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Joe S.
Owner/CFO at Dancing Bear Chocolate
Joe Skifter is the Co-Owner and CFO of Dancing Bear Chocolate, a chocolate shop located in North Minneapolis.12 He founded the business with his partner Steven Howard, combining Skifter's business operations expertise with Howard's skills as a celebrated pastry chef.1
The duo started their chocolate business in 2017, initially creating confections in a shared commercial kitchen and selling them at pop-ups, special events, and online.1 After a successful holiday season in 2018, they decided to expand to a storefront, opening their brick-and-mortar location in mid-May 2020, despite challenges posed by the global pandemic.1
Prior to focusing full-time on Dancing Bear Chocolate, Skifter had decades of operations experience, including managing coffee shops and running successful nonprofits.1 His background in business operations complements Howard's culinary expertise, allowing them to create a successful chocolate shop that exceeded their initial revenue projections.1
Skifter and Howard have shown resilience and adaptability in their business, pivoting their operations during the pandemic and building strong relationships with local financial institutions to support their growth.1
