Julie Pech is a great example of what happens when a person abandons corporate America for the chance at a life-changing adventure. Her first move was leaving an 18 year career in the wholesale sporting goods industry to pursue her dream of becoming an author. Her two passions--nutrition and chocolate--seemed a bit oxymoronic, but fortunately for Pech, the health benefits of chocolate news broke just as she decided to embark on her new life. She wrote her and self-published her first book, "The Chocolate Therapist: A User's Guide to the Extraordinary Health Benefits of Chocolate," then set about speaking about chocolate and nutrition to help sell it. The popular topic landed her on national radio and local television numerous times, and she expanded the idea by traveling on cruise ships as a guest lecturer offering a series of chocolate presentations. Chocolate and wine pairing was one her presentations, and to research the subject, she began teaching classes through a local continuing education facility. That led to hosting corporate and charity chocolate and wine events as well as private parties. Between the health-benefits-of-chocolate presentations and the popular chocolate and wine events, the industrious Pech realized she was on to something, so she launched her own line of chocolates by hiring a local company to produce her brand. When the owners retired two years later, she bought the shop and changed the name to The Chocolate Therapist. (A completely revised and updated version of her book "The Chocolate Therapist" was published by Wiley in 2010.)

Pech says her shop is the result of what happens when “a crazy nutritionist meets the chocolate industry." She didn't waste any time redeveloping the recipes to support the clean-ingredient concepts she promotes in her book and with her own life. There are no dyes, preservatives or artificial ingredients in anything the shop makes. Everything is also gluten-free, the dark chocolate is dairy-free and most of the dark chocolate is also soy-free. Pech claims it's no coincidence that people are finally embracing nutrition concepts she's knows about for decades. But an added benefit was realizing the new chocolates paired beautifully with wines for two reasons--they were infused with subtle, organic flavoring oils and had far less sugar than any of her competitors. The shop hosts numerous wine pairing classes each week, so popular that they're often sold out for six weeks in advance. Pech's book, "Dare to Pair: The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate and Wine Pairing" includes research from ten years of teaching chocolate and wine pairing classes as well as extensive personal research.

Julie has also written and self-published two additional books, "Chocolate Soiree: How to Throw the Ultimate Chocolate Party" and "The Last Damn Diet: A Step by Step Guide to End Your War With Food Forever,"* both available on Amazon, Kindle and on the shop's website: TheChocolateTherapist.com. Pech spends her time between working at the shop, hosting corporate and private events, traveling, writing and even singing in a jazz band, a musical pursuit she calls her "passion on the side of my passion." A feature article was just published about her in Candy magazine, a national trade magazine in the candy industry. She also interviewed with the Food Network for a possible upcoming show, although she says no contracts have been signed to date.
*The Last Damn Diet" is on schedule for a June 2015 release.

So what is Pech's advice to those wishing to leap into their own dream? Do it!

“A useful, enjoyable read about the restrained debauchery of consuming chocolate with the fruit of the vine.”
– Kirkus Reviews