Michael Sitarz

Class of 2026

Throughout his 22-year confectionery career, Michael J. Sitarz has built a reputation for integrity, humility and servant leadership, focusing on the success of his team rather than personal recognition. Those qualities, along with his contributions to Elmer Chocolate and the confectionery industry, have earned him a place in the Candy Hall of Fame.

Born May 21, 1965, in Champaign, Illinois, Mike grew up with his parents, Mike and Linda, and brother, Jeff. His parents worked long hours while teaching him respect, responsibility, and the importance of doing the right thing. Among his fondest memories are family vacations to Indiana Beach, packed together in a fully loaded station wagon.

His father, who worked in and later owned a shoe store, provided an early lesson in leadership. After his death, former employees came to the funeral to thank the family for the guidance and opportunities he had given them, showing Mike the lasting impact of investing in people.

Mike graduated from West Chicago Community High School in 1983 with plans to become a photojournalist. At Eastern Illinois University, he served as photo editor of the yearbook and daily newspaper and earned a journalism degree in 1987. His assignments included the first Farm Aid concert, Ronald Reagan campaign trips, professional sporting events, and the Indianapolis 500.

After college, Mike returned to the film-processing company where he had worked during school. The business was acquired by Kodak a year later, beginning a 16-year career in sales and marketing. His final assignment was managing Kodak’s film and camera business at Target in Minneapolis. As digital photography transformed the industry, Mike and his wife, Gail, decided it was time for a new adventure.

Mike and Gail, who met while roller skating, married in 1989 and have two children, Michael and Bailey. In 2004, the family moved to Louisiana, where Mike joined Elmer Chocolate as Vice President of Sales Planning. He became Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2010, the position he holds today.

At Elmer, Mike has helped guide the 160-year-old family business through economic downturns, the pandemic, rising raw material costs, modernization, and significant growth. During his tenure, the company doubled its top-line sales and strengthened its leadership position in the Valentine’s Day category.

In 2016, Mike helped guide a $40 million facility expansion to support long-term domestic production. The complex project required maintaining customer service while legacy lines were shut down, new equipment installed, products reformulated, and employees trained.

Mike’s commitment to confectionery extends beyond Elmer. He has participated in numerous NCA initiatives, including the Young Professionals Network Committee and Washington Forum, as well as serving as a Confectionery Leadership Award evaluator. Since 2024, he has served as Treasurer of the National Confectionery Sales Association.

For Mike, industry involvement is an opportunity to learn, teach, and build relationships. He encourages emerging professionals to step outside their comfort zones, get involved, and build relationships before they need them. He especially values the willingness of people throughout the confectionery industry to share ideas and work together.

Mike approaches challenges by focusing on the facts, asking questions, and determining the best path forward. He believes people can accept difficult decisions when they understand the reasoning behind them and know they have been treated fairly.

Away from work, Mike enjoys household projects, yard work, cooking, and fixing things himself. With a little help from YouTube, his repairs have included washing machine clutches, refrigerator control panels, brakes, and even microwave magnetrons. He also proudly calls himself a former “Band Dad,” supporting a 100-member band and dance team through years of sporting events and Mardi Gras parades.

Throughout his career, Mike has remained grounded in the lessons he learned from his family: work hard, support others, and keep your commitments. As he enters the Candy Hall of Fame, he hopes to be remembered much as his father was — as someone who treated people with respect, invested in their success, and helped others achieve more.