我們的茶藝師
茶藝師等級5
Gerry Vandergrift
Gerry got his start in tea by answering a job ad that read, “Do you have an MBA and a thirst for adventure?” After striking out on his own, this thirst has grown Metropolitan into one of the world’s premier wholesalers of luxury teas and accessories.
茶藝師等級5
John Hales
John started in tea at age 19 in London, England. He worked at one of the UK’s most respected trading houses, broadened his experience in Germany, and served as CEO of a buying, blending and exporting company in Kenya. John has been with Metro since 2005.
茶藝師等級4
John Chaffey
Sales Manager and Tea Master, John began his tea career in 1985, joining Metropolitan in 1992. Empathetic to the needs of our many customers, he frequently travels the world to develop and expand the market for luxury grade teas.
茶藝師等級4
Candace Santangelo
Metropolitan Tea’s first official employee, Candace has been with our company since 1991. Her travels to visit with suppliers, countless tea tastings in our Tea Lab, and her involvement with the production/blending processes, combined with numerous TEA TALKS with clients give her a unique perspective on all facets of the business of tea.
茶藝師等級3
Kathryn Duncan
A key member of our team since 1992, Kathryn’s voyages have infused her with a deep knowledge of the tea trade. Blending-expert, Master Taster and tea aficionado, Kathryn is a trusted customer resource with a wide-ranging global outlook.
茶藝師等級2 及 調味師
Hannah Vandergrift
Growing up in the tea industry gives Hannah a global perspective on the international nature of our business. After completing a degree in education, she joined the company full-time in 2014. Her creative input on customer needs has proven invaluable time and time again.
茶藝師等級2
Ruby Sondhi
Joining the team in 2008, Ruby started in Order Entry/Outbound Logistics. During this time, she developed a true appreciation for our global environment and ultra-high antioxidant teas. Now a member of our of sales department, Ruby loves speaking with customers to better understand their business as well as offering ideas to help their business grow.
茶藝師等級2
Chris Clark
Our customers have a lot of questions — Chris has a lot of answers. His first-hand experience visiting our suppliers and growers, coupled with a background in marketing, give him a unique insight into the marketing of tea.
茶藝師等級1
Claudia Sanchez
Joining the company in 2007, Claudia worked in the production facilities and the tea lab before moving over to the sales department. Fluent in both English and Spanish – Claudia can answer all your tea related questions.
茶藝師等級1
Noah van der Laan
Noah was trained in all things tea during his tenure at one of the industry’s foremost trading companies, where he learned the ropes from long-established tea professionals and developed relationships with producers, clients and colleagues from around the globe. These days, you can find Noah in the lab crafting innovative new blends for private label customers, or on a plane in search of premium luxury ingredients.
茶藝顧問
Chakib Izem Mohamed
The newest member of our tea master team, Chakib has a background in business administration and restaurant hospitality. Fluent in English, French and Arabic, he is ready to offer tailored customer service. He’s also a big maple lover, making his favorite tea the Flavored Black Maple. Chakib always accompanies his tea with a splash of milk and a little maple flake for more flavor.