Meet Our Team
Get to know the Chocolate Witches!
Michelle Novosel
Co-Owner, Executive Chocolatier, & General Manager
​
Michelle's childhood dream was to be a candy maker, thanks to Willy Wonka! She's been a part of the Huntsville arts scene for many years and brings her love of art and food into every creation. Michelle worked in the culinary world for many years as a server, cook, baker, & manager before graduation from culinary school in 2009. She received her Professional Chocolatier Certificate, with Honors, from Ecole Chocolat in 2012 and is now an instructor for the Ecole Chocolat Masterclass - Color on Chocolate. She also attended the Melissa Coppel Intensive Chocolatier Workshop in 2019 and is always engaged with various online continuing education programs. Our chocolates, confections, and desserts are the results of her culinary passion, expertise, and attention to detail.
Michelle loves hanging out with her son and their animals, thrifting, gardening, live music, spending time with friends and family, organizing, Scrabble, and going to the gym.
Her favorite thing to eat at Pizzelle’s is the Pizzelle chiffon cake, the Green Dragon bonbon, and the coffee cacao nib ice cream. Make that her favorite 3 things!
Emily Hawkins
Executive Pastry Chef
​
Emily was born & raised in Huntsville, and she & Michelle first met when they were 16 & worked at a local restaurant together. Emily went on to get her BA in Psychology & her Master's in English from UAH. She taught English before she found her love of pastry by working as a pastry cook for her sister-in-law. She moved to Napa Valley, CA & received her Baking & Pastry Certificate from the Culinary Institute of America.
Emily enjoys painting, history, politics, & activism. Her perfect day off is hiking with her daughter & their dog. Her favorite things to eat at Pizzelle’s are the truffles – all of them.
Jennifer Sherman
Sales & Communications​
​
Jennifer is a Huntsville native. She worked at Nichols Research as an administrative assistant while pursuing her degree in Computer Information Systems. After earning her degree, she began her job as a programmer with Nichols, eventually launching her own consulting business. While raising her 2 sons, she worked as a preschool teacher, which she found incredibly satisfying. Eventually the entrepreneurial bug bit her again and she took ownership of Dinner By Design in Jones Valley. During that time, she taught many cooking classes and also rented her kitchen out to other small businesses as a commissary. In 2015 she closed the doors and launched Dished, a ready-to-cook meal delivery service. She created a thriving business, serving families all over Madison County. She closed Dished in 2021 to care for her mother. She helped the Standard Social Market as they launched their grab and go products. She came to Pizzelle’s Confections in April of 2022.
She served as a culinary business coach and Facilitator/Coach for two sessions of the Kauffman FastTrac entrepreneurial program at The Catalyst Business Center. She also was a member of the Women’s Economic Development Council (WEDC) for several years.
She loves to see her youngest son play trombone in the Million Dollar Band and hear her oldest son perform in his many ensembles as a tuba player and teacher in Atlanta. She also enjoys hiking and snuggling with her cat, Grace.
Her favorite things at Pizzelle’s are the hand-crafted sodas and coffee syrups (especially the chai)!
Caitlin Lyon
Co-Owner, Admin Assistant
Caitlin never dreamed of owning a chocolate shop & dessert cafe, but she does a damn good job of it. She worked in the culinary world for several years as a Garde Manger, barista, & cafe manager.
She has a BA in Sociology from UAH in 1993 & worked as a social worker for more than 10 years. She received a Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication at UAH in 2004 & was working as a technical writer when she & Michelle opened Pizzelle's in March 2013. Caitlin received her Professional Chocolatier Certificate, with Honors, from Ecole Chocolat in 2015. She's a Leadership Greater Huntsville alumni of Management Academy Class 9, & she's a graduate of the Fall 2021 Cohort of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Caitlin makes sure that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
Caitlin’s hobbies include sleeping late, video games, & horror movies. Her favorite things to eat at Pizzelle’s are the El Machete chocolate, the pizzelle cookie, & our mocha latte.
Yousette Nunez
Chocolate Decorator & Pastry Cook
​​
Yousette is a sweet, glittery ray of sunshine! She is positive, dedicated, hardworking, talented, & ready to master any skill put before her. Her smile & daily hugs make our day! She's responsible for making our chocolates shiny & beautiful, and she's also amazing at coming up with new decorating techniques and color palettes.
​