I’ve been a working tea professional for 20 years and my career is centered in tea training and education, which is unique for my field.

Here’s a little peek at where I’ve been in that time…


Current work + projects

BEING TEA, Founder (2015 – Current)
Online tea education classes + membership community; Teacher Training program; Private training engagements

View my Press + Published Works, featuring Being Tea in articles, interviews, and podcasts

WINNER: Best Tea Educator, World Tea Awards (2018)

Recent clients and engagements include:

CHICAGO (my home city)
I Grow Chicago
UIC (Critical Care initiative)
Deloitte
Tejas Yoga
Inner Sense Healing Arts
Room to Breathe

US NATIONAL
Meta / Facebook
Harvard Divinity School
Duke University
Florida State University
Salesforce
SharkNinja

Frequent workshop presenter and speaker at:

World Tea Expo 

Northwest Tea Festival (Seattle, WA)

PDX Tea Fest (Portland, OR)

Midwest Tea Festival (Kansas City, MO)

NY Coffee & Tea Festival (Brooklyn, NYC)

Chicago International Tea Festival (Chicago, IL)


    Previous work experience + projects

    Tea companies I’ve worked for:

    Paper & Tea | Director Tea Procurement & Training
    Feb 2015 – Dec 2016

    Rishi Tea | Director of Education & Brand Strategist
    Jan 2012 – Dec 2014

    Adagio Teas | Training & Education Director
    Aug 2010 – Jan 2012

    Peet’s Coffee & Tea | Field Trainer; Barista Trainer
    Oct 2003 – Aug 2010

    Tea industry organizations I’ve been a part of:

    Tea Masters Cup International | Certified National Judge, USA (2019 cycle)

    American Specialty Tea Alliance | Deputy Executive Director, Co-Founder (2018 – 2020)

    Tea Journey Magazine | Education Director, Founding staff member, Contributor (June 2016)

    World Tea Academy | Curriculum contributor, Advisory Board member, guest instructor (2013 – 2018)

    Specialty Tea Institute | Instructor, Board of Directors (2006 – 2013)

    Global Tea Championship | Judge, senior advisor (2008 – 2018)

    Invited speaker and guest for conferences in:

    Hanoi, Vietnam (2019)

    Shenzhen, China (2019)

    Krakow, Poland (2016)

    Seoul, Korea (2013)

    View my complete profile on LinkedIn


    Non-tea work experience and studies

    Certified Trauma-Informed Yoga + Meditation Teacher | 200-hr+ YTT
    Training through Room to Breathe Psychotherapy and Yoga (2018 -2019)

    Journalism and Television Production
    Broadcast News Producer and Assoc. Producer (Jul 1999 – Oct 2003)
    KVVU (Las Vegas, NV) and KOIN (Portland, OR)


    You can work with me, too!
    Recognize your business on this list?

    Small tea business owners

    Corporate and employee wellness

    Community organizations

    Healthcare / integrative medicine

    Coffee roasters and baristas

    Tea wholesale / importers

    University events and clubs

    Hospitality and culinary

    Product development and technology

    You could benefit from working with Being Tea!

    Get in touch with me below and let’s chat.