Featured columnist in each issue of the online version of France Today magazine. My column “Fromage Focus” highlights a regional French cheese in each issue.

Full service cheese, charcuterie, and specialty foods retailer specializing in fine imported and domestic artisan cheeses.

Owner /cheesemonger, full service retail cheese and specialty foods shop.

Customer Service and Inside Account Manager for Foodservice Food Broker.Managed NY metro are distributor accounts with National food manufacturers, with an emphasis on representation of global cheese brands in the foodservice sector. Acted as liason between outside sales force and distributors and end users. Maintain data base with regard to customer pricing and other customer specific data, work on behalf of customer to maintain favorable pricing; maintain sample levels and sample allowance. Handle all facets of purchase order entry and order reconciliation.

Used my extensive knowledge in a freelance setting for New York area retailers and start up businesses.Freshway Market Glen Cove NY - Consultant/Employee : opened the store and set up a self service cheese counter. assisted the deli department in product selections, worked with store manager in merchandising the entire cheese / deli area.Babylon Cheese Cellar , Babylon NY- opened the store for a local full service cheese market. Worked part time as a sole employee managing all customers service matters independently, Managed cash deposit and end of day accounting, opening and closing store, trained new staff members ,merchandised the entire store, aided in product selections.Brought to fruition a full service quality cheese shop creating a both a local retail destination and interest in specialty cheese where there had previously been no history of such , through quality customer service and customer education, and a one on one personalized consultative selling style.

Contracted to assist in boosting sales and customer service levels for their holiday 2008 season.Trained existing staff members on fine points of both cheese appreciation and customer service skills. Contributed text to their online blog and website. Represented igourmet at promotional events,Supervised a customer service staff which took orders for their holiday season requiring a full time 24 hour staff of over 200 seasonal employees.Assisted their nationwide customer base with regard to substituting items and customer complaints, QC issues, product questions and concerns, etc. in instances where escalation had occured.

Recruited in month four of the market's operation, I expanded and improved the cheese program and visual appeal of this full service , cut to order only cheese department at Long Island's premier Specialty Foods Market. Before end of year one sales had doubled and the cheese department became a major point of interest for the store, setting a quality benchmark as Nassau County's only 100% full service cut to order cheese counter. Purchased all cheese, charcuterie and specialty items. Responsible for pricing and properly margining all items , merchandising of cheese and specialty foods department , and for hiring and training all counter associates.Twice reviewed in New York TImes for outstanding quality and service.

Worked directly under the department manager as the counter manager and promoted to handle all purchasing of cheese and charcuterie items for a full service department of over 600 items. Responsible for weekly ordering, training incoming staff members, maintaining proper inventory levels.Worked with local Napa Valley wineries and restaurants in selecting cheeses and other specialty items.Comprehensive cheese and charcuterie department included full service olive bar, salt bar, smoked and cured fish, truffles, caviar, local artisan breads and and other related items.Responsible for setting the cheese case and displays. Worked directly with the department manager in sourcing and obtaining new items and cultivating relationships with local farmstead producers.Set a standard in the cheese industry for a high quality retail cheese program . Selections included included a wide array of US farmstead cheese as well as a comprehensive selection of traditional European cheese , including an extensive selections of cheese from Neals Yard Dairy , Rolf Beeler, Guffanti, Jean D'Alos, and Herve Mons long before it was commonplace. An exposure to virtual world of cheese for which I will always be thankful for and proud to have been such a big part of.