Title: Director of Pie Operations and Owner
Company: JudyPie
Location: Hurst, Texas, United States
Judy Bernstein-Balunda, Director of Pie Operations and Owner at JudyPie, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in food production.
A dedicated entrepreneur and advocate for mental health awareness with four decades of experience to her credit, Ms. Bernstein-Balunda has excelled as the director of pie operations and owner of JudyPie in Texas since 2016. In this position, her responsibilities involve overseeing baking operations and managing deliveries through a courier service. Her passion for pies was ignited after retiring from a 28-year teaching career, during which time she discovered her love for baking while crafting pies for her son and friends. Encouraged by positive feedback and her ex-husband’s suggestion, Ms. Bernstein-Balunda embarked on this new venture to honor her mother’s legacy of making pecan pies every Sunday.
In addition to her primary position at JudyPie, Ms. Bernstein-Balunda has been active as a behavior specialist with Judy Balunda Educational Consultants since 2000. Her expertise in psychology and education, supported by a Bachelor of Science from The University of Texas at Austin in 1975, has been pivotal in her consulting work. Ms. Bernstein-Balunda has also found success as the owner of Invitation House, a business she established in 1982 that showcases her entrepreneurial spirit and versatility.
Ms. Bernstein-Balunda’s commitment to excellence is reflected in her membership with the American Pie Council and her past involvement with DFW Wedding Professionals from 2008 to 2010. Her dedication to the pie industry was recognized when JudyPie was ranked Number Give among the Top Ten Best Pie Shops in the United States by USA Today in 2024. Additionally, Ms. Bernstein-Balunda received accolades such as the Great Taste of Grapevine Award, further cementing her reputation in the culinary world.
Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Bernstein-Balunda is deeply involved in civic activities. She has been a member of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce since 2014 and continues to support national wildlife preservation efforts. As a peer support specialist with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), she leverages her personal experiences with mental health challenges to advocate for awareness and support. Ms. Bernstein-Balunda’s initiatives include encouraging patrons at her pie shop to write letters to those struggling with mental health issues and partnering with a community health center in Fort Worth, Texas.
Born in Waco, Ms. Bernstein-Balunda is a proud mother of one son and one daughter. Her personal life is enriched by her extraordinary dedication to family and community. She aspires to maintain the success of her pie shop while continuing to work on a full-time basis, believing that staying engaged helps keep her young at heart. Her ultimate wish is for her children to find happiness and success in their endeavors while she also seeks fulfillment and joy in her avocations.
Ms. Bernstein-Balunda attributes much of her success to her caring nature and compassion toward the less fortunate, as well as valuing her team of dedicated bakers who have been with her for five years, which is considered a rarity in her industry. This supportive environment has been crucial to the thriving nature of JudyPie, reflecting Ms. Bernstein-Balunda’s belief that taking care of others leads to mutual success and satisfaction.
For more information, please visit:
Press Release
JudyPie
Contact Ms. Bernstein-Balunda:
