About the Team 

 

Philadelphia Chocolate Tours is brought to you by a team of Tourguides, Managers and more, all called Choc Stars! Interested in joining us? Please see our Help Wanted page!

  

Valerie Beck, President, Founder, and Chief Executive Chocolate Lover

Favorite Chocolate: "Yes! We are living during a chocolate renaissance!"

Valerie has been a chocolate maniac her whole life, refusing to drink milk in kindergarten if it wasn't chocolate milk. She graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, with her chocolate fascination a constant presence in her life. For example, whenever she traveled, the first thing she would do was seek out the best chocolate shops and bakeries, whether she was visiting Paris, Venice, New York, or anywhere else. Living in Europe for 5 years, she traveled in her free time to the great chocolate cities and towns. She started bringing friends with her on these "chocolate tours," and when she returned to the States she realized that we have such wonderful chocolate shops and cafes right here that there should be a tour to spotlight them and to connect chocolate lovers with the best chocolate items. There was no chocolate tour, so she started one, and now operates tours in Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago.


  

Jaylene Clark, Tourguide

Favorite chocolate: Snickers and the Teuscher Chocolates Champagne Truffle
 
Jaylene has always enjoyed chocolate. She is one of those people who would enjoy a box of chocolate on any day, not just Valentine's Day! She adores hot chocolate with whip cream during any season, and considers chocolate to be a great reward for any accomplishment, no matter how small. She loves being a Philadelphia Chocolate Tours Tourguide because she loves trying new foods, especially chocolate foods, and she loves telling others about the new foods she tries! She joined the team in September 2010. When she is not touring, Jaylene is active in acting and spoken word poetry.
 
 
 
 
 
Dionna Eshleman, Tourguide
 
Favorite chocolate: Dark chocolate with a kick! 
 
Dionna is the perfect Philadelphia Chocolate Tours Tourguide because she is spunky and loves to smile! She joined the team in December 2011 and loves making people smile by sharing her love of chocolate and Philadlephia. Dionna is also an actress and loves to cook. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Angie Fennell, Tourguide
 
Favorite Chocolate:  Any chocolate and peanut butter combination
 
Angie joined the Philadelphia Chocolate Tours team in February of 2011. She loves being a chocolate tourguide because she loves making people smile and helping them enjoy the city of Philadelphia. When not leading tours, Angie acts, sings, dances and eats chocolate!

 

 

 

Julia Freedman, Tourguide

Favorite Chocolate:  Dark chocolate with any sort of spice

Julia is a chocoholic and a people person, so she loves meeting new people and enjoying chocolate while exploring the magnificent city of Philadelphia! She joined the Philadelphia Chocolate Tours team in April of 2010. Julia is a student at Temple University, majoring in Spanish and Theater and minoring in Latin American Studies. She is also a Health Literacy ESL tutor for AmeriCorps in immigrant elder communities and is the vice president of Temple for a DREAM, the immigration rights group on campus. 

 

 

 

Sarah Gafgen, Tourguide
 
Favorite chocolate:  Dark Chocolate and Champagne Truffles
 
Sarah is an actress, singer and theatre lover in the Philadelphia area and has been a chocolate fan for as long as she can remember! The daughter of a custom cake baker, she has a very powerful sweet tooth! Sarah's favorite thing about being a Philadelphia Chocolate Tours tourguide is combining her love of meeting new people and her love of chocolate! Sarah joined the team in February 2011 and when she isn't leading tours or performing on stage she works as the Funsavers Coordinator for the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Leila Ghaznavi, Tourguide

Favorite chocolate: Dark chocolate covered raspberries and Belgian chocolate

Leila loves being able to give a full sensory experience! She loves being a Tourguide because it is a fun learning experience that includes the wonderful scents and tastes of chocolate. Leila joined the team in October 2011 and when she isn't leading tours she is a professional actor and puppeteer.

 

Shanna Joseph, Tourguide

Favorite chocolate: Lindt Lindor truffles and Italian chocolate tartufo

Shanna is the perfect Philadelphia Chocolate Tours Tourguide because of her enthusiasm, energy, and my intense love of all things chocolate! She joined the team in December 2011 and loves Philadelphia, its rich history, and its delicious chocolate!  And, most importantly, she loves sharing these loves with others! Shanna also loves to act, read, travel, and watch her favorite sports team, the Philadelphia Phillies!

 

 

June Luo, PR/Marketing Intern



Jenny Nelson, Photo Manager

Favorite Chocolate: Dark Chocolate

Jenny joined the Philadelphia Chocolate Tours team in July 2010. She is also a tourguide in Chicago! She loves being a Chicago Chocolate Tours Tourguide because she loves to entertain people and finds its even more fun to entertain people when the subject is chocolate! When she is not touring, she is a performing artist and dancer in the Chicago area.

 

 

 

Andrea Pinyan, Tourguide

Favorite Chocolate: Dark chocolate with some spice

Andrea has had a love affair with chocolate since she was a child decorating Christmas cookies – which in her family means dunking them in warm chocolate, then sprinkles, nuts or coconut! As she grew up, she became interested in other ways to eat chocolate – and now has a mini-obsession. Andrea has been with Philadelphia Chocolate Tours since the beginning in November 2009. She loves being a tourguide because she loves taking other people to the amazing chocolate places in Philadelphia that she’s had fun discovering with friends and family over the past few years. When Andrea is not touring, she is acting, writing and editing.

 

 

 

Jean Rebovich, Tour Manager

Favorite Chocolate: Dark chocolate and raspberry chocolate mousse

Jean loves chocolate! She says she believes she's a great people person and loves sharing information, especially food information, with others. She loves being able to share chocolate with others, and says chocolate can make almost anyone’s day better. Jean joined the team in October 2010.

 

 

 

Beth Seybert, Tourguide

Favorite Chocolate:  Peanut Butter & Chocolate

Beth is the perfect Philadelphia Chocolate Tours Tourguide because she is outgoing, loves chocolate and she worked at her family's chocolate shop from a young age! She joined the team in May 2011 and loves meeting new people from around the world and helping them to enjoy chocolate in Philadelphia. Beth is also an actress and loves playing with her cat, Jazzy.


 

Kaysie Strickland, Administrative Assistant

Favorite Chocolate: Peppermint Dark Chocolate

Kaysie is the perfect Philadelphia Chocolate Tours Administrative Assistant because having lived just fifteen minutes away from Hershey, Pennsylvania Kaysie grew up around chocolate. While living in Philadelphia she has had her moments of homesickness and the one thing that always uplifted her is chocolate. She loves being able to help do the same for others and "uplift through chocolate"! Kaysie joined the team in February 2011 and spends most of her free time creating small documentaries and marketing for small businesses.