Shawn Askinosie

Founder and CEO of Askinosie Chocolate, Shawn Askinosie is an award-winning entrepreneur, sought-after public speaker and has been named by O, The Oprah Magazine as “One of 15 Guys Who Are Saving the World.”

Before founding Askinosie Chocolate in 2005, Shawn had a successful career as a criminal defense lawyer for nearly 20 years, with a number of high profile cases that garnered national media attention. Since the career change, Askinosie Chocolate's unique social business model has been profiled by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and countless others.

In addition to his chocolate profession, Shawn is the co-founder of Lost & Found Grief Center for children and is a Trappist Family Brother at Assumption Abbey (a Cistercian monastery near Ava, Missouri). Shawn is also the Mel Carnahan Fellow at Missouri State University’s Public Affairs Academy and is an Adjunct Professor of Field Studies in Social Entrepreneurship at Drury University.

The University of Missouri recently honored Shawn with the Distinguished Alumni Award. The Specialty Food Association selected Shawn as the Business Leadership Award Winner of 2013 as a “food pioneer” who has “advanced food standards in society… through visionary social, economic and environmental efforts."

Askinosie Chocolate’s award-winning products are sold throughout the US, and exported to stores across the globe.