For 29 years, Judy worked as a principal scientist for The Hershey Company where she was responsible for development of sweets, refreshment and international R&D and product implementation in multiple countries. From 2013-2015, she was involved in the development and implementation of ViVi, a highly-fortified peanut snack Hershey donates to school children in Ghana. In 2014 she had the privilege to help design and implement Project Peanut Butter’s Ghana factory for production of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).

Prior to her time at The Hershey Company, Judy was a director of confectionery R&D with Leaf, Inc., responsible for such brands as Jolly Rancher, Switzer Licorice, Good & Plenty, Chuckles and other confectionery products. She has also worked as a senior food technologist for Brady Enterprises, quality assurance manager for Schrafft Candies, QA and R&D supervisor for School House Candies, product development intern for A.E. Staley Company and  QA and R&D technician for the Paul F. Beich Company.

Judy has been volunteering her time with associations for many years, including multiple roles within PMCA (Professional Manufacturing Confectioners Association, NCA (National Confectioners Association) and AACT (American Association of Candy Technologists). She mentors young confectioners in the US, China and Mexico.

Judy was inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame in 2012, received AACT’s Stroud Jordan Award and was nominated for Candy Industry’s Kettle Award in both 2007 and 2011. She also holds two patents, with two pending.

Judy holds an MBA with high honors from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, a BS in foods and nutrition with a minor in chemistry from Illinois State University and a certificate in international management from Georgetown University.