Mark Tarner was born in Warsaw, Indiana, but moved to South Bend when he was little. When he was younger, he had a paper route. He attended Clay High School and then went on to earn a master’s at Eastern Illinois University, which is where he also played basketball.
Julie Tarner, his wife, has been by his side all the while. She went to high school in Mishawaka at Marian Catholic High School and then began her undergraduate studies at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) to become an occupational therapist. She worked in that role locally and in Indianapolis. Back when her husband had his ideas for his company, she pivoted to work with him.
Mark Tarner’s father ran a grocery store in Leesburg and later his own candy company, introducing the trade to his son that way. Since 1993, Mark Tarner has had a company of his own called the South Bend Chocolate Company, and he’s been its owner since its start. South Bend Public House – home to natural foods, original buns, and the upside-down burger, is another of his ventures – as well as South Bend Farms.
Mark Tarner has taken over much of the food scene in the Michiana region, but he’s opened up room for his hobbies to take a bite of the area, too, through his establishment of the Indiana Dinosaur Museum. For the past 20 years, he’s spent some time discovering fossils in states such as Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota, bringing them back and putting them on display for his fellow Hoosiers to enjoy.
With humble beginnings, it’s self-evident that Mark Tarner’s enterprises continue to find prosperity, thriving and building up the community around him. He’s started small everywhere he’s been, but that hasn’t meant he’s not ultimately ended up growing in exponential ways.
“I started my company with three licensed University of Notre Dame products. 32 years later, we make over 500 different products in our factories — one located on U.S. 31 and another on U.S. 20. Our chocolates are sold all over the country, and we have 18 stores,” he said. “I enjoy waiting on people and making a product that makes people happy. It’s a simple pleasure.”
Over 300 employees help Mark Tarner ensure his goals for his endeavors are realized. He has never had trouble realizing his purpose or his drive to continue doing business in this part of the nation.
“I’ve always been buying and selling. It’s been my destiny, and I’d say I didn’t really have a choice in the matter,” he said. “I’ve always been very proud of where I’m from here in the Midwest. I want to be an innovator and really have a huge impact.”
Mark Tarner credits his family with his strong work ethic. He’s had a number of motivators and mentors in his life, all of whom have assisted him in getting to these places he once only imagined. He’s aware that, without them, he wouldn’t have ever been able to reach the heights to which he’s climbed. His love for working hard is due to his predecessors because they pursued their own careers while doing just that before he could.
“My father was certainly a strong teacher, and he taught me how to be an entrepreneur. I was fortunate to be raised around amazing leaders,” he said. “I’ve had some highlights, and we’ve gone on to win almost every major award in the state. Doing all this for those who came before me, my family, my employees, and my customers has been enough.”
The Tarners have been collaborating through it all. Julie Tarner was there around the time of her husband’s decision to split off from his father to form his own business, and she saw the first foundations of what began as an all-hands-on-deck effort to eventually become an entire museum open to the public. She, therefore, has seen the overall effect of those bearing the same last name she has had all around.
“We think there’s already been a huge positive impact because of the company. Mark has a good vision to get ahead of the curve,” she said. “What we’ve offered, I think, is great for the people who live nearby, and it’s all poised to explode and grow even more.”
Now Julie Tarner helps out with shows the companies put on. Around Christmastime every year she’ll do so down in Indy, though most don’t require her to travel too far from home base. She looks forward to seeing and visiting with people willing to buy the chocolate she’s so familiar with. The fact that she gets to exhibit what a certain slice of the Midwest has to offer to other Midwesterners is something she thoroughly appreciates.
“I really like being from the Midwest. I think we’re all fairly grounded, and I think most people from here whom I know are fairly humble and hard-working,” she said. “Those are the values so many of us share.”
Mark Tarner is a self-described family man. He relishes spending time with his loved ones. His children are spread about, as his oldest daughter resides in California and his other two go to school at Ball State and IUB. His son works with him just as he did beside his own father. Whenever they’re all together, they play games, complete puzzles, and discuss politics. His wife looks after their grandson every day.
Both Tarners are lovers of the area in which they live. It’s easy for them to understand what kind of a privilege it is to be where they are.
“It’s home. I love the four seasons, I love being so close to the lake, and I love how we have great agriculture,” he said. “I don’t think I would ever live any other place in the world. It’s been an honor to be part of things here.”