Science is Sweet: Chemistry of Sweets

Heaven Wade is a fourth-year PhD student in Integrated Biomedical Science at Rush University. Heaven gained early research experience through an internship in the Botany Department at the Field Museum, where she worked from high school through college. She later completed a post-baccalaureate fellowship at the Field Museum, contributing to the development of a global consortium of bryophytes and lichens, while also working on machine-learning-based Zooniverse projects. Looking ahead, Heaven aspires to pursue a career in biomedical science, with the ultimate goal of addressing healthcare disparities through impactful research.

Jaylen Thomas earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from Michigan State University and discovered her passion for food science while working in food and beverage testing. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Food Safety and Technology from the Illinois Institute of Technology and began her product development career at Conagra Brands, working on Duncan Hines cakes and frostings.
She now works at Ferrara Candy Company, where she focuses on innovation and replacing artificial colors with natural alternatives as part of the Natural Colors Task Force. Outside of work, Jaylen enjoys creating handmade candles and body butters, applying her product development skills to personal projects.

TaAqua Campbell, a native of Chicago, IL, is Sr. Manager, R&D at Ferrara. TaAqua attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she earned a B.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Her specialization is in food processing applications, such as manufacturing control processes, food safety and quality system design. Specifically, she loves working with food; not only for nourishment, but also to promote good health. TaAqua has spent over 20 years in the food industry working at various Consumer Packaged Goods companies, including Newly Weds Foods, PepsiCo and currently, Ferrara.  TaAqua has a passion for giving back and has volunteered with various mentor programs over the last 25 years. One of her favorite quotes is “We should all be concerned about the future because we have to live there”. That quote resonates with TaAqua's purpose in mentoring the youth in STEM as they are the future designers of this world, and they hold the vision to make this world better. TaAqua is dedicated to helping young people by instilling in them encouragement and focus to realize their dreams.

Socorra Kinney is a Food Scientist specializing in Rapid Prototyping within Ferrara’s Breakthrough Innovation Team. She holds both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Her professional experience spans across roles at Griffith Foods, Glanbia Performance Nutrition, and currently Ferrara Candy Company, with a focus on product development in the food industry. Born and raised in the South Suburbs of Chicago, Socorra’s passion for food and creativity have shaped the career she proudly pursues today.

Sam Weed leads Ferrara’s North American Consumer Affairs team across Chicago and Pennsylvania. Inspired by food innovation, Sam consistently partners with the Transformational Innovation team to test and refine new candy formulations.

Kris Nance is a Senior Associate Brand Manager at Ferrara for the Trolli brand, where he currently leads strategy, communications, and portfolio management. Over his six years at Ferrara, he has held key roles across Brand Marketing and Category Management, driving innovation pipelines for iconic brands including NERDS and Brach’s. In addition to his experience as a Brand Manager, Kris previously served as Co‑Chair of Ferrara’s Black Employee Resource Group.

Christina Kilgore is the Senior Manager of Global Consumer Affairs with experience guiding teams through international launches, complex challenges, including acquisitions, recalls, and large-scale operational change. Known for her thoughtful, data-informed approach and people-first leadership style, she focuses on building clear processes, developing talent, and making decisions that protect consumers and earn trust. Christina volunteers to share real-world career insight, encourage confidence, and help others see what’s possible beyond a job title.

Rene Poellinetz is a Senior Manager in our International Sales Operations teams. Her mission is to connect our products to consumers across the globe, spreading joy with every piece of candy consumed. In addition to her primary role, she also serves as the Co-Chair of the Black Employee Business Resource Group at Ferrara.