Napa-based tasting salon host at Williams Selyem, John Andrews brings a guest-first, hospitality-driven approach to every appointment, focusing on expressive, site-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Sonoma County. He holds the WSET Diploma in Wines and leverages years of experience in wine retail and tasting rooms to connect classic regions, grape varieties, and winemaking techniques to what’s in the glass. John is especially interested in how site, farming, and cellar decisions shape texture and balance, and he enjoys translating that detail into clear, engaging stories for wine lovers at any level. His goal is to make each visit both relaxed and highly informative, giving guests practical language, context, and confidence they can carry into their own cellars, restaurant lists, and future trips to wine country.
Tiffany Bobbs started in hospitality in 1999 and worked her way up from host at Char to current position as General Manager, Wine Director, and Sommelier at The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen. She is currently studying for WSET Level 3, CSS with SWE, and Oregon Wine Expert.
Tina Dannel has a BA in Business Management. She is a Senior Certified Wedding Planner and owner of Serendipity Events by Tina. Her passion for innovation led Tina to establish The Metro DFW, a pioneering drive-thru wedding venture. She is a trusted and highly respected professional in the industry.
Jen’s passion for food and wine was ignited while living in Germany, and she began studying in earnest upon moving to the DC area, receiving her Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and her WSET Level 3 Certification in Wine, and is currently a WSET Diploma candidate. Deeply inspired by viticulture and those in the field, particularly the TEXSOM Sommer Camp, she pivoted from a career in theatre to join the Vineyards at Dodon team full-time in 2026.
Lifestylist® Suzanne Felber has built the Lifestylist Brands around three core areas that she is passionate about: great wines, great food, and above all, great design. For over 30 years she has been defining what the trademarked term Lifestylist® is all about.
Michelle Gruben is a wine enthusiast and writer from Dallas, Texas. She writes about travel, tasting, and Texas wine on her blog, The Wine Fairy. Her introduction to TEXSOM was in 2025, as a Sommer Camp volunteer.
Michelle attended the University of Texas at Dallas as a National Merit Scholar, where she graduated in 2006 with highest honors. Afterward, she enrolled in culinary school at El Centro College. A passion for food and beverage led her to a decade-long career as a chef. She holds the WSET Level 3 Award Wines (with Distinction) and is a certified Texas Wine Ambassador.
Most recently, Michelle was selected as a Fellow of the 2026 Wine Writers’ Symposium in Napa Valley. Michelle’s curiosity and love for wine extends to every style and region. Her work can be found at www.the-wine-fairy.com and on Instagram (@winefairymichelle).
Juliette Gust is the founder and president of Ethics Suite, a company that helps businesses identify, investigate and resolve alleged wrongdoing at their organization by providing a comprehensive solution for internal whistleblower reporting and tracking of workplace misconduct, fraud, or theft. Ethics Suite also provides expert support for internal investigations and ethics and compliance-related consulting services, and is the creator behind HotelEthics. com and RestaurantEthics.com.
Ms. Gust has personally conducted or led close to 2,000 investigations spanning 75 countries and has advised on more than 10,000 employee ethics line reports. She developed and was the Director of the Fraud & Investigations team for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide with 180,000 employees in more than 100 countries. She also served as the Project Manager and a core member of the company’s Anti-Corruption compliance program, leading the development of a best-in-class global anti-corruption risk assessment, audit plan, and third-party due diligence program.
Juliette has been a Certified Fraud Examiner since 2007, and was the 2003 recipient of the International Food & Beverage Forum’s Food & Wine Founder Michael Batterberry Award. She is also a former Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance Showcase of the Star’s “Star”, and the 2004 winner of the Wall Street Journal Award for Excellence in Accounting. She is fluent in Spanish.
Stephanie Ikeogu is a sommelier at Carbone Dallas. She started in the hospitality industry with humble beginnings as a hostess at a local restaurant during her college years. She always aspired to be an Athletic Trainer for a professional soccer team, never having any intention to stay in the industry. Realizing that hospitality was built in her DNA, she took a management position at Pappasito’s Cantina in 2012 and started diving into the Beverage program. Her wine journey began when she accepted a position at another F.B. Society concept, Haywire. She’s is a first-generation Nigerian-American and currently studying wine through the Court of Master Sommeliers-America and the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust.
I have been a licensed massage therapist in Texas and Florida for 25 years. I am currently running a medical massage seminar business that often takes me traveling around the United States and internationally. We teach massage therapists, Chiropractors, physical therapists and other health care practitioners how to help their patients get out of chronic pain and try to prevent surgery. Prior to this career I was a professional dancer in musicals, dance companies and Cruise Ships which also took me from Alaska to the Caribbean Islands. I performed various styles of dance including tap, ballet, jazz, ballroom and Argentine Tango. Dance is still my passion and I participate at every opportunity.
DJ Manning is a San Antonio Native living in Hewitt, Texas. She is the Founder of Melanated Vines, which is focused on promoting and the upward mobility of Black Owned and BIPOC wine businesses. She is a wine writer as well as a consultant. She connects lesser known wine brands to the wine industry
Kristi Mayfield is the founder of Wine Wize and Sip Society Collective, where she has built a community of high-impact women who leverage wine as a powerful tool for connection and relationship building in both professional and social settings. With over 20 years of international business development and sales leadership experience, Kristi brings strategic acumen to her passion for wine education and industry engagement.
She holds WSET Level 3 with Distinction and serves as a Texas Wine Ambassador, actively promoting the state’s burgeoning wine industry. As host of the Everyday Sommelier podcast, Kristi makes wine education accessible and engaging for enthusiasts at all levels. She judges for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Vine 2 Wine competition and is committed to expanding her judging portfolio across additional competitions. Through Sip Society, Kristi creates intentional spaces where women can develop their wine knowledge while building meaningful professional networks, fostering a new generation of confident, informed wine advocates.
Sandra recently relocated to the DFW area from Temecula, CA where she was involved with the wine industry working in events. She holds her WSET Level 2 certification and is looking forward to continuing her wine education.
Bridget’s passion lies with food and wine – she is a freelance wine educator and wine concierge. She received her Level 1 Sommelier Certification from The Court of Master Sommeliers, received the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines, is an Advanced Specialist of Texas Wine, is on the Board of the Dallas Chapter of Women for WineSense, and works wine events such as the TEXSOM Conference, the TEXSOM Awards, and Pinot in the City. She has travelled extensively to different wine regions of the world and has a soft spot for the New York Finger Lakes region, having been married at a winery overlooking the grapevines on Seneca Lake.
A life-long wine enthusiast and medical device engineer by day, he spends free time chasing great bottles back to their source – vineyards, winemakers, and the stories behind glass.
Tuba Olcay is a Sommelier at Vinotopia in Legacy Hall, where she has been a foundational member of the team since its opening in 2021. Her journey into the world of viticulture follows a successful 18-year career as a Portfolio Manager in the capital markets. This background in high-level analysis allows her to approach wine lists with both a creative palate and a disciplined, strategic eye.
Now pursuing her lifelong passion professionally, Tuba holds WSET certifications and specializes in guiding guests through Vinotopia’s diverse selections with clarity and enthusiasm. Whether she’s demystifying a complex vintage or curating a flight for a newcomer, her goal is to make world-class wine accessible to the Plano community.
When she isn’t at the tasting bar, you can find her staying active on the pickleball court.
Lynda Oliver has led advertising for global brands like Verizon, Brinker and 7-Eleven. Most recently, she was the CMO at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School and Assistant Dean of Marketing for SMU Cox. Oliver consults, writes, and volunteers in Dallas. In 2024, she passed her WSET 3 with Merit.
Kat Parker began her wine career at Rancho Pinot in Scottsdale, where she learned the foundations of wine and the true art of hospitality. After returning to Oklahoma, she continued to grow her expertise at Metro Wine Bar and Boulevard Steakhouse, solidifying her commitment to the wine industry and her passion for mentoring others. She went on to help open The Study Wine Pub and Stock & Bond before joining Citizen House in downtown Oklahoma City, a return to chef‑driven dining that reaffirmed her belief in thoughtful, people‑centered service. Today, Kat is known for her approachable leadership style and her dedication to elevating Oklahoma’s wine community.
WSET, Level 2 Award in Wines
WSET, Level 1 Award in Sake
As a freelance Alcohol Sales Rep & Brand Ambassador, Sandra has obtained certifications through the Court of Master Sommeliers of America and Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and plans to continue honing her industry skills and knowledge via continued education and participating as a TEXSOM volunteer.
Court of Master Sommeliers, Introductory Sommelier Course and Examination
WSET, Level 2 Award in Wines
Advanced Specialist of Texas Wine
Teressa Waits is a Sommelier born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She brings authenticity to every tasting experience. Her love for wine, music, travel, and cooking continues to inspire her journey, shaping the way she connects people through flavor, culture, and conversation.
I am a third generation Dallasite and a graduate of Texas Tech University. I’ve had a 40 year career in Advertising Sales & Marketing, the majority with The Dallas Morning News. I am currently a Realtor in Dallas working with Keller Williams. I have served with the Los Angeles Advertising League and the Press Club of Dallas. In addition, I have worked with the California Association of Realtors. I volunteer with Meals on Wheels and the Alzheimer’s Association. I grew up in a family that was interested in wine and participated in several wine educational classes. I have also earned my First Level, Sommelier, volunteered for the last five years with TEXSOM, not only in the annual Wine Awards but also have helped with the conference. It is an honor to be affiliated with TEXSOM.
