Cannoli Connoisseur
Valerie Bono '97
In addition to being head girls’ hockey
that mirrored the economic impact of
women in the industry. “In the beginning,
coach at Cushing Academy, Valerie Bono
the current pandemic. With restaurant
they were all men in sales and distribution,”
’97 has another career involving one of the
business dramatically down over the
she said. “Now they are primarily women.”
most beloved of all desserts—cannoli. Val
past year, Golden’s own sales sagged
Val recalls not always being treated seriously
is owner and chief sales and marketing
by about 60 percent at one point. The
as a young woman and notes a more
officer of Golden Cannoli, a Massachusetts-
company shifted resources to a retail
collaborative approach now. “My motto
based company that her father founded
product—cannoli chips and dip—that has
is always, “How can I help? How can I fix
with his cousin in 1970. Fifty years later,
performed very well. A huge point of pride
this?’” Val currently sees that sentiment
the company remains family owned, today
has been Golden’s ability to keep its entire
echoed in the industry as well.
run by Val in collaboration with her sister
workforce during the pandemic.
and two cousins.
Val and Golden have been on a mission to make cannoli more “mainstream” and to
“If you’ve eaten a cannoli in a Boston restaurant, or really any bakery or restaurant throughout New England, then you’ve likely eaten a Golden Cannoli.”
raise cannoli awareness by promoting the establishment of “National Cannoli Day.” Next up for the company will be messaging that is Golden Cannoli - specific, including the creation of an app to identify locations near users that carry the product. To ensure that her cannoli is “authentic,” Val is keenly aware of maintaining the balance between
Golden Cannoli is everywhere. “If you’ve
Alongside her business career, Val remains
growth and product quality. “We associate
eaten a cannoli in a Boston restaurant, or
deeply committed to hockey. After
cannoli with holidays and special occasions,”
really any bakery or restaurant throughout
playing Providence College, Val coached at
she said. “As much as we want business to
New England, then you’ve likely eaten a
Burlington High School in Massachusetts
grow, it still has to be that product.”
Golden Cannoli,” Val said. She speaks of a
and in club teams, eventually earning a
“cannoli code of silence,” as most bakeries
Level 5 Master Coaching Certificate from
Val traces her business acumen and her
don’t have the fryer needed to produce the
USA Hockey. Val came to Cushing Academy
passion for life in general to her time at
quintessential crunch of this classic dessert.
as a coach in 2015. “I’ve often said that the
Cushing and to the support and inspiration
“We provide the shells and filling and then
company pays the bills, but coaching hockey
she drew from teachers including Jessica
individual establishments put it together
feeds my soul,” she said.
Devin, Deb Harmon, Beth Stone, and Bob
and make it their own.” Val began working at the family business in what was to be a temporary arrangement after college. Two decades
Johnson. But it was former field hockey Val has worked at Golden long enough to
coach Kelly Berner who encouraged Val to run
witness a dramatic shift in the number of
for student body president in her final year at Cushing, a move she never would have considered before coming to Cushing and
later, she is steeped in the business and
that is echoed in her current role
seasoned at adapting to challenging
as Alumni Council Chair. “Cushing
economic conditions. Val’s first day of
taught me not to be so set in my
work was September
ways, and to try anything new.”
11, 2001, and she
Maybe it was Val’s winning that
remembers the business struggling as many did that year in an atmosphere
election that foreshadowed her leadership prowess as both a winning businesswoman and coach!
SUMMER/FALL 2021
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