Meet the Team Who Brings You Fine Teatulia Organic Teas
DR. KAZI ANIS AHMED
Co-Founder and President
Dr. Kazi Anis Ahmed is the Director of the Kazi and Kazi Tea Estate, Ltd.
(KKTE - the single source for Teatulia Tea) as well as the Director and CEO of Organics and Education for Gemcon Group in Dhaka, Bangladesh. At KKTE, Dr. Ahmed has helped establish the guiding organic values and policies that allowed KKTE to emerge as the first successful organic tea estate in Bangladesh. He personally oversaw the international SGS Organic and USDA Organic certification processes. After launching Kazi & Kazi Tea as the first organic brand in the local market, he led plans for Teatulia to become the first branded Bangladeshi tea for international export. Dr. Ahmed is leading the founding of an innovative co-operative affiliate with over 1,000 members. Dr. Ahmed received his BA, MA and Ph.D. in literature from Brown, Washington and New York Universities, respectively.
LINDA APPEL LIPSIUS
Co-Founder and CEO
Linda Appel Lipsius has managed the launch of Teatulia in the United States since 2009. Previously, Mrs. Lipsius was a Vice President with Orange Glo International (OGI) where she launched OxiClean, Kaboom, Orange Glo and Orange Clean in the US, Europe and Asia. Prior to Orange Glo, she directed marketing campaigns for Roche Laboratories' leading brands at Young & Rubicam. Linda earned her BA from Columbia University and MBA in finance from New York University. She is also a two time featured speaker at the World Tea Expo on the topic of sustainable tea gardens.
CHRIS OLSEN
Director of Marketing
Chris Olsen manages the formal marketing duties for Teatulia. He comes from an advertising rich background spending a combined 8 years at The Integer Group and Crispin Porter + Bogusky, working on brands such as Minute Maid, Miller-Coors and Coca-Cola. Prior to joining Teatulia, he was a Vice-President at Pure Leaf Naturals where he directed marketing campaigns for Aviva Yerba Mate and the Sweet Earth brand of stevia. Along with his advertising and marketing experience, Chris earned his BA from Colorado State University and his MS in Marketing from the University of Colorado at Denver.
DON PECK
National Retail Manager
Don Peck travels throughout the United States spreading the word about Teatuila through in-store demos, tea trainings, trade and consumer shows. He comes from an educational background: starting out his teaching career in Montessori education, he helped found Kyo-Yeon Academy in Korea and was a classroom teacher and Technology Coordinator for the Bayshore school district in Daly City for many years. He has worked extensively with young people doing digital storytelling and has received numerous awards and acknowledgments for his works in the inner city schools. Don earned his teaching credential and then a Masters in Education from San Francisco State University.
CASSI SHOENEMAN
Director of Sales
Cassi Shoeneman directs the sales activities and programs at Teatulia. Her journey in the specialty coffee and tea industry began 10 years ago with Starbucks Coffee Company in both their retail and foodservice divisions and she was most recently a coordinator for Whole Foods Market where she was responsible for the coffee & tea category in the Rocky Mountain region. In addition to her extensive background in training and sales, Cassi graduated with a BA from Colorado Christian University and is currently completing her MBA program.
ILANA SHUSTERMAN
Marketing Associate
Ilana Shusterman is Teatulia's resident tea geek. Coming from a Russian background, she grew up drinking tea with her family at least twice a day. That led her on a path of finding out as much as possible about the curious beverage, and especially about the different ways it's consumed around the world. "It is the center of many social gatherings and the reason people get together - making it more than just a healthy, feel-good beverage, but an actual whole-body experience." Ilana started at Teatulia as an intern, and has since become the Marketing Associate, helping out with all marketing functions. She also manages the warehouse and works behind the scenes on Teatulia's participation in events and trade shows.
BRITTANY BALZEN
Sales & Marketing Associate
While working several jobs to pay her way through college, Brittany Balzen came to Teatulia Tea as a Marketing Intern and after graduation, she joined the team working full time. She helps to spread the word about Teatulia by managing all social media aspects and product giveaways as well as coordinating demos for the Rocky Mountain region. Brittany Balzen graduated cum laude with a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver.
KAZI INAM AHMED
Ambassador
Kazi Inam Ahmed is a Director of the Kazi and Kazi Tea Estate, Ltd. (KKTE) in Bangladesh. Inam has worked closely with local farmers to establish the vision of a sustainable organic tea garden. He has been involved in many development projects for the farmers and workers, such as adult education and health initiatives. Inam was integral in the launching of the Kazi & Kazi Tea brand as the first organic tea in Bangladesh. In 2004, he introduced Kazi & Kazi Tea as the first Bangladeshi organic tea brand in Harrods, London. Now he is working to make Teatulia the first branded Bangladeshi tea for international export. Inam received his BA from Wesleyan University.
