PBAC 3.0 Transition: Q&A with Jeff Youker, Director of Project Management and Culinary

Jeff Youker, Director of Project Management and Culinary<br />
Q: What is your role on the PBAC team?

A: I serve on the leadership team in a dual role: as the Director of Project Management, as well as the Director Culinary. 

As Director of Project Management, I lead our project management strategy and initiatives to deliver successful outcomes for all of our manufacturer partners, our dealer associates, and our end user clients alike. With a focus on keeping projects organized, maintained and on track, I’m passionate about creating efficient processes, improving communication across teams, and helping our clients and colleagues achieve great results together.

As the Director of Culinary for PBAC, I am the Senior Corporate Chef, leading all culinary initiatives that support our manufacturers and strengthen their presence in the industry. I work with our sales and marketing teams to develop strategies that showcase our portfolio of brands’ equipment products through equipment expertise, recipe development, menu applications, and live equipment demonstrations. My goal is to highlight each product’s versatility and profitability while helping consultants, designers and end user operators realize its full potential.

I also collaborate with a network of corporate chefs, chefs, operators, and key decision-makers across various segments to identify trends, provide training, and develop customized solutions to meet their culinary demands. Ultimately, my role bridges culinary creativity and sales strategy, ensuring PBAC delivers both innovation and expertise to our partners in the foodservice industry.

Q: What excites you most about this new chapter for the company?
A: I’m excited to step into this new chapter as an owner-member of PBAC. What excites me most about this new chapter is the opportunity to build on PBACs’ strong legacy, a committed continuation to deepen our partnerships and deliver exceptional value to all of our client relationships, whilst positioning the company for the future. This transition represents both continuity and growth; a renewed commitment to industry leading excellence in everything we do.
Q: Which of PBAC’s core values resonates most with you, and why?
A: The core value that resonates most with me is Performance. At PBAC, performance isn’t just about results- it’s about consistently delivering excellence for our manufacturers, clients, and partners. I’m inspired by the team’s dedication to going above and beyond, setting high bar standards, and finding creative solutions to drive meaningful outcomes. As an owner-member, I’m excited to continue fostering a culture where performance guides everything we do, ensuring we consistently add value and help our partners succeed.
Q: What makes PBAC’s approach to client service stand out in the industry?
A: PBAC is different, we really do care about solutions. What sets PBAC apart is our commitment to being more than a rep firm, we are a true partner to our manufacturers and clients alike. We take the extra time to understand their unique goals, perspective, and challenges, leveraging our deep industry expertise across our entire team to provide tailored solutions. Our approach is built on trust, collaboration, and a focus on delivering measurable results, ensuring our clients succeed today and our relationships are positioned for growth tomorrow.
Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing as part of the PBAC team?

A: The buy-sell process was a very complex situation amongst six partners. I’m most proud of how our  team came together during this  ownership transition. A buy-sell process can test even the strongest organizations, but what I witnessed instead was a group of six dedicated professionals leaning into trust, transparency, and teamwork.

Every conversation, every decision, reflected our shared commitment not just to the company, but to one another. It reminded me that leadership isn’t about titles or transactions, it’s about people who care deeply about a shared vision building together and where they’re headed next.

Becoming a partner-member through that process makes me incredibly proud, but even more so, I’m proud of the unity and resilience that define this team and the culture we continue to build at PBAC.

Q: What message would you share with clients and partners about PBAC’s future?
A: As PBAC enters this exciting new era, our commitment to our clients and partners remains stronger than ever. With the new partner succession plan, we’re bringing fresh energy and perspectives while continuing the enduring legacy of trust, service, and results that has defined PBAC for nearly four-decades. Our focus will continue on deepening relationships, exploring new innovative opportunities, and delivering solutions that assist our manufacturers and wide client portfolio grow and succeed in an ever-evolving foodservice industry. The future is bright and limitless; we’re ready to lead it together.