Name: Francis Nelson Beebe – voilà, Mr. Nelson’s Cookies®, name of company, plus father’s (deceased) first name – huge fan of my cookies.
Age: 68 – major reinvention at age 64 – and I couldn’t happier — unless, of course, I was driving the clown car at the circus!
Title: Owner / Baker, Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef
Married/Single: Married – crazy about her!
Kids: Yup, one, Christian – crazy about him, too! I was a single dad, and he’s the guy I originally created the chocolate chip cookie recipe for over 30 years ago. Oh, now he is Mr. Nelson’s Cookies® marketing manager, lives in Cincinnati.
City you live in: Gold Canyon, AZ. Based of Superstition Mountains, stunning!
A typical day in my life includes…
up around 5 am, Work-out, make/bake/wrap/ship (only employee!) 24 dozen (capacity) of Mr. Nelson’s Cookies® to chocolate chip cookie devotees’ throughout the U.S. five days a week in my 2500 square foot commercial bakery, and, then, catch-up with entrepreneurial wife at the end of day with a terrific glass of wine…mostly red, sometimes white.
I was born…
in Bridgeton, NJ – South Jersey – hey, Messrs. Frankie Valli and Bruce Springsteen, all successful “Jersey Boys” were not just born in North Jersey!
My favorite thing about Arizona…
Are you kidding? 300 plus days of cloudless skies
I’m listening to…
Pandora, Doo Wop. Told ya, born in South Jersey, near Philly, and now I’m lost in the 50’s & 60’s, listen to it all day in my bakery…Mr. Nelson’s Doo Wop Cookie Shop, baby!
My family…
is my heart & soul! Wife (Michele, again, crazy about her!!! Married 20 years this year. Successful entrepreneur with Rodan and Fields), Mom (90, Pauline. NJ State Cooking Champion at age 16, no less! Still lives independently in yup, you guessed it, South Jersey), Son (Christian. Married to a great gal, two huskies, successful entrepreneur / my marketing manager), and Brother (Fred. A beyond terrific guy who lives with his family in Delaware).
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
my family!
One thing I cannot live without…
laughter.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
a teacher.
I’m inspired by…
my father and mother, very humble beginnings, great morals and values, and incredible work ethic.
The one person who motivates me is…
the guy in the mirror.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
everyone would be free, healthy and well-fed.
The perfect day would be…
I’m currently living it, see “A typical day in my life includes”.
My first job was…
working (very hard) on my grandfather’s farm during my high school summers.
My favorite escape…
visiting my property with my family on the Delaware Bay.
My life…
is perfect, could not be happier. Very lucky guy!
I’m currently working on…
(with my son, Christian) convincing the cookie eating world (or, at least, the U.S.) that Mr. Nelson’s Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten or Gluten-Free) is “What Perfection Tastes Like!”
Always…
be polite.
Never…
be rude.
Favorite Quote…
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently” – Warren Buffett.
Biggest Dream…
I’m living it 🙂
My Pet Peeve(s)…
snarky people, typically angry about something in their life and choose to do nothing about it and then, take it out on those people with whom they come in contact.
