Meet Our Diversity & Inclusion Council
Kristi Shafer
Vice President of Marketing
As Vice President of Marketing, Kristi Shafer is responsible for leading and developing the members of the Product Development, Innovation, Creative and Analytics teams. In her role, she has taken ALC’s corporate values and tied them to each brand’s purpose that are influencing positive change among young people in the community.
Wendy Castro
Marketing & Tradeshow Coordinator
Wendy has worked at American Licorice Company for the past 2 years as the Marketing and Tradeshow Coordinator. She enjoys regularly challenging herself to work on her growth and development as a marketing professional. She feels lucky to not only have found a job she enjoys but also a company she can be proud to be a part of.
Chad Wert
Account Coordinator/CRM Representative
Chad Wert is currently the Account Coordinator/CRM Representative at American Licorice Company where he has had the gracious opportunity to work for the past 5 years. A La Porte, Indiana native since 1996, he strives to lead all our customers down the path of Happiness Way by being the best he can be, because investing in Happiness is what we DO!
John Taylor
CRM Manager
John Taylor has been with American Licorice Company for 6 years and currently holds the role of CRM Manager for our CRM team. Our CRM (Customer Relationship Management) team handles customer service and order management duties for our business customers in addition to consumers.
Deborah Levine
Director of LGBT YouthLink with CenterLink
Deborah S. Levine is the Director of LGBT YouthLink with CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers. In that role, Deborah works with staff of youth programs at LGBT Centers across the country to ensure that best practices and current research are applied to best meet the health and developmental needs of youth. Deborah has spent virtually her entire career in the nonprofit world.
Norris Frederick
Upon his graduation from the University of Washington in 2008, Norris Frederick turned professional in the sport of track & field and has since become a 3X Indoor Bronze Medalist for Team USA. While being consistently ranked among the best athletes in the world, he has also had to overcome a great deal of adversity but he has used that to fuel him on his quest to represent Team USA in the Olympic Games in 2016.
Bwana Clements
Senior Diversity & Inclusion Manager
Bwana Clements, affectionately known in the community as “Mr. B” is the Founder and Director of Urban Ministry, LLC, a local social service agency providing therapy, professional consultation, program development, keynote and other services that support youth, families and professionals in educational and community settings; with a special emphasis on communities of color.
Edwin Arriola
HR Engagement Manager (UC)
Edwin Arriola joined the ALC Family on October 1, 2019 as the HR Engagement Manager for Union City. In this role he enjoys the opportunity of interacting with associates throughout all levels of the organization assisting them in discovering and developing their unique individual talents and strengths. Juntos podemos lograrlo (together we can overcome)!
Tennille Spikes
Production Associate
Tennille Spikes has been with American licorice Company for one year. She has two daughters and one grandson and in her spare time enjoys spending time with friends and family. She also enjoys going to the beach, shopping, traveling, & reading & spending my time with my grandson.
Nicole Krol
Community Outreach and Sustainability Specialist
Nicole Krol has been with American Licorice Company for the past 6 years. As the Community Outreach and Sustainability Specialist I am always looking for ways to invest in the happiness of our associates, environment, and community. This position has allowed me to really learn what our associates and community needs are and ways we can give back. American Licorice isn’t just a candy company, it is a community partner.