FACS Success Profiles
Amy Springer
Buddy Valastro (Cake Boss)
Buddy found his calling when he began working at his fathers baker, Carlo's Bakery, at 11. His father never pushed him to become a baker, he just wanted his son to learn some work ethic, but Buddy fell in love with it. When he began to decorate he would find his "zone" where his is "a hundred percent zoned in and focused on what [he is] doing and putting everything [he had] into it." When Buddy's father passed away, Buddy was only 17 and was left to run the bakery.
Career and Training
Buddy began to work at his father bakery at 11. 6 years later he was left in charge after his father passed away. After earning the respect of the older, more experienced bakers, he began to build the company up. Soon they expanded the locations and stared in a television show on TLC known as Cake Boss and also America's Next Great Baker.
Personal Traits that led to Success: Quotes from Buddy
- "But he said, ‘I want you to come to the bakery to learn a work ethic.’”
- "I idolized my dad. In my heart I probably always wanted to be a baker like him."
- "I remember my father saying respect is something that you have to earn. It’s not something you can get because you’re someone’s son.”