When Anqeshia Stewart heard about the Syracuse Bakers Expo, it immediately caught her interest. 

Stewart, a baker and part-time business owner, generates much of her clientele using Facebook. The expo, an event that will feature more than 25 other bakers who plan to sell their baked goods, will offer her and other business owners a chance to showcase their confectionary skills. 

“It’s bringing together a lot of different bakers in Syracuse. A lot of us don’t get recognition or we don’t really get seen.” Stewart said. “It’s just a good opportunity  for us to network, but just appreciate all the hard work that we do in our communities.” 

The second Syracuse Bakers Expo will take place March 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Marriott Syracuse Downtown’s Grand Ballroom. Sherita Semple, who runs Trita Treatz, founded the expo to give Upstate New York entrepreneurs a platform to show off their skills to the public. 

Bakers will be competing for titles and cash prizes. Attendees will vote on the best baker. The first place baker will win $1,000, the second and third place bakers will win $500 and the fourth place baker will win $250.

Semple began looking for minority bakers and business owners in November on Facebook. The event eventually took off further by word of mouth throughout Central New York.   

The success of last year’s bakers expo allowed local small business owners and bakers to reach new heights in their businesses. Businesses who participated last year gained new social media traffic and clients, Semple said.

Eighteen local organizations are sponsoring this year’s event, including I-View Mental Health Services, Central New York Community Foundation, Jubilee Homes, Interfaith Works and many others. 

Stewart, who runs a business named Tiers of Cake, was one of the bakers Semple has found. This year will be Stewart’s first time taking part in the event. Last year, Stewart was among more than 20 bakers who submitted their applications to be vendors in the inaugural bakers expo.

Stewart withdrew from last year’s event to prioritize her mental health and took a six-month hiatus from baking, she said. 

But in September, she restarted her business. Stewart is prepared to showcase her specialized themed birthday cakes at the baker’s expo and grow exposure for her baking business.

“The cake is the most important thing. Being able to serve people with that to make sure that people can have the type of cake that they want,” Stewart said. “It’s not taken as seriously when you’re a baker. It plays a big part in people’s events and their occasions.”

Semple anticipates more than 25 bakers taking part in this year’s expo. Some of the bakers will be traveling to Syracuse from places like Rochester and as far away as Massachusetts.

This year will differ slightly from last year, Semple said. Instead of a freeform approach, the expo will require bakers to present their treats by following a theme of the seasons. 

“I’m just excited to see all of the bakers gain new clientele and I’m curious to see what the outcome is going to be this year because last year it was really good. So I’m hoping for the same kind of outcome as last year,” Semple said.

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Yolanda Stewart was raised in the Bronx, New York City. Before choosing a career path in journalism she found a voice in writing plays, short stories, and a myriad of other creative outlets. She is a 2022...