking industry as a manager of baking operations. He opened Highland Baking Co. in 1985 as a five-person operation dedicated to providing a quality product and exceptional service and has overseen the growth of the company from its local fresh delivery roots to its national service capabilities. Jim lives in Northbrook. He and his wife of 35 years, Gail, have three children and five grandchildren.

Stu Rosen - General Manager & Vice President

A 4th generation bread baker, Stu has grown up in the family business started by his father, Jim, and always knew he wanted to be in the bakery business. After earning an advanced degree in business management, Stu joined the company full time. Stu lives with his wife and four children.

John Updegraff - Vice President 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, most recently, 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.

Robin Slivovky - Director of National Accounts

Lisa Burhart - Director of National Accounts

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.

Michael Galenson - Director of Oerations

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 in first his home country and then the US, Michael joined Highland in 1996 as our plant manager. He is married with a daughter and lives in Northbrook.

Gail Rosen - Corporate Secretary

Gail opened Highland Baking Co. along with Jim in 1985 as a five-person operation dedicated to providing a quality product and exceptional service. She lives in Northbrook and has been married to Jim for over 35 years. They have three children, six grandchildren and this business, which she has always considered her fourth child.

Cheryl Rosen Wedyck - Director of Human Resources

As the daughter of Jim and Gail Rosen, Cheryl grew up in the bread business but officially joined the company as part of the customer service department in 2002. After obtaining a degree in psychology from DePaul University, she took over the human resources department. Cheryl is married and has 2 daughters.

Boris Golenson – Chief Engineer

Boris has been a part of Highland Baking Co. since 1989, working his way up to his current position as Chief Engineer. He is a native of Belarus and has a degree in mechanical engineering.

Francisco Nevarez - Plant Manager Northbrook

Joining Highland 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.

Mike Krick - Plant Manager Spartanburg

Gaby Zorilla - Director of Quality Assurance

Steve Barnhart - Research and Development

Steve has been in the foodservice industry for over 10 years and has worked at restaurants and catering companies. He began his education at Kendall College's School of Culinary Arts where he developed his traditional European-style bread baking under the tutelage of the world's top bakers. In 2007, Steve became the youngest Certified Master Baker in the US.