What began as a "what if" conversation between two South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) colleagues more than a decade ago has blossomed into a dream come true for Olympia-based Bittersweet Chocolate, LLC Founders Deb Smith and Cindy Uhrich. Both have lifelong connections to the South Sound and they have managed to blend their love of chocolate with a deep appreciation for their local community.
Before retiring in 2014, Deb was the Lead Faculty for SPSCC's Baking & Pastry Arts Program and Cindy was the Program Support Supervisor for Student Life at the college. Since then, the duo has devoted their energy to the art of chocolate making while honoring their Puget Sound roots.
Cindy shared, “Deb has loved chocolate and has been experimenting with chocolate making for many years. One of her teaching modules at SPSCC was on chocolates. It was her idea that we consider opening a chocolate shop. Five years before Deb retired, we started developing our shop concept and Deb began experimenting with different flavor profiles that eventually became our original 24 chocolates.”
Deb's long-standing creative passion for chocolate combined with 20 years of teaching experience at SPSCC has made her a highly sought-after mentor and innovator when it comes to artisan chocolates. Deb explained, “I think about new flavor combinations and how to make chocolate better all the time.”
“She does think about it all the time!” Cindy laughed. She then shared how they began their artisan chocolate journey. “We actually drove up and down the I-5 corridor, all the way to the northern border up to Blaine and as far south as Portland, to explore and visit other artisan chocolate shops in the state.”
Cindy's 30 years of experience supporting campus student activities, operations, and events, has given her a keen eye for project management and marketing details combined with a natural gift for working well with people. Her vision for developing a business model that honors the local community, combined with her years of training as a chocolatier at Deb's side have helped make Bittersweet Chocolates a popular Olympia destination since they opened their doors on September 16, 2016.
“We make unique, artisan chocolates an affordable and accessible luxury item for everyone to enjoy right from our kitchen. Since we were both born and raised in this area, we want them to reflect Olympia and Puget Sound.” Cindy further explained, “Unlike mass-produced chocolates, our artisan chocolate truffles are hand-produced in small batches. The preparation and tempering process can take two to four days to complete.”
Community Involvement and Recognition
Cindy and Deb are active in the Olympia community, supporting events like the SPSCC Foundation’s Leadership Circle Gathering celebration. Community partners they have worked with include the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, the Rotary Club, SafePlace, Dispute Resolution Center, Olympia Master Builders, Oly on Ice, and Harlequin Theatre, among others.
In addition to the positive feedback they receive from customers, they have also received formal recognition locally and internationally. They were awarded the 2017 New Business of the Year Award from the Thurston Economic Development Council Center for Business & Innovation. Cindy shared, “Thurston EDC provided valuable training and resources when we were getting our business off the ground.”
Deb was one of 20 chocolate specialists from across the U.S. who were invited to attend an all-expenses-paid master class at the acclaimed Felchin Swiss Chocolate Factory in Switzerland. “This was a tremendous honor and a chance to expand my knowledge of European chocolate-making techniques among world-class experts,” Deb commented.
Deb’s craftsmanship also attracted the attention of world-renowned European Chocolatier Susan Notter who visited the shop in 2022 with a representative from Albert Uster International Fine Foods.
Local and SPSCC Community Connections
Deb and Cindy occasionally mentor students who want to become chocolatiers and improve their craft. “While Deb has certainly become a world-class mentor, we also learn so much from the people we work with about the intricacies of creating artisan, handcrafted chocolate,” Cindy explained.
“We enjoy staying in touch with former SPSCC colleagues and students and love hiring students who have been in the Baking & Pastry Arts Program. They are so well-trained, passionate, and connected to Olympia.”
Employees Tess Rios and Kimberlie LeRoy both have important ties to SPSCC. Tess was an Instructional Tech and a Culinary Program Coordinator. Kimberlie was one of Deb’s students and graduated from the Baking & Pastry Arts Program in 2014. Cindy commented, “Kim started in 2019 during the incredibly busy holiday season and continues to be a huge asset. Both Kim and Tess bring a tremendous amount of skill, professionalism, and passion to the team.”
Through their active community engagement and the welcoming presence of the Bittersweet Chocolate shop, Cindy and Deb continue to illustrate how important their connection to Olympia and the Puget Sound area is to them. Cindy shared, “I have never worked harder, but I have never been happier. We are grateful to be part of this community.”
Supporting SPSCC Pathway programs like the Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts Programs helps enrich the community. Learn how you can help pave the way to success.