Montana Success Story – Posh Chocolat

Jason and Ana Willenbrock fit into the category of people who arrived in Montana "by luck or by love", and for them it was a little of both. But, it was their unique culinary skills and a lot of dedication that have made their company, Posh Chocolat http://poshchocolat.com/ , a Missoula favorite and positioned them for a national expansion.

Jason is originally from the Saint Louis, Missouri area, where he grew up working in the restaurant industry. But, as he recalls, he "never took the culinary industry seriously", and chose to pursue a business degree at Benedictine College in Kansas. Right out of college, he took a sales position that put his business degree to use…and quickly grew tired of it.

On the opposite side of the globe in southern Brazil, Ana was having a similar experience. After graduating from college with a business degree, she too went to work for a large company – and found the experience to be lackluster. At the same time, she was realizing her true passion was for creating exceptional pastries and desserts. So, she saved her money to pursue a culinary arts education, and began looking for the best program that fit her interests.

Jason and Ana both arrived at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and spent the next 2 years mastering the art of fine food (and falling in love). After graduating in 2000, Jason convinced Ana to move with him to Missoula, Montana – a place he’d found a deep affection for years ago.

"I came to Missoula in June of 1998 to visit some friends, and by August I was living here full-time. I absolutely fell in love with the mountains and the town’s vibe within two hours of arriving. I couldn’t wait to get back here and find a great cooking job when I graduated from the Culinary Institute."

Full Story: http://business.mt.gov/News-and-Events/Articles/ArtMID/8599/ArticleID/49/Posh-Chocolat