Crafting Futures Together: Inside Spectrum Fudge’s Open House

Spectrum Fudge is a confectionary company dedicated to crafting delicious fudge while creating meaningful opportunities for individuals of all abilities. Founders Roger and Erin Haney are parents to two wonderful children, Jake and Caitlin. Inspired by their son Jake, who is on the autism spectrum, Roger and Erin set out to create a place where individuals with autism and disabilities could thrive, contribute, and be celebrated for their talents. In 2021, Roger left his corporate career to launch Spectrum Fudge, turning their vision into reality.

When Spectrum Fudge began working with Curio412, they were at a point where they were ready to scale their mission and take it to the next level. Together, we set out to elevate their impact through unique opportunities for business growth and purposeful partnerships. After exploring a number of ways to help further the mission of Spectrum Fudge and promote the important work they are doing, we decided one of our initiatives would be hosting an open house that invited community leaders to learn more about the mission and hear directly from Spectrum Fudge employees about their unique business model.

Our primary goal in planning the open house was to celebrate the power of a neurodiverse workforce. We quickly got to work developing an invitation list and crafting an agenda to showcase the key highlights we wanted to share.

Here’s the story we wanted to tell:

Haney’s “Why”

Roger and Erin’s son Jake was diagnosed with autism at a young age. When he got to be a teenager, they began to explore opportunities for career development and future employment. What they found was that too often, adults with disabilities—who make up nearly 20% of the American workforce—struggle to secure stable jobs, not because of a lack of ability, but because they are rarely given the chance to develop the skills they need. Traditional workplaces are often unequipped to support their unique needs, resulting in disproportionately high unemployment rates.

Not finding many opportunities, they made it their mission to create more. What began as a solution to this challenge has grown into their greatest strength. At Spectrum Fudge, they have built a supportive and adaptive environment where individuals with special needs can thrive. The fudge business is especially well suited for training individuals with diverse abilities, particularly those on the autism spectrum. The work requires precision in measuring, cooking, and creating, along with the consistency of following set routines—all of which align well with the strengths many individuals on the spectrum naturally display. Tasks such as packaging, labeling, and shipping further reinforce reliability and attention to detail, while the predictable processes and clear outcomes provide a supportive environment for learning and growth. This combination makes the fudge business an ideal training ground where employees can develop valuable skills, build confidence, and contribute meaningfully to a high-quality product.

By tailoring roles to personal strengths, offering specialized training, and fostering a true sense of belonging, they ensure that our employees are not just working—they are growing, gaining confidence, and preparing for futures where they can contribute meaningfully in any workplace. This commitment to inclusivity has become the foundation of their success and a powerful driver of a more diverse and accessible workforce in our community.

The Who

Spectrum Fudge works closely with the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, job placement agencies, and eight local school districts to support their neurodiverse workforce. We wanted to highlight their partnership with Three Birch Trees, a social services company that provides vocational placement and training, whose work with Spectrum Fudge provides opportunities for students within local school districts to come into their space and learn their process, including what it is to work as a fudge crafter. A representative from Three Birch Trees spoke at the Open House and talked about how much their students look forward to coming to work each week and the skills they have learned there that have laid the foundation for them to be independent adults in the workforce. The goal is not to have each participant work for Spectrum Fudge for the rest of their career. The goal is to teach each person the skills they need to be a good co-worker, take direction, learn responsibility, professionalism so that they can take on to their next adventure.

Each year, Spectrum Fudge partners with more than nine high schools across the region, providing hands-on training and employment opportunities to over 150 individuals with diverse abilities.

The Impact

At the Open House, guests gained a deeper appreciation for the work the Haneys and new business partners Scott and Brandy Hershberger are leading through Spectrum Fudge. Hearing firsthand about the hard and soft skills participants develop in the program inspired partners, elected officials, and community allies to advocate for support, forge new partnerships, and explore funding opportunities. Over the past year, their mission continues to resonate across the community—garnering recognition from initiatives through both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins, whose support helped secure $30,000 in funding to expand Spectrum Fudge’s impact.

Before, during and after the event Curio412 coordinated logistics for the Open House including outreach to community leaders and legislators, event planning/management, and day-of event photography. We also supported Spectrum Fudge’s communications efforts including email communications, invitations to elected officials, thank you letters, and public communications through media. Through intentional marketing, we worked to build visibility and brand awareness as a company that cares.

Spectrum Fudge’s tagline is “Crafting Chocolate. Creating Opportunities.” They do both so well. To learn more about Spectrum Fudge visit their website! Spectrum Fudge | Handcrafted Fudge & Chocolate

Curio412 is a consultancy for businesses who want to strategically engage their communities and measure their social impact. We work with companies to put their purpose into action by helping them plan, organize, and implement impact with a measurable outcome in mind. We believe in creating lasting impact. Which is why we share knowledge and tell stories to keep nonprofits, business, social enterprises, and charitable organizations informed about current trends, ideas, and impact.