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Created in June 2007, the World Tea Expo Advisory Board was formed to provide objective feedback on the direction of WTE; to maintain and fuel cooperative relationships between the WTE and its customers: exhibitors and attendees; to represent and assist customers in their dealings with the WTE; to participate in the assessment of vendors to best serve the needs of exhibitors and attendees; to provide ideas and recommendations for changes and improvements to the overall Expo including the educational conference, special events, dates and locations.
Members:
Charles Cain, TeaGschwender USA
John Chaffey, Metropolitan Tea Company
Mim Enck, The East Indies Company
Skip Finley, Cirqua Water
Mary Greengo, Queen Mary Tea
Benjamin Harrison, Rishi Tea
Sascha Karimpour, Dethlefsen & Balk
Brian Keating, Allegro Coffee Company
Al Magistrelli, Kehe Foods
Chris Plumstead, Gourmet News
Scott Svihula, China Mist Brands
To Request a Member's Contact information, please click here:
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Charles Cain, Director of US Operations, TeaGschwendner
Charles has made a career of starting and building businesses in hot new markets. In joining TeaGschwendner, Charles saw the opportunity to bring the strength and experience of one of the world’s leading Specialty Tea Retailers to the United States. TeaGschwendner has more than 135 retail shops in 8 countries on four continents and provides tea to wholesale partners around the world. Charles opened and managed TeaGschwendner’s first US retail store in Chicago and is now heading the expansion of the brand across the US through key retail outlets and wholesale partners. |
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Mim Enck, President, The East Indies Company
Co-owner-blender, The East Indies Company, Mim Enck began her career in 1986. Having a strong culinary background, tea blending was the perfect "next step". Tea blending is really learning to taste, and as in the culinary world, tea blending is about learning what works, innovative ideas and the courage to follow the creative within. Ms. Enck has been past Vice-President of the American Premium Tea Institute and presently a member of the Specialty Tea Institute Advisory Board. Ms. Enck is passionate about this amazing beverage because it is a "connector to many people and their cultures" and is a healing and healthy element in today's world.
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Brian Keating, Tea Buyer / Blend Master, Allegro Coffee Co. (A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Whole Foods Market) Brian Keating has spent more than 25 years working within the U.S. specialty tea industry; most recently assisting Allegro Coffee with their expansion into specialty tea. His tea business experience spans tea retailing, branded consumer products, wholesaling, and product development. He is also the publisher of the Specialty Tea Is “Hot” Report™ (www.teareport.com).
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Sascha Karimpour, Dethlefsen & Balk
Sascha grew up in Northern Germany where specialty tea has a long tradition and which is one of the highest per capita tea consumptions in the European Union. Sascha studied Business Administration in California 1990-94 upon which he returned to Germany to co-manage a specialty goods importer & exporter. In 1996 he underwent his military duty for 1 year after which he decided to go back to university for graduate classes in Nuremberg, Germany. Sascha returned to the US in 1998 working for an international logistical provider in New York. Sascha was responsible for the operations of mainly Far Eastern countries. In 2005 Sascha joined Dethlefsen and Balk helping to open their US daughter company in Aurora, IL. Since then Dethlefsen & Balk Inc. has grown to become one of the top suppliers to the specialty tea industry in North America.
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Scott Stephen Svihula, Regional Sales Director & Teasmith, China Mist Brands®
Scott Svihula has established himself globally as an expert in the Tea Industry, offering 12 years of progressive experience in the field. He travels extensively, presenting educational programs to small and large organizations nationwide.
Since 2006, Scott has been a key contributor to China Mist Brands®, serving as the Regional Sales Director and Teasmith. Scott and his wife Rhonda founded Tea Daddy LLC® in 2006, selling directly to customers through private, in-home parties. In 1996, he launched his career in the Tea and Coffee Industry at FETCO®, working diligently for ten years.
An innovator, Scott drives Tea Industry trends as a respected leader in professional associations and as a published author of numerous articles. He sits on the Specialty Tea Institute (STI) Advisory Board. He helped write, implement, and currently teaches the STI Tea Certification Program. He is also a member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and sits on the Business Advisory Board for the World Tea Expo (WTE).
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