“I am a Bay Area native and have worked in the food industry for the past decade. As a research-oriented foodie with deep interest in holistics, I enjoy serving communities most with their health and need for basic human connection in mind. I understand sharing food, from sourcing to prep and presentation, to be one of the most essential forms of connecting.

I have had the pleasure of training others in the industry as well, nixing the exclusivity and pretension that often comes with the third wave coffee lifestyle. As café manager with Boot and Shoe Service, my first onboarding came from ROC The Bay and while general task management and customer services skills were on point, establishing standard drink profiles took the most practice. Experiencing their dedicated work ethic and eagerness to learn, despite confessing they had little interest in coffee prior, was like looking into a mirror and has provided inspiration for my personal ambitions of developing a business based on social equity and conscientious labor exchange.

And finally as a Black transman from Oakland, I’ve worked all over the Bay from hole in the wall cafes in the city, Google campuses and co-working spaces, and farm to table restaurants in the town, serving a mix of everyone- creatives, techies, students, families and neighbors of all spectrums and intersections. I have learned how to show up for myself while retaining professionalism and compassion and my main goal in the industry is to inspire others to do the same.”