Patricia M. Green

Class of 2010

Patricia M. Green was born September 12, 1943, in Providence, RI, to Eugene and Lucille McCall. She has three sisters, Jacquelynn, Virginia and Joy, and a brother, Steven. After graduating from St. Patrick’s High School in Providence, Pat held several positions, beginning in 1959 as a tray girl at Lying Inn Hospital. By 1964 she was working as a receiving accounts clerk for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, SC.

In 1973, Pat married Norman Green at the U.S. Marine Corps Chapel, at Parris Island. Together they have four children: Dawn, Timothy, Kenneth and Norman, and six grandchildren: Clorinda, Ron, Divinian, Faith, Caroline and Cadence.

Pat founded The Chocolate Tree, a retail confectionery company, in 1980. Located in Beaufort, SC, the shop makes more than 60 varieties of chocolates on-site, as well as fudge, pralines, brittles and English toffees. The company began with two employees and has since grown to 20.

A 1983 graduate of the Malley’s School of Merchandising, in Cleveland, run by Candy Hall of Famer Adele Malley, Pat also completed the Retail Confectioners International Gus Pulakos Candy School in Erie, PA, in 1992.

Pat has received several honors including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian of the Year award in 1995, and the Sam Walton Business Leader award in 1996. That same year, she was honored as South Carolina’s Business Person of the Year.

In 2004, she was presented with the title of Master Confectioner Emeritus by RCI. She has been recognized several times for her Candy Clinic presentations at RCI conventions covering packaging, advertising and holiday ideas.

Pat has served on the board of directors of RCI for seven years, becoming its president in 2004, and was part of its nominating committee through 2010.

She was a commissioner of the Technical College of the Lowcountry for 16 years, past regional chair of the Small Business Development Center and past president of the greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce. She has also held leadership positions with the United Way, March Of Dimes and St. Peter’s Church.

One of the biggest influences on Pat’s career has been Paul Hoffman, formerly of Hoffman’s Chocolates, in West Palm Beach, FL. She says he acted as her mentor and encouraged her involvement with RCI, which she says opened many doors — helping her gain knowledge, meet others in the industry and make many friends.