Cyndi Benavides is a passionate educator, entrepreneur, and lifelong trainer dedicated
to empowering others through skills-based learning. Her professional journey began in
the financial sector, where she spent over 30 years training and coaching teams in
compliance, operations, and leadership roles with Savings of America and Chase Bank.
She became known for her ability to develop talent and lead large-scale training
initiatives across Texas.

After taking early retirement, Cyndi transitioned into education, supporting Fort Bend
ISD’s Teaching and Learning Department. Yet her true calling was always in the kitchen
— a love rooted in baking alongside her mother as a child. That passion led her to the
Cake Craft Shoppe, where she has been an instructor for over 10 years. Today, Cyndi
blends her teaching legacy with the art of baking, creating hands-on, engaging
programs for students of all ages.

Drawing from decades of experience developing and coaching in the classroom, Cyndi
has created several youth programs that focus on building foundational baking
knowledge — including kitchen safety, recipe reading, and decorating techniques
across mediums like buttercream, fondant, gum paste, modeling chocolate, and more.
Cyndi and her team of amazing instructors believe that young bakers don’t just learn to
bake — they grow. At Cake Craft Shoppe, baking is more than measuring and mixing;
it’s a powerful tool for teaching confidence, discipline, and creativity. Whether students
are piping their first rosette or sculpting a competition cake, they’re gaining life skills —
one sweet project at a time.