GREENVILLE, Pa.—David F. George, CEO and President of Joy Baking Group, will be recognized as Thiel College’s 2022 Haller Enterprise Institute Entrepreneur of the Year at 6:30 p.m. October 5.
George will be recognized during the annual Haller Enterprise Institute Entrepreneur of the Year Award Dinner. In 2003, George began the transition process of taking over Joy Cone Co., now known as Joy Baking Group, from his father, Joseph George, and in 2008, he became the President of Joy Cone. In 2011, George also became the company’s CEO, and since then, has overseen the acquisition of BoDeans Baking Group. That move has accelerated the growth of Joy’s business with additional production facilities and ovens and entry into areas outside the ice cream industry, such as pie crumb and pie shells.
Joy Cone Co. started as a family business in Hermitage, Pa. in 1918. Nowadays, the company has almost 1,000 employees and produces over two billion cones each year. From their humble beginnings over 100 years ago, Joy Cone has facilities in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Iowa and Mexico City, Mexico and is now the largest producer of ice cream cones in the United States, according to their website.
George graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and then continued his education at Katz School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh where he received his MBA. George met his wife, Mary Beth, at Harvard. The couple has been married 30 years and have three daughters. The family lives in Sharon, Pa. George serves on the boards of the Buhl Park Trustees, the Buhl Club and Sharon Sanitary Authority. George's father, Joseph, was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.