2014 – Carole Pollock

Carole Pollock

Presented by Chairperson, Gary Raab, on May 15, 2014 at the Annual Awards Dinner in Newark, NJ.

Everyone’s journey to become a Flavorist is unique and the path of Carole Pollock’s was no exception. She originally started her career in the perfume industry taking a summer job in the early 1960’s. Over the course of seven years, while leveraging generous tuition support from Van Amerigen-Haebler, Polak and Schwartz (a.k.a. IFF), Carole earned double degrees in Chemistry and Biology. Carole held the technician role where she learned essential oils and perfume formulations and applications.

In 1964 Carole joined Carnation Company as a junior research chemist in California, where she worked on instant breakfast and coffee mate development which was her first exposure in using flavors in product formulation. She returned to NJ 18 months later accepting a role with IFF’s new flavor research group under the direct of Dr. Al Day in their new Union Beach Research Center. Other members of her research group included Gerry Mosciano, Herb Stein, Larry Buckholz, Bob Saunders, Mike Brodnitz, Bill Evers, and Gene Seitz. Later in 1968, Carole joined Givaudan’s Flavor Training Group in NY City, the true start of her career as a creative flavorist. Under Jerry DiGenova’s leadership, Carole trained and excelled as a flavorist. Over her long creative flavorist career, Carole worked for other consumer packaged goods and flavor companies including P&G, Universal Flavors (Sensient), Beck Flavors and F&C- WILD Flavors (ADM).

Carole served on several committees and held offices with Chemical Sources Association (CSA), Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), and Society of Flavor Chemists (SFC). She was President of the SFC from 1993-1994, the second female to hold this office. Carole trained many flavorists and was always available to provide mentorship to the rising flavor chemists wherever she worked. Her light-hearted spirit and story-telling was always interesting and entertaining to many.

The Golden Blotter Award was presented to Carole Pollock on May 15, 2014 by Gary Raab.  For nearly fifty years in the flavor industry, several long-time colleagues gave testimonials, including Carl Holmgren, Bob Peterson, Greg Lima, Gerry Mosciano, and David Johnson.  Carole gave a talk on creativity.