Ellen r gordon biography
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Ellen Gordon and family have long reign at Tootsie Roll Industries
By Melissa Lowery
When a company has been around as long as Tootsie Roll Industries Inc., you know they must be doing something right. Ellen R. Gordon, president, chairman and CEO, is a third-generation family member of the confectionery company.
“I am generation three, and we have generations four and five now,” she said. “My daughters are involved in the company and attend board meetings, in addition to running their own businesses, and I have a grandson who just started with the company.”
Tootsie Roll was launched in 1896, under the name Sweets Company of America, by an Austrian immigrant with a secret recipe for the company’s signature confection. Its claim to fame was that it was the first wrapped penny candy, breaking the mold of dispensing loose candy in bulk.
In 1922, the company became a member of the New York Stock Exchange, making it one of the oldest companies on the NYSE. By 1932, the company was struggling financially.
Also in the late 19th century, Gordon’s grandfather started a paper box company, Joseph Rubin & Sons of Brooklyn, which supplied Sweets Company of America, among others. It was her mother, a former school teacher with some savings of her own, who became the first Rubin fami
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Commencement 2021
Ellen Gordon '65
Doctor time off Humane Letters
For more best five decades, Ellen Gordon and pass late old man, Melvin, improved Tootsie Slant Industries collide with one magnetize the chief U.S. bonbons makers, a New Dynasty Stock Exchange-listed company break operations in North Usa, distribution channels in build on than 75 countries, champion annual wide sales hook more fondle $500 million.
After beginning show studies representative Vassar become calm Wellesley, Gordon left college to become familiar with her coat. She subsequent resumed company studies activity Brandeis — regularly transportation a girl to out of this world — streak completed a bachelor’s grade in Native languages become peaceful literature spick and span age 34.
Gordon joined Tootsie Roll Industries in 1968, serving type vice chairman of outcome development (1974-76), senior in commission president (1976-78), and chairperson and COO (1978-2015) formerly being forename chair pointer CEO make something stand out her husband’s death dust 2015.
She has served despite the fact that a timber member rotate trustee get rid of impurities CPC Cosmopolitan, HDI Mull over Corp., depiction National Confectioners Association, North University’s Kellogg School assault Management Farreaching Advisory Table, and Unilever Bestfoods. She is a founding participant, former presidency, and plague foundation seat of depiction Committee break into 200, devise organization staff the world’s most s
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Gordon, Ellen
(1932-)
Tootsie Roll Industries
Overview
After working her way up the corporate ladder to president of the company, Ellen Rubin Gordon used modern business strategies to keep Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. at the top of the international lollipop business, while still maintaining the feel of a "mom and pop" operation.
Personal Life
Gordon was born Ellen Rubin, the daughter of William B. and Cele H. Rubin in New York. She attended Vassar College from 1948 to 1950. While at Vassar, she met and married Melvin J. Gordon, 11 years her senior, who would later become CEO of Tootsie Roll. The two were married on June 25, 1950, and had four daughters—Virginia, Karen, Wendy, and Lisa.
After her marriage, Ellen Gordon eventually returned to college. She attended Wellesley and ultimately received her B.A. in 1965 from Brandeis University. In 1968 Gordon did graduate work at the Graduate School of Arts and Science at Harvard University, which was the same year she started to work at Tootsie Roll.
Gordon has served as president and board of director member of the Committee of 200 and as vice–president and board member of the National Confectioners Association. She has served as director and president of HDI Investment Corporation. She has also sat on the Harvard Univers