Steven R. Marcanello

Class of 2011

Steven R. Marcanello was born August 17, 1956, to Louis and Hilda, in Philadelphia, PA. He has a sister, Diane.

He attended Central High School in Philadelphia, where he played offensive and defensive tackle for the football team while making the Honor Roll all four years. He graduated in 1974.

In 1993, Steve married Eileen at Wayside Chapel, in Horsham, PA, and together they have two children: Jessica and Eric.

Steve has spent his entire 34-year confectionery career with Asher’s Chocolates, beginning as an enrober operator in 1977. Steve held many positions during the intervening years, and in 1998, he was promoted to vice-president of operations, a position he currently holds.

That same year, he completed the Pennsylvania State University’s purchasing certificate program. In 2005, he earned a B.S. in business with an emphasis in sales and marketing from Penn State.

Throughout his career, Steve has dealt with manufacturing and shipping the company’s chocolates. He has designed systems to cut costs and increase output, and has negotiated with freight carriers for shipping discounts. He has also helped develop Asher’s products, including its fudge and sugarfree lines.

He says the most memorable moment of his career was when he was first considered for the board of the Pennsylvania Manufacturing Confectioners Association, a position he was appointed to in 2004. He has served the organization as chair of its finance committee, member of the student outreach and long range planning committees, and vice-president. He is currently the association’s president.

Steve has also been involved with the American Association of Candy Technologists, and was chairman of the Philadelphia chapter as well as councilor-at-large for the national chapter.

He has chaired the Philadelphia AACT Gift of Love program, which collects candy and money for toys at Easter and delivers the gifts to children’s homes and hospitals throughout the Philadelphia area. He served the program for 17 years.

During his term as chair of the Philadelphia AACT, Steve organized its first charity golf outing, wihch is now an annual event that raises money for the American Cancer Foundation.

He has also received the Institute of Supply Management’s lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager designation.