Welcome to the 2018 Power 50 list, which ranks the most influential people in the industry.

#48: Lance Stier & David Miller, Chocolate Inn/Lanco (asi/44900)

2017 Rank: N/A

Now a lead exec of Nassau Candy Confections – which owns Chocolate Inn/Lanco – Stier cut his teeth in private equity before joining the family business in 2009. A UPenn grad, Stier’s deal-making skills have given Nassau a platform for substantial gains. Miller, meanwhile, has long been a notable leader at Chocolate Inn, who raised his profile through the late 2017 acquisition of Top 40 supplier Lanco. Combined, the supplier’s 2017 promo sales were $49 million.

“Leadership is about strategy and execution. You can’t be all strategy without getting your hands dirty. You need to lead from the front.”Lance Stier, Chocolate Inn/Lanco