George Jage is president of SFG Group. It's because of his vision and energy that the World Tea brand is flourishing in its various manifestations.

Prior to joining the tea industry, George was head of operations for a successful apparel trade show. In 2003, he launched Take Me 2 Tea (re-branded as World Tea Expo in 2005), the nation’s first tradeshow devoted solely to the tea industry. To further serve this industry, in 2007 George launched an e-newsletter aggregating news about tea from around the world. Its popularity led to the 2008 launch of World Tea News.

Heidi joined the World Tea News team in 2008, to oversee the launch of the budding tea-industry publication.

Prior to that, she was senior editor at Tradeshow Week, a B-to-B publication for the convention industry. During her eight years there, Heidi participated in two Web site redesigns and launched a local online edition of Tradeshow Week for Las Vegas.

Heidi holds a master's degree in Romance Languages from Harvard University. She is a member of the American Society of Business Publication Editors and leads all the office's yoga sessions. She brings focus and editorial expertise to the World Tea team.

Kari Grooms puts the style in World Tea News.

She came to World Tea Expo in 2007 with marketing experience in a variety of industries. After earning a bachelor's of science in Entertainment Marketing from Oklahoma City University, Kari moved to Las Vegas and began working as a marketing manager for an entertainment company. There, she was exposed to the city's vibrant convention and tradeshow industry. This led her to join the expo team, which in turn led her to apply her marketing and Web design expertise to World Tea News. 

Kari is continuing her education and is expected to graduate with an AAS in Computer and Information Technology in 2009.

Babette Donaldson is the author and creator of the illustrated books, "Emma Lea's First Tea Party," "Emma Lea's Magic Teapot," "Emma Lea's First Tea Ceremony" and the non-fiction workbook, "Fundraising With Tea." She has a bachelor of arts in Creative Writing and another in Ceramic Art from San Francisco State University. Through her work in ceramics, she was introduced to World Tea Expo.

"The world culture of tea fascinated me before I ever tasted a cuppa without a bag," Donaldson says, "and I continue to find delight in the way that tea appears in art and literature."

Tea Suite was her first tea business; it was a non-profit tea fundraising program supporting art education in schools and is now promoting her books and her love of tea in elementary schools, bookstores and tearooms.

Babette can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 530-478-0365.

Karen Durkin is an executive coach and motivational speaker with Henderson, Nev.-based consulting and financial services firm Houldsworth, Russo & Co.

Karen is a frequent speaker at the World Tea Expo.

Lindsey Goodwin

Lindsey “Vee” Goodwin is a New York City-based tea educator and the owner of Vee Tea. She has been writing web copy, tea menus and product literature for tea businesses for the last three years and, true to her technocratic generation, keeps a regular tea blog to stay on top of the latest trends. In addition to writing about tea, Vee offers classes, lectures, training, tastings, tours, event planning, product sourcing and menu selection/refinement services to tea businesses, groups and individuals. Her passion for tea runs deep and, like writing, in her family. She can be reached through her website, www.VeeTea.com, or by telephone at (347) 558-5846.

In the tea business for over 20 years, Richard presently works as a consultant within the specialty tea segment of the industry. Richard chairs the Advisory Board of the Specialty Tea Institute and sits on the Board of Directors of the Tea Assn of the USA. He also spends considerable time in Asia where he is principal of a Hong Kong based tea trading company. 

Developing tea lines and RTD’s, sourcing product, promoting, strategizing and buying teas for clients take up the majority of Richard’s work day. His expertise in working with emerging tea and tea related businesses makes him a sought after consultant and speaker.

Living in the Los Angeles area, Richard works with many prestigious brands including Tea Forte’ and Shangri La, is a team member at QTrade Teas & Herbs, Encore teas (HK) and many others.

Richard launched the Leaves Pure Teas brand in 1991 and sold this company to the China Mist Company in 2001.  

Born and raised in rural Alaska, Elin now lives in Portland, Ore., and enjoys discovering the city’s vibrant tea culture. You can reach her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dev Menon joined Lipton, U.K., in 1960, and has been involved in tea ever since.  After seven years with Lipton, in England and India, tasting teas of all origins and learning all facets of tea buying and blending, Dev joined a major Registered Tea Broking house gaining experience of auctioning, manufacture and marketing.

Frequent visits to the U.S. from 1983, convinced Dev that America would become a major importer of high quality teas.  Dev moved to the U.S. in 1995 and has been deeply involved with the U.S. retail market ever since, adding to his unique spectrum of tea experience. 

You can reach him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 301-330-4512.

In 1983, with two friends, jane opened and ran Tea-Time, an art deco style tea shop in southwest London. Since those busy but fun days, she has written 13 books on various aspects of the beverage, its manufacture, associated table wares, rituals, history and recipes. Over the years, she has also worked as editor of "Tea International," as managing director of St. James's Teas and as consultant and trainer to the U.K. Tea Council.

She regularly trains staff at some of London's most important five-star hotels, including the Dorchester, Grosvenor House, the Waldorf, Browns and The Savoy, and runs monthly tea master classes for anyone who wants to know more about tea in order to enhance their business or personal life. Jane speaks at conferences and events around the world and appears regularly on television and radio.