Resume
Work Experience – Tea
In Pursuit of Tea. New York, NY. February 2004 – September 2009
Tea Service Consultant
Lead representative and account trainer for New York City restaurant and retail accounts. Tasks: Initial tasting meeting, account set-up, staff training and relationship cultivation. Compose monthly newsletter, website copy, video and audio training scripts; consult on tea service. Accomplishments: Guest “tea sommelier” on WNYC’s Leonard Lopate Show (June 9th 2006), interviewed for tea articles published in The Economist, Food & Wine and Women’s Health, guest speaker at MTV Networks, NYC Tea & Coffee Festival and The China Institute.
Ippodo Tea Company. Kyoto, Japan. April 14 to May 14, 2009
Consultant
Invited to work for a month at Ippodo Tea Co, a Kyoto based tea company founded in 1846. Tasks: Consulted on marketing materials for the international market. Taught ‘how to sell and explain tea’ English classes to sales staff. Accomplishment: Received extensive knowledge on cultivation and preparation of matcha, gyokuro, sencha and bancha tea.
Matcha Source. New York, NY. November 2006 – January 2008
Co-Founder
Co-founded Matcha Source, a web-based company selling Japanese matcha green tea. Tasks: Composed text for website, marketing materials, newsletters; designed look/feel of website. Sourced tea and accessories from Japan. Managed inventory and order fulfillment both online and offline. Accomplishments: Established sourcing relationships in Japan. Company made profit and national press listings in the first year of business.
Asian Food & Lifestyle Magazine. New York, NY. January 2005 – December 2006
Writer
Wrote a bi-monthly column called “Tea Talk.”
Red Door Project. New York, NY. June 2004-November 2005
Co-Founder
Red Door Project hosted experimental tea parties in New York City. Secured event sponsorship and press coverage. Composed tea list and informational materials.
Work Experience – Arts and Culture
Oregon Cultural Trust. Salem, OR. January 2000 to September 2002
Program Coordinator
Coordinated the founding of a new state agency to fund arts, humanities and heritage projects in the state of Oregon. Oversaw the development of a website, database, logo, grant application process, the 2002 Oregon Cultural Summit, 11 Regional Summits and design contest for Oregon’s first “arts and culture” license plate.
Sundance Film Festival. Salt Lake City, UT. October 1998 to February 1999
Assistant Registration Manager
Oversaw distribution of ticket packages to film industry, press, VIP, and general public for 1999 Festival. Coordinated projects with Press, Development, Filmmaker Services and Special Events
National Endowment for the Arts. Washington, DC. February 1997 to September 1998
Division Assistant: Dance & Media Arts
Designed and maintained database for the National Media Arts Film Archive. Assisted directors and specialists with the grant application review process
Willamette University, Salem, OR. Bachelor of Arts, May 1996
Additional Education: USHG Wine Certificate, 2008; Photography at Oregon State University and The International Center for Photography; Japanese Language at the Japan Society
Language Skills: English, German, Conversational Spanish
Computer Skills: MS Word, Excel and Adobe: PhotoShop