Matthew was born and raised in Connecticut, where he received his degree in English from Eastern Connecticut State University. Matthew worked for Big Y Supermarkets and Fed-Ex in a multitude of roles before moving to South Carolina in 2012. He has held several positions at Laudisi, including time in our shipping department and distribution group, as well as organizing the move to our new building in 2014.
Matthew's current role as Cornell & Diehl Director fits in well to his experience and skill sets, managing the C&D staff and ensuring everything is accounted for and runs smoothly. When not wrangling a myriad of projects for Laudisi, Matthew enjoys baseball, gardening, alternative rock, cult television shows and reading anything he can get his hands on. Weekends will find him working in the yard or watching a movie.
A pipe smoker for over a decade, Jeremy is as passionate about pipes, pipe tobacco, and blending tobacco as a man can be. His experience as a tobacco shop manager, as well as a wood-fire pizza chef, give him unique insight into running a boutique blending operation like Cornell & Diehl. When he isn't running the factory he enjoys the outdoors, particularly camping and hiking. He's an "adventurous eater," and has an expressed love for trying new things and attempting to recreate them in his kitchen at home, which is another reason he's such a great fit at C&D. Born in Portales, New Mexico, Jeremy is a bit of a rolling stone. He has called Chicago, Denver, Cleveland, and Portland home, before moving to South Carolina, where we hope he will stay.
A proud native of the bluegrass state, Aaron was thrilled to follow his hobby of pipe smoking down south to the legendary blending tables of Cornell & Diehl. Though all of our guys and gals are cross-trained to lend a hand wherever needed, Aaron is our Production Manager. He's responsible for overseeing the meticulous process of taking our various kinds of processed tobacco and combining them in very specific ratios to ultimately transform them into your favorite boutique blends. When not looking excessively jolly in photos or leaning on Perique barrels, he takes pleasure in watching movies with his wife, Rachel, lifting heavy things, hiking up mountains, playing music, and, of course, oiling his beard. Aaron is currently finishing up a Bachelor of Arts in Bible, so the writings of C.S. Lewis and a leather-bound Greek New Testament sport the most worn covers on his bookshelf. While learning to like sunsets and long walks on the beach, he also enjoys chamber music and ten-pin bowling.
Originally hailing from Pennsylvania, Crystal came to South Carolina a while back, and is currently our Facilities Coordinator at Cornell & Diehl. Using her past experience in inventory coordination and receiving, Crystal ensures our shelves are always stocked, schedules preventative maintenance, and assists with various administrative duties to keep things running smoothly at all times. A consummate DIY-er, when she's not at work, you can find her hand-making household supplies (including homemade dog food for her three pooches) or maybe relaxing with a bit of a gardening and a gourmet, from-scratch dinner.
Bretton, or just "B," came to Myrtle Beach by way of Maryland, and has since married the love of his life. A relaxed, pleasant, and goofy person to be around, he still takes his work seriously as he spends his days drying, mixing, and crafting all of your favorite Cornell & Diehl blends. Outside of work, you'll find him tinkering with whatever needs fixing, flying stunt kites, and pretending to be a tourist in the Myrtle Beach area — assuming he and his wife haven't set off camping.
Jeff Hodder is a man of few words and a relaxed, easygoing disposition who enjoys country music and cheering for the Pittsburg Steelers. Having moved to Myrtle Beach from Pennsylvania in 2019, it’s no surprise he is an unrepentant waver of the Terrible Towel, but he is acclimating to his new environment well and recently admitted he also enjoys relaxing on the beach. He joined Cornell & Diehl as a Packaging Associate in 2021 and, when not busy keeping you supplied with your favorite blend, spends time with his dog and cat.
As one of our Blending Associates, Matthew is directly involved in creating C&D's quality tobacco blends, from sorting raw leaf to operating the factory's vintage equipment, always ensuring every mixture is exactly what it's supposed to be. When he's not playing with tobacco for a living, Matthew enjoys whipping up some good old-fashioned BBQ in his slow smoker or keeping up with his favorite baseball and football teams. His taste in music is eclectic (as long as it's not Country), though his preferred films always seem to star Will Ferrell — Elf is the GOAT and you can't convince him otherwise.
Joining Laudisi in the fall of 2022, Caleb moved to the Grand Strand after growing up on the west coast, and as a Blending Associate for Cornell & Diehl, he's directly involved in creating all of C&D's premium pipe tobaccos — from sorting raw leaf to operating the factory's vintage equipment. He brings with him a dedicated, all-in attitude, always investing 100% and embodying a deep desire to learn and share that knowledge with others. When not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, as well as reading ancient scripture, watching UFC and rugby, and listening to records, having amassed an extensive collection from more than 25 years as a DJ. He's also an experienced chef, with a 20-year career in that industry. Having lived overseas in a number of places, he has a fondness for other cultures and a diverse worldview, though he hopes one day to visit Scotland and tour distilleries, fulfilling his love for Scotch.
Though originally from southwestern Pennsylvania, Kim had lived in the Carolinas already for nearly 20 years before joining Laudisi in the fall of 2022. As one of Cornell & Diehl's Blending Associates, she's directly involved in creating all of C&D's premium pipe tobaccos — from sorting raw leaf to operating the factory's vintage equipment. Kim's kind demeanor, fun-loving attitude, and hard-working spirit bring a sense of levity to the office, and in her spare time, she's an avid supporter of meditation and spending as much time outside as possible. She also enjoys listening to all types of Rock music from the '70s and '80s and supporting the Pittsburgh Steelers, and she hopes to eventually visit every National Park in the country — a true outdoors-lover's goal.
Born and raised in Rochester, NY, Daniel relocated to Longs recently, and we're pleased to have him join us on C&D's production team. Whether it's transporting, drying, mixing, or tinning, Daniel is on the front lines of making sure your favorite blends get made and are up to standards every single time. When not working, you'll find him hiking and camping with his German Shepherd, or enjoying some Star Trek marathons at home. An avid traveler, his favorite place to visit is the Arcadian National Park in Maine.
Richard was born in Germany but spent most of his life living in Ohio and cheering for the Buckeyes before finding his way to Myrtle Beach. Describing himself as kind, hard-working, and adventurous, he brought his work ethic to Laudisi in early 2021, now working as a Production Associate for Cornell & Diehl. He enjoys doing home improvement projects, fishing, spending time with family, and hanging out with his Cattle Dog named Bolt. When he’s not busy at work tinning tobacco and readying your favorite C&D blends, Richard is always on the prowl for some good standup comedy.
Joining Cornell & Diehl late 2022, Brandon — or "Luigi" as he's been called — hails originally from Connecticut and works as one of C&D's Production Associates, working to craft and blend your favorite C&D pipe tobaccos. He's a team player who's still comfortable working individually, and his patient, goal-oriented spirit and passion for learning have made him a quick fit at C&D. In his free time, Brandon enjoys gaming on his self-built computer, as well as listening to audio books and writing, and he's also second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon-do, both certified as an instructor and traveling internationally to compete in tournaments.
Ivy is a North Myrtle Beach native and has lived in the area all her life. As one of our Packaging Associates, she works with the rest of the team to make the magic happen — tinning, labeling, and readying your favorite blends. When she's not at work Ivy enjoys traveling and simply spending quality time with her family. She has a warm heart, a congenial demeanor, and she is constantly smiling.
Marijo is a Myrtle Beach native and our resident science buff, having attended Socastee High, as well as the Academy for Art, Science, and Technology where she specialized in environmental sciences. When she's not at work she's continuing her studies in pursuit of a degree in psychology at Coastal Carolina University. A lover of all things outdoorsy (she doesn't like to stay still), Marijo's active personality translates well as a Packaging Associate for Cornell & Diehl as she's constantly on the move ensuring that tobacco is tinned, labeled, and ready for your cellar.
Though originally from New Hampshire, Kelley's lived in the area for about 22 years now and has really adapted to the laid-back, country atmosphere, affording her more room for her family (and family of animals) — she currently has eight cats, five dogs, four horses, twelve goats, a miniature donkey, and a miniature horse. She joined Laudisi as one of our Shipping Associates and now serves Cornell & Diehl as a Packaging Associate. Kelley is an integral part of our team; tinning, labeling, and readying your favorite blends.
Originally hailing from New Jersey, Anita has lived in the area for over 15 years, but she continues to bring new energy and positivity to Cornell & Diehl through her quirky sense of humor and upbeat personality. A true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, she loves football and regularly reminds us, especially on game nights, that she's got "steel in her blood." When Nita's not busy tinning tobacco and carefully packaging up orders, she enjoys binge watching horror movies (the gorier the better, she says), reupholstering furniture, and kicking back with her dog Emma and cat Tupac.
As one of our talented Packaging Associates, Dennis lends a hand in readying tobacco so that it's perfect for cellaring or enjoying straight out of the tin, aiding the team tinning and labeling your favorite mixtures. When he's not hard at work, Dennis enjoys spending time on the golf course and listening to classic tunes from the '60s and '70s.
Cynthia is originally from Virginia, but she's lived here in Longs for over 25 years and joined our team in early 2022, now working as a Packing Associate for Cornell & Diehl. Fun, helpful, and caring, she always looks for the best in people, making her a natural fit within the office. When not at work, Cynthia enjoys spending time with her children and grandkids, devoting her creativity to making jewelry and cooking, reading spiritual and motivational books, and watching action-packed movies. She also serves the local youth as a volunteer, and in the fall, you'll likely find her at high school football games, cheering on her guys.
Originally from Ohio, Steve moved to South Carolina seven years before joining Cornell & Diehl in the summer of 2022. As a Packaging Associate, he assists in tinning and labeling C&D tobaccos, ensuring that your favorite blends are primed and ready for cellaring or straight-away smoking. In his free time, Steve enjoys playing disc golf with his daughter, working with acrylic paints, and cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes, as well as listening to classic rock and reading J.R.R. Tolkien classics.
Originally from North Carolina, Debora joined Cornell & Diehl as a Packaging Associate in the summer of 2022, helping to make sure all of C&D's mixtures are properly blended, assembled, and ready for humidors around the world. An avid lover of the outdoors, Deb enjoys spending time at the beach hunting for shark teeth, and she's always up to try new things, with interests ranging from animals to jewelry, art to cosmology.
Originally from New York, Mark joined our Shipping Department in 2022 and now serves as a Packaging Associate at Cornell & Diehl, helping to sort, weigh, and package all of your favorite blends. He's self-admittedly a little rough around the edges, but once you get to know him, his kindheartedness and care for others is readily apparent. When not at work, Mark's likely to be spending time with his grandkids, and he's also a massive fan of Metal music and football, supporting the New York Jets and Clemson Tigers.
WARNING: This product can expose you to tobacco smoke, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, and nicotine, which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.p65warnings.ca.gov.