Eric Koppelman, Vice President Sales
With more than 11 years in the food industry, Koppelman brought his experience to Seattle Chocolate in 2005.

Originally from Iowa, he is now based in New York City. Besides selling chocolate, Koppelman enjoys spending time with his wife and soon to be two-year-old daughter. If he’s not on the phone or his Blackberry, you may find him in the pool practicing for an upcoming race or raising money for MS through his website: www.swimforacure.org.

Kevin Marks, Director of Sales,East Region
Marks started his career in the health - OTC side of the business, working at Upjohn & Pharmacia in consumer product sales. But after 14 years, he acknowledged his true love – candy.

He was Mid-Atlantic regional manager for Storck USA for five years. He joined Seattle Chocolate early this year. Based in Kentucky with his wife, Eileen, Marks is an active dad with his three daughters. All of the ladies at the Marks home are very happy with his new line of products!

Phillip McWherter, Director of Sales, Central Region
Prior to starting with Seattle Chocolate in April, McWherter’s career spanned national account sales, product development/brand management and sales management. He spent seven years with Oscar Mayer and five years with Tyson.  

Trista Rosquita, Director of Sales, West Region
Only six months in the chocolate and sales industry has not stopped Rosquita from shattering her sales goals and bringing new brokers and customers to Seattle Chocolate.

World’s Finest Chocolate, Chicago, has announced the appointment of Michael Broz as chief financial officer.  Broz was most recently vice president of finance for the Follett Corporation.

The newest addition to the Seattle Chocolate team, Jill Dalinkus is filling a newly created position and will have sales support respon-sibilities for several key private label accounts. A graduate of the University of Washington, Dalinkus previously was employed by the Peoria Sports Complex, which is the Phoenix, Ariz., spring training home of the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres.

Hillside Candy has appointed industry veteran, Jim Hutchins, vice president of sales.

Based in Texas, he will oversee sales for Hillside’s Golightly sugar free, GoNaturally 100% natural and Hillside Sweets lines. His most recent prior post was vice president/national sales manager for Turin Chocolates USA.

The World Cocoa Federation has announced that John C. Long, vice president of corporate affairs for The Hershey Company, has been re-appointed board chairman for a one-year term in 2007. Roger Dehnel, cocoa sustainability director of Mars Incorporated, will serve an additional year as co-vice chair, and Karl Walk, director of the cocoa department, Blommer Chocolate Company, has been selected to join him as co-vice chair. Alain Fredericq, director for chocolate in Europe, ADM Cocoa, was elected secretary/treasurer for the 2007 term.

Sol Beatriz Arango, president of Compania Nacional de Chocolates S.A., Small and Medium Enterprise representative, and David Zimmer of CAOBISCO, trade association representative, were elected to the WCF Executive Committee.