About

I take what I do seriously, but not myself so I always try to maintain a healthy does of humor and levity (see photo). I have been working in F&B for nearly three decades and almost 25 years of that in venues, dive bars, high volume, and craft cocktail bars around the country. I’ve been everything from a dishwasher to a general manager and most recently a brand ambassador and I am always trying to learn in every role.

I spend much of my time trying to educate myself within and about the industry, but not just for the sake of it. My biggest passion is having that knowledge so that I can share it with others. Knowledge and education are empowering. I try to use mine as well as my privilege to be inclusive of everyone regardless of ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, financial insecurity, or any other marginalized community.

I am most importantly about people, on both sides of the bar. At a Japanese tea ceremony I learned the expression ichi-go ichi-e, which translates to “one time, one meeting”. It is meant to remind us to treasure any gathering and to be fully present in that moment. I take this to heart whether I’m the facilitator of it at work or a participant with friends old, new, or soon-to-be. To perform a simple action or tell a story or crack a joke or make a cocktail or anything that improves the day of who you are with is a very special privilege that I absolutely treasure.