ABOUT ERIN JOHNSON TOLEFREE, C'2001
Erin Johnson Tolefree currently serves as president of Baldwin Richardson Foods, a premier global supplier of custom products and ingredients for the food manufacturing industry. Baldwin Richardson Foods, a multi-generational, family-owned company has forged strong supply relationships with some of the largest Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), and food service clients. Global, iconic food brands entrust Baldwin Richardson Foods as their partner to deliver the highest quality products that exceed industry standards. The company also manufactures and markets its own consumer brands including Mrs. Richardson's Ice Cream Toppings and Nance's Mustards and Condiments. Current company sales are approximately $300 million, with four locations across Illinois and New York.
Tolefree's trajectory at the company showcases her commitment, passion for entrepreneurship and business acumen. She, began her career in 2001 with a focus on account management and quickly demonstrated her ability to build and grow strong customer partnerships. In 2008 she earned the role of Vice President of Sales and led a team that generated over $145 million in annual revenue.
Tolefree is recognized as an adaptive leader who champions change and in 2015 she was promoted to Executive Vice President. In this role, she led the Strategic Planning and Business Development efforts. In 2019, she earned the role of Chief Operating Officer, managing Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Research, Quality & Innovation, Sales and Supply Chain teams. Tolefree’s career ascension can be attributed to "earning leadership through results," as noted by Eric Johnson.
Tolefree's strategic vision has been instrumental in the growth of Baldwin Richardson Foods as a global food manufacturing leader. Today, Baldwin Richardson Foods is one of the largest Black-owned food manufacturing companies in the nation. With her appointment as president in December 2020, Tolefree joined the three percent of Black women at the C-suite level and only 20 percent of female C-suite executives in food and beverage manufacturing.
Tolefree's commitment to accountability, passion for service and people-centric leadership extends from the company, to its customers and to the wider community. Baldwin Richardson Foods is a strong supporter of childhood advantage and educational programs. The Baldwin Richardson Foods Scholars Program at Babson and the Baldwin Richardson Annual Scholarship at Spelman College, established by Erin Johnson Tolefree, C'2001 and her sister, Cara Johnson Hughes, C'2003, both Spelman alumnae. The Spelman scholarship provides first year students with a full-tuition package for their entire Spelman career.
As an executive leader and woman of distinction, her community involvement includes:
- Board Member, Food Link
- Board of Directors, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Women’s Council
- Board of Directors, ESL Federal Credit Union
- Board of Directors, ROC2025
- Past Board Chair, Ronald McDonald House of Rochester
- Member, Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council
Tolefree was featured by the Rochester Business Journal 2021 Power List, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle as a "Women to Watch in February 2015" and joined Rochester’s 40 under Forty class. In January 2016, she was recognized as an Athena Young Professional Award finalist.
During the 2020 global pandemic, Tolefree was appointed to the New York Forward Reopening Advisory Board to provide guidance for reopening businesses and named to a New York special advisory council on the economic impact of COVID-19.
Tolefree holds a bachelor of arts in economics and a minor in Spanish from Spelman. She includes travel and long-distance running as her favorite hobbies, and enjoyed competing in two marathons and eleven half marathons.
Tolefree relocated from Chicago to the Rochester, New York in 2012 where she resides with her husband, Truman, and their three children.
ABOUT CARA JOHNSON HUGHES, C'2003
Cara Johnson Hughes is the vice president, Customer and Community, for Baldwin Richardson Foods, the country’s leading global supplier of custom products and ingredients for the food manufacturing industry. Hughes is a third-generation entrepreneur, following in the footsteps of her grandparents George and Joan Johnson, founders of the Johnson Products Company -- the creator of Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen; and her father Eric G. Johnson, CEO of Baldwin Richardson Foods.
Hughes, a second-generation owner, joined Baldwin Richardson Foods in 2005. In her current role, she oversees culinary, innovation, sales, marketing and customer service in addition to guiding the company’s community initiatives and ensuring alignment with BRF’s philosophy of removing barriers to success and creating opportunities. In the last several years, Hughes grew revenue by 45 percent to over $300 million annually and opened a new Culinary & Innovation Center to accommodate the company’s growth.
Under Hughes' leadership, Baldwin Richardson Foods has forged long-term relationships with some of the largest Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), and food service clients. Global, iconic food brands like Dunkin' Brands, General Mills, Kellogg's, McDonald's, PepsiCo/Quaker and Starbucks trust Baldwin Richardson Foods to deliver the highest quality products that exceed industry standards. The company also manufactures and markets its own consumer brands including Mrs. Richardson's Toppings and Nance’s Mustards and Condiments.
Prior to Baldwin Richardson Foods, Hughes worked for The Northern Trust Company in Chicago where she held multiple positions such as credit analyst for personal financial service clients; and securities lending analyst and relationship manager for corporate and institutional service clients.
The Spelman alumna is committed to several organizations. She serves on the board of Black Opal/Fashion Fair and After School Matters, where she serves as co-chair of the development committee, and in 2020, Hughes was selected to join the Spelman College Board of Trustees. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.
Hughes holds a bachelor of arts in economics from Spelman where she has established an endowed scholarship as well as an annual scholarship that provides a first-year student interested in entrepreneurship with a four-year, full tuition package. This generous opportunity is a $1.5 million commitment over 10 years.
She resides in Chicago with her husband, Timothy and two daughters, Morgan and Sophia. When she’s not working, she enjoys attending her favorite spin or Peloton class, listening to live music, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Presented by UPS