Only 16 at the time, Pierson Clair made his first batch of chocolate for the Blommer Chocolate Co. in Los Angeles in 1964. It was the beginning of a long love affair with chocolate and candymaking.
Judy Cooley Principal Scientist, International R&D The Hershey Co. Hershey, Pa.
Judy Cooley began her confectionery career with the Paul Beich Co. in 1978 as a quality assurance/R&D technologist. From that point on, the Illinois State University graduate had the opportunity to work with a variety of candy companies in quality assurance and/or research and development until she joined The Hershey Co. in 1986.
Brothers Rick and Dave Drehobl grew up helping their grandmother with her nut roasting and packing company located on the northwest side of Chicago. Working after school and over summer vacations gave them an up-close and personal view of running a business. Later as they were starting their careers, the Drehobls began to take the company in a new direction—candy manufacturing.
