Retail Confectioners International (RCI) inducted four new members to its board of directors during RCI's Annual Convention & Industry Expo last month in Lombard, Ill.
 
The new board members for the 2017-2018 term are as follows:
Additionally, Steve Vande Walle of Vande Walle's Candies in Appleton, Wis. will serve as the board’s president while Joe Reiser of Winans Fine Chocolates + Coffees in Piaua, Ohio, takes on duties as third vice president.
 
Also, during the organization’s gala dinner at its centennial celebration, RCI awarded the 2017 Henry J. Bornhofft Memorial Award to Tom Houlihan, director of industrial sales for Guittard Chocolate Co. Since the start of his 27-year career at Guittard, Houlihan has been an active member of RCI.
 
“From the beginning, Tom has always loved RCI and [its members],” said Mark Spini, Guittard’s v. p. of sales. “[Tom is] always trying to bridge the relationship in an enduring way, cultivating the customer relationship into becoming long-lasting personal friends, not just business associates. Tom’s contribution to Guittard is valued and held with very high esteem.”
 
Tom’s dedication to the industry has been evident over his years of service to RCI and other industry organizations. In addition to his involvement with RCI, he is also an active member of the Professional Manufacturing Confectioners Association (PMCA), and currently serves on the Long-Range Planning Committee as well as the Membership and Marketing Committee for PMCA.
 
In accepting the award, Houlihan credited the enrichment of both his personal life and career to the generosity of RCI members, “RCI is all about people helping people, from sharing ideas, problem solving, to lifelong friendships,” he said. “Thank you for the privilege to be a part of this wonderful organization and to be acknowledged through this award. I look forward to a sweet future with the RCI.”
 
The Henry J. Bornhofft Memorial Award was established by the RCI board of directors in 1985. Each year a member of the confectionery industry is selected to receive the Henry J. Bornhofft Memorial Award at the annual convention in June. The recipient is a stand-out supplier member, who has exhibited many years of outstanding leadership, loyalty, friendship and has made significant contributions to the confectionery industry.
 
A complete list of RCI's board of directors may be found on its website under the About RCI tab. For additional information, including events and education courses hosted by the organization, please visit retailconfectioners.org.