Dr. Basil E. Atkinson Jr. was born August 28, 1926, to Basil Sr. and Mabel. He has a brother, Joe. He attended Lufkin High School in the Texas town of the same name, graduating in 1943. In 1945, he was drafted into the Army, entering medical clerk school after basic training, and was assigned to […]
Harry D. Callie, the founder of Callie’s Candy Kitchen, has been in the industry for 58 years — all but four years of his entire working career — as a candymaker, instructor and consultant. Born June 11, 1933, in Bangor, PA, to Harry and Mamie, he attended Bangor High School, and graduated in 1951. He had a […]
A 32-year veteran of the confectionery industry, Christopher V. Chase attributes his professional success to the people he surrounds himself with, the quality companies he represents, and his ability to remain flexible and adapt to changes. He is the third generation of his family to be inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame, with his […]
Born in Washington, DC, to Peter and Bernice on February 17, 1953, Andrew R. Gromen has three siblings, Peter, Marilyn and James. Andy attended Suitland Senior High School, in Suitland, MD, graduating in 1971, and then joined the American Merchant Marine, assigned to the MS Stonewall Jackson. After his stint with the Merchant Marine, Andy […]
Lee V. Hartman was born October 31, 1953, in Toledo, OH, to Vernon and Wilma. He has a sister, Dee. After attending Perrysburg High School, located in the Ohio town of the same name, he studied at The Ohio State University before transferring to Bowling Green State University, in Bowling Green, OH, where he received […]
Solange Virginia Duarte Isidoro was born December 18, 1956, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Armindo Isidoro and Maria Augusta. She has two siblings, Fernando and Sonia. She was educated at Escola Estadual João Alfredo, in Rio, and went on to get degrees in English language for foreigners from the University of Cambridge and communications […]
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 […]
Linda G. Sahagian is the founder of Sahagian & Assoc., Inc., which she established to develop and manufacture items for private label distribution. Born April 15, 1944, in Providence, RI, to Lavon and Winifred, Linda graduated from Hope High School in Providence, before going on to study at the University of Rhode Island, where she […]
Joan L. Sweeting was born in Islip, NY, on Valentine’s Day, 1950, to Frank and Virginia Thomas. She has five siblings; Sam, Frank, Paul, Christy and Tayte. She graduated from Islip High School in 1968, and she began her 44-year career in the candy business as a part-time holiday helper for Fanny Farmer Candies while […]
Michael J. Vann was born May 27, 1947, in Abington, PA, to William and Margaret and has two brothers, Fred and Joe. He attended Miami Palmetto Senior High, in Miami, before graduating from the University of Florida in 1969 with a B.S. in public relations and a minor in marketing. From 1969 to 1972, Mike […]