I grew up in a small farming community in Oregon, where I developed a deep appreciation for the land and people.

My life has been a series of adventures that took me across the U.S.—from playing the washboard in a ragtime band in Portland, Oregon, to working in the Broadway industry in New York City, and eventually moving to New Jersey to start and sell a company.

While living in New Jersey, I took a day trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania, where I became fascinated with Milton Hershey's story and everything he built.

Fast forward to 2020, when I moved back to Oregon during the pandemic.

Upon returning, I noticed significant changes in the small town and farming community I had known. The temperatures were hotter, the summers drier, and wildfires more rampant.

It was also during this time that I came face-to-face with the harsh realities of our animal agriculture system, leading me to make the decision to go vegan.

A few weeks later, on my way to a drive-in movie, I stopped at a store to stock up on snacks. I was craving something smooth and creamy—classic movie chocolate—but as I stood in the chocolate aisle, I realized there was nothing that fit my new lifestyle. That’s when the idea for Chomp! struck me.

Three things ultimately drove me to build a factory: my sweet tooth not being satisfied with the current vegan options, the booming plant-based milk market, and my curiosity about making chocolate and running a factory.

I started by making chocolate at home, from roasting cocoa beans in my oven to pouring the final product into molds.

After 248 recipes, the first version of our vegan milk chocolate was born. I leased an empty concrete space and set to work building a chocolate factory.

Nine months later, Chomp! was open for business.