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DINNER MEETING: The Just Born® Story:
The Guiding Principles & Collaborative
Culture Behind the Sweet PEEPS®

Thursday, November 11, 2010
5:30 PM - 8:45 PM
Dinner Buffet and Program at
Lehigh University's Iacocca Hall
Mountaintop Campus, Bethlehem, Pa

SEVENTH ANNUAL EVENING DINNER MEETING

Directions to Dinner Meeting

Click here to view Invitation

Mark your calendar for our Annual Family Business Dinner Meeting on November 11, which is always a favorite event!

This year, we will hear from Ross J. Born, Third Generation Co-CEO of Just Born, Inc. Just Born Inc., is a family owned candy business located in Bethlehem, PA. Ross joined the family firm in 1978 and shares the responsibility of leadership with his cousin, David Shaffer.

Just Born has been in business for more than eight decades and three generations. They employ more than 500 associates in Bethlehem and Philadelphia, PA and market their candy in more than 35 countries. All Just Born candies are made in the USA. In 2009, Just Born opened its first retail store, PEEPS® & Company, in National Harbor, MD.

The Just Born Philosophy is: "We believe great things happen when everyday courtesy, kindness, and humor are woven into our personal and professional interactions".

Mark your calendar now to join us for an evening of learning and sharing from a remarkable family business!

Family Business Spotlight

Meet Chris Martin, 6th generation Chairman/CEO of C. F. Martin & Co., Nazareth, PA. The Martin Guitar Company has been producing acoustic instruments for the past 177 years. The evening will include the musical sounds of a Martin guitar!

Ross J. Born, G3, Co-CEO

Learn More About Our Presenter and Just Born, Inc.:

The Just Born candy tradition actually began in 1910 when Sam Born emigrated to the U.S. from Russia. A candy maker by trade, Born used innovative technology to produce chocolate sprinkles, known as Jimmies, and the hard chocolate coating for ice cream bars. In 1916, Born invented a machine that mechanically inserted sticks into lollipops.

In 1923, Born opened a small candy-making and retail store in Brooklyn, New York. He marketed the freshness of his line of daily-made candy with a sign that declared, “Just Born.” Not long after opening the Brooklyn store, Born invited his brothers-in-law, Irv and Jack Shaffer, to join him in the business.

The company thrived in spite of the economic depression of the 1930s and, in 1932, moved its operations to an empty printing factory in Bethlehem, PA.

In 1935, Just Born acquired the prestigious Maillard Corporation, well known for elegant hand-decorated chocolates, crystallized fruits, Venetian mints, jellies and “the best bridge mix in the country.”

In 1953, Just Born acquired the Rodda Candy Company of Lancaster, PA. Rodda made a small line of marshmallow products that included a popular Easter Peep that was made by laboriously hand-squeezing marshmallow through pastry tubes.

Sam Born’s son, Bob, who had joined the company in 1946, helped mechanize the marshmallow forming process and Just Born has become the world’s largest manufacturer of novelty marshmallow treats.

Other popular products have been introduced over the years; including MIKE AND IKE® chewy fruit flavored candies in 1940, spicy, cinnamon-flavored HOT TAMALES® in 1950, TEENEE BEANEE® gourmet jelly beans in 1977, and sour ZOURS® in 1999.

Under the current leadership of Co-CEO’s Ross Born and David Shaffer, Just Born acquired Goldenberg Candy Company, makers of PEANUT CHEWS® and CHEW-ETS®, in 2003. Today, Just Born products are exported to many world markets and the candy is available to more than 1.5 billion people worldwide.

For More Information:

> Download Event Brochure (PDF)

Please contact Sally Derstine at (215) 723-8413 or click here for more information or to register.

The Family Business Learning Community gathers monthly to learn best practices of successful business families and competent advisors. Join our membership of over 80 family firms from all industries across the tri-state area. These 1st through 5th generations learn from each other and with each other at quarterly Forums and monthly Mini-Forums.

Forum cancellations must be made 2 days prior to event; if registration fees are involved, they cannot be refunded or waived when cancellations are made after that date or when the registrant does not attend.

Directions:

Lehigh University, Iacocca Hall
Mountaintop Campus, Bethlehem, PA

From New York and Northern New Jersey:
From I-78 west, take exit 67, Hellertown/Bethlehem (also identified by signs to "Lehigh University/Historic Bethlehem"). At stoplight, go straight, through short tunnel and toward "Y" in the road. Bear left at the "Y," following signs pointing toward Lehigh University and Goodman Campus. Proceed to stop sign. Continue straight, eventually passing Goodman Stadium on your left. Proceed to stop sign at the intersection of Seidersville Road and Mountain Drive. Turn right, and continue on Mountain Drive. At "Y," bear right onto Mountaintop Campus. Iacocca Hall is straight ahead; visitor parking is to the right before the building.

From Western Pennsylvania:
From Route 22, take the Route 378 exit in Bethlehem. Route 378 heads south only; follow Route 378 south through Bethlehem and to the top of South Mountain. Before the traffic light, bear to right onto jughandle; at stop sign, turn left. Cross over Route 378 to Mountain Drive. At "Y," bear right to Mountain Drive South. At next "Y," bear left onto Mountaintop Campus. Iacocca Hall is straight ahead; visitor parking is to the right before the building.

From Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey:
Take the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Route 476 North) to Exit 44 Quakertown. Turn left onto Route 663 to Quakertown. Follow for 3.5 miles. Turn left onto Route 309 north. Follow 309 to Route 378. Turn right onto Route 378 north to the top of South Mountain. At the traffic light, turn right onto Mountain Drive. At "Y," bear right to Mountain Drive South. At next "Y," bear left onto Mountaintop Campus. Iacocca Hall is straight ahead; visitor parking is to the right before the building.

From the Lehigh Valley:
From I-78 East, take exit 60, Route 309. Follow Route 309 south. Turn left onto Route 378 north into Bethlehem. Follow Route 378 to the top of South Mountain. At the traffic light, turn right onto Mountain Drive. At "Y," bear right to Mountain Drive South. At next "Y," bear left onto Mountaintop Campus. Iacocca Hall is straight ahead; visitor parking is to the right before the building.