Carol Jeanne Ghelarducci

Class of 2015

Born June 21, 1950, in Pittsburgh, PA, Carol is the youngest child of Angela and Amerigo. She has an older brother, Jim.

Carol began her high school years at South Fayette Junior and Senior High School in Morgan, PA, before the family moved to Tucson, AZ, in 1965.

Once relocated, she attended Rincon High School, graduating in 1968 and continued her studies at the University of Arizona. She graduated with distinction, obtaining a bachelor of arts in Education with a specialty in Math, in 1971.

She began her 35-year industry career in 1980 with the founding of The Candy Bar Emporium, a specialty candy store, which she ran for 17 years. Carol says she opened the store because candy made the most sense for the space available in the specialty mall.

“It was definitely the most fun,” she adds, noting this is also the reason she’s remained in the industry.

In 1995, she joined Garvey Nut and Candy as director of sales and marketing, a position she still holds with parent company First Source, LLC., after First Source acquired Garvey in 2013.

Carol notes that former Garvey owner Steve Corri had the biggest impact on her career, explaining he gave her the opportunity to run with her ideas and be creative in the process.

Her biggest career regret was not getting involved in trade groups sooner, something she has now rectified. She has served on trade publication editorial boards, including that of industry leading Candy & Snack TODAY, sat on the Sweets & Snacks Expo’s Most Innovative New Product Awards panel for the past three years and is a member of the National Confectioners Association’s Women’s Committee.

“To anyone entering the industry, get involved,” she strongly recommends. “Whether it be attending shows, being part of a committee or attending the State of the Industry Conference, it’s important to better understand what you are a part of.”

In her personal life, Carol has two sons: Douglas and Gregory McGoon, and is engaged to Larry Stolzenberg.

Noting many would be surprised to know she has been performing on stage since the age of two, Carol grew up in a music and dance environment. She is a past Dance Master winner, performed in Mexico and has attended dance camps around the world. She was also on the founding committee of the Los Angeles International Folkdance Extravaganza.

A Lakers fan “through thick and thin,” she also enjoys store and home design, having renovated three retail locations and four homes. In addition, she received the Award of Excellence for store design in 1990 and 1995 from the Claremont (CA) Chamber of Commerce.