Steve Bentz '83 finds his sweet spot with the Hershey Company

 

Two months after he graduated from 麻豆视频 with a bachelor's degree in business, Steve Bentz 鈥83 accepted a job offer and moved with his new wife to Ohio to work win sales for the Hershey Pasta Group, a division of the Hershey Company.



At the time, Bentz could never have imagined that for the next nearly four decades, he would work his way up in the world-famous chocolate corporation to his current post as global director of the World Travel Retail Division. In this role, which he鈥檚 held for 10 years, the longest of 12 positions on his Hershey resume, Bentz has traveled to 60 countries and developed a thriving business that targets the international duty-free market.

 


鈥淭his job has captivated me,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 enjoying it so much. I鈥檝e been blessed to have this opportunity to build a business and create partnerships and friendships all over the world.鈥 Some of his favorite destinations have included Singapore, Dubai, London and Langkawi, an island off Malaysia.

 

鈥淏e open to possibilities鈥

Over the years, Bentz sold household pasta brands like Ronzoni and San Giorgio to grocery stores, ingredients to restaurants and chocolate bars to military bases. Looking back on his own career, he said that he鈥檇 advise today鈥檚 college graduates to always 鈥渂e open to possibilities.鈥

 

鈥淚 was not a great student in high school,鈥 Bentz said jokingly. 鈥淏ut I got along with people and I was open to possibilities. If a new role came up, even if it was a lateral move, I鈥檇 take the job that would lead to more opportunities.鈥


鈥淒oing well by doing good鈥

Bentz has found it rewarding to work for an organization that has a reputation for philanthropy and giving back to the community. 鈥淚鈥檓 always reminded of the principle of 鈥榙oing well by doing good,鈥 which is attributed to Mr. Hershey,鈥 he said. 鈥淗e established the company based on philanthropic principles and was a pioneer in corporate social responsibility long before it became fashionable.鈥

 

By volunteering in Project Fellowship with the students at the Milton Hershey School, Bentz and his colleagues carry forward the spirit of giving that Mr. Hershey cultivated all those years ago. 鈥淚t brings me as much joy as it gives them hope,鈥 he explained. 鈥淪imple things like shooting hoops, having game nights or celebrating the holidays give these young men some sense of normalcy.鈥


Last year, Bentz spread some Hershey cheer at his alma mater when the company and the Bernadine Sisters were simultaneously celebrating their 125th anniversaries. He and his wife, Judy, brought candy bars, anniversary cakes from Hershey Chocolate World and a live Hershey鈥檚 Kiss character to a visit with the sisters at the retirement and long-term care facilities. 鈥淚t was a blast, and the appreciation they expressed was priceless,鈥 he recalled. 鈥淚鈥檝e been blessed to have a long career at The Hershey Company, and feel that it鈥檚 a privilege and an obligation to give back where and when I can.鈥


Bentz and his wife grew up in the Reading area and raised their three now-adult daughters鈥擜my, Darcie and Courtney鈥 in nearby Elizabethtown. Their family鈥檚 deep roots in the area and Bentz鈥檚 connection to his alma mater make it exciting for him to participate on Alvernia鈥檚 President鈥檚 Advisory Council and to see the Reading CollegeTowne plan unfold.


鈥淲hile growing up in West Reading during the 1960s and 1970s, crossing the bridge to Penn Street was a big event during the holidays or to celebrate special occasions,鈥 he said nostalgically, adding that his grandfather was an executive chef at the Crystal Restaurant for 30 years. 鈥淲e had many special memories there. It would be great to see the area thrive again. I think the Reading CollegeTowne plan can be the cornerstone to a return to prosperity for downtown Reading.鈥

This article, authored by Claire Curry, originally appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of the Alvernia Magazine.

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