Wiley Mullins is the founder and president of Uncle Wiley’s Specialty Foods, Inc., a Fairfield, Connecticut based firm that produces and markets Wiley’s “Healthy Southern Classics” seasonings and spices. A passion for southern cooking and a starting base of his grandmother’s recipes, combined with ten years of marketing expertise in the packaged food industry enabled Wiley to launch this business in 1992. His goal was to introduce a healthy approach to preparing common foods.
In 22 active years, he has expanded his product line and distribution network so that today Uncle Wiley’s are now sold in supermarkets across the country. For business success, Wiley has received recognition from a number of organizations including: A past recipient of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council’s Small Business Person of the Year Award; featured coverage inEntrepreneur Magazine’s annual 51 American Small Business Success Stories; and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business Distinguished Alumni Business Leadership Award. Smart Money Magazine, a Dow Jones publication featured Wiley in a past issue. He was also the recipient of Boy Scouts of America’s Good Scout Award, and the 2011 Bank of America Community Heroes Award. Most recently, Wiley was presented the Trailblazer Award at the 15th Annual Rainbow/PUSH Wall Street Economic Summit in New York City.
A Connecticut resident for 30 years, Wiley is a graduate of The University of Alabama and received a Master’s degree in Business Administration from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. After graduate school, he joined The Procter & Gamble, Inc. Throughout his marketing career he has managed national brands including Vick’s VapoRub, Mott’s Apple Sauce and Vick’s NyQuil.
In addition to the New Canaan Society, Wiley is actively involved in The Connecticut Yankee Council – Boys Scouts of America (Board of Directors) and The Bridgeport Public Education Fund (Chairman Emeritus) and Easter Seals of Connecticut (Chairman). Wiley is also a member of the Board of Visitors at the University of Alabama College of Commerce & Business Administration.