Pat was born in Niles, MI, February 21, 1943. He graduated from Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, FL. He married Laurie in 1981, and together they have six children – Lori, Faie, Melissa, Deborah, Carrie and Richard. A 34-year candy business veteran, Pat joined Spangler Candy Co. in 1969 as a quality control […]
Born August 30, 1957, in Pittsburgh, Dan graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 1979 with a triple-major in economics, English and German. Two days after graduation, he began his candy career as a salesman at Dan Gillette & Associates, calling on five candy and tobacco wholesalers by noon. Dan notes with pride that his […]
Dick was born August 16, 1940, in Hanover, PA. He attended Loyola College, in Baltimore, where he earned a degree in business. He continued his education with a graduate fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1972, he married Judy and they have three children – Kendra, Nikki and Richard. After 10 years at Black […]
Born in Morristown, NJ, on June 4, 1954, Sam grew up in Madison, NJ. He attended County College of Morris, and launched his career as assistant controller for a division of American Brands, progressing in 1975 to assistant product manager of the company’s American Cigar division. In 1980, Sam moved on to R.L. Albert & […]
Al was born March 6, 1933, in Arlington, MA. He graduated from Boston College with a bachelor of science in business administration and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a member of the 7th infantry division’s postal service. In 1958, he married Carol, and their five children are Lisa, David, Michael, […]
John was born December 11, 1963, in Lebanon, PA, and attended Eastern Lebanon High School. He married Beth A. Keener on September 20, 1986, and became co-owner and president of his family’s business, retailer and distributor Smith’s Candies & Co. Inc., the same year. He cites these events as the most memorable highlights of his […]
Paul was born August 9, 1944, in the Bronx, NY, to Beatrice and Joseph. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ. In 1965, he married Barbara and they have two children – Wendy and Steven. Paul credits his wife as being the biggest influence on his career, saying she “has pushed me and challenged […]
Herbert was born March 17, 1946. He attended the commercial college in Nuernberg, Germany. He has four children, Nicolas, Marie-Louise, Gregory and Mark. Herbert got his start in the candy business at age 16, sweeping the floors of his father Willibald’s Willi Mederer KG candy factory, which specialized in jellies and chews under the Wilmed […]
Born September 7, 1946, in Atlanta, Steve attended the University of Georgia. Majoring in marketing and minoring in finance, he graduated with a business degree. He served in the U.S. Army as a specialist, fifth class, in the 26th Infantry Platoon Scout Dogs, headquartered at Fort Benning, GA. In 1972, he married Bobbi and they […]
Tom was born June 3, 1950 in Minneapolis. He graduated from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY, with a degree in business administration. He has two children, Aaron and Rachel. A 27-year veteran of Hershey Foods Corp., Tom began his career in 1975, as a sales representative in Louisville, KY. He went on to […]