Entrepreneur Erin Baker to speak at WWU's Bellingham Business Forum Oct. 11

Erin Baker, founder of Erin Baker’s Wholesome Baked Goods and creator of the incredibly popular Baker’s Breakfast Cookie, will be the keynote speaker at the 11th Annual Western Washington University Bellingham Business Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Erin Baker, founder of Baker's Wholesome Baked Goods and inventor of the Baker's Breakfast Cookie, will be the keynote speaker at Western Washington University's Bellingham Business Forum on Oct. 11.
Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. at the Hotel Bellwether ballroom, with lunch service beginning at noon; the keynote address will begin at 12:45 p.m.

After its start in a rented 4-H kitchen at the Island County Fairgrounds in 1994, Baker’s company has grown into a 20,000-square-foor bakery with distribution to more than 30 states. The company’s steady, solid growth and staying power is based on a “spend what you have” business philosophy. For the last 16 years, oats, fruit and honey have been the staple ingredients in her bakery, making Baker a pioneer in the food industry.

In addition to baking healthy food, Baker is passionate about kids and keeping them healthy. That’s why she lends a hand at the Whatcom County Boys & Girls Clubs by providing Breakfast Cookies and a “Bottomless Fruit Bowl” for each of the five Whatcom County clubs.

Table sponsorships are available at the $1,000 Mount Challenger, $2,000 Mount Shuksan, and $3,000 Mount Baker levels. The Mount Baker sponsorship establishes two named scholarships for the 2012-13 academic year for Whatcom County students. Reservations can be made online at http://www.foundation.wwu.edu/bbf or by calling (360) 650-6825.

All proceeds from the event support student scholarships. For more information about scholarship support, call (360) 650-3612.

Tables at the forum are rounds of 10, and all sponsorship levels include a served lunch. Sponsors fill nine seats and WWU fills the 10th seat with a university representative. Individual tickets are available for $50 each.

The Bellingham Business Forum is an annual opportunity for business and civic leaders to connect with friends of the university and to enjoy an address by a prominent professional.