CHOCOLATE UNIVERSITY - Key Persons


Allison Cash

Job Titles:
  • Secretary of the Board

Emanual Chikoti

Job Titles:
  • Treasurer of the Board

Eric Hansen

Job Titles:
  • President of the Board

Melissa Gelner

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Executive Director ( Non - Voting )

Shawn Askinosie - Founder

Job Titles:
  • Founder
  • Member of the Board
  • Askinosie Chocolate Company Founder
Askinosie Chocolate company founder, Shawn Askinosie quickly recognized that the Missouri Hotel, Springfield's largest homeless shelter, was only one block away from the factory on Historic Commercial Street. At the time, as many as 80 children slept there on any given night, and many were students at the schools within walking distance of our factory. We were inspired to begin a program that would involve young people from our community in our small, international business, and the idea for Chocolate University was born.

Tom Prater

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member Nick Sanders, Member