Betsy Harris

Class of 2025

Part of a family where candy is a way of life, Betsy Harris has built her own legacy as a confident and compassionate leader, inspiring future generations.

Betsy was born in Boston on April 30, 1960, into a family deeply rooted in the confectionery industry. As the oldest of three children to Jerold “Jerry” and Abbe Young, Betsy grew up in a home where candy wasn’t just a treat — it was a way of life.

From a young age, Betsy was immersed in the family business, Harold W. Young, Inc., which her grandfather, a 1974 Candy Hall of Fame inductee, founded in 1963.

One of her earliest memories is helping hand-write Halloween orders in triplicate for retailers including Zayre, Ames, Hills, and Caldor under her father’s watchful eye. Her first formal confectionery job came in 1977, when she sold a new product, JinTan, to independent stores in Boston. Though introverted, she stepped up to the challenge, unknowingly laying the groundwork for a career that would span nearly four decades.

After earning a B.A. in History from Brown University in 1982, Betsy began her professional life in banking. But the pull of the family business proved too strong. In 1985, she started as an account manager, eventually rising to co-president of the company alongside her brother Andrew and her sister-in-law, Lita, who acts as CFO. Together, they transformed a regional New England brokerage into a full-service Northeast sales agency with four offices and a national specialty business.

Betsy’s career is marked by a commitment to mentorship, leadership, and integrity. She served as past president of the Boston Confectionery Salesmen’s Club and has worked with the NCA on the Broker Advisory and Sweets & Snacks Expo committees. A dedicated mentor, she supports rising professionals through the NCA Future Leadership Program and Women’s Leadership Group. Her contributions were recognized with the NCA Lou Spector Golden Candy Dish Award in 2013.

Being the daughter of the boss wasn’t always easy. Betsy says she chose to work under her married name to avoid assumptions of nepotism and admits that early in her career, some didn’t take her seriously. Through determination and diligence, she earned her reputation the hard way, building trust and credibility. She credits her father and brother for their influence and partnership, sharing both wins and setbacks while never losing sight of their values.

Outside the candy world, Betsy Chairs the Board of Capital Good Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to creating pathways out of poverty through financial services.

By her side through the journey has been David, who she met while they were both students at Brown and married in 1984. They are the proud parents of Jason and Alex and grandparents of three.

Betsy’s life philosophy — Do The Right Thing — has guided both her personal and professional paths. Described by others as earnest, strong-minded, and dependable, her goal is to be a role model for women in the industry.