Skill & Ability

Zingerman’s Bakehouse and Skill & Ability have started a work experience partnership to promote inclusive hiring and offer meaningful work experiences to individuals in the community. Starting in summer 2026, work experience participants have worked shifts at the Bakehouse three days a week, accompanied by a dedicated job coach to support their growth and progress.

“We’ve been trying to rotate the participants through different types of work to give them different kinds of experiences,” explains Bakehouse Human Resources Liaison John Rolfe, who is coordinating the partnership. “At the Bakehouse, we might have 20 or more unique roles just in one building, so there’s a lot of opportunity for such a wide range of skill sets and exposure.”

In the Bakehouse kitchen, for example, the program participants might, on any given day, be engaged in “small tasks that make a huge difference,” Rolfe notes—from peeling chilies to weighing ingredients and packaging products. “The kitchen crew loves having them there.” The participants benefit from acquiring new abilities and learning to be part of a professional team, while the Bakehouse benefits greatly, too, by embodying Zingerman’s core principles of inclusivity and community connection. 

“Zingerman’s Bakehouse has been incredibly welcoming and inclusive,” Skill and Ability co-founder Steve Berg says. “Since starting, our Skill & Ability participants have felt part of the Bakehouse team, gaining valuable work experience and building skills through various job tasks. We look forward to continued growth in Skill & Ability’s partnership with the Bakehouse and the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses.”