Steve Jones is owner of Steve’s Cheese, an artisan cheese shop in Portland, Oregon. Born in Iowa, son of a herdsman for Maytag Dairy, Steve has had experience in every aspect of cheese distribution, purchasing and sales.
Steve directed the cheese department for Provvista Specialty Foods Inc., one of the nation’s most admired wholesale purveyors of fine cheeses. He then spent more than two years as head cheesemonger at one location of New Seasons, the groundbreaking boutique supermarket chain. His next venture was acting as a broker for a group of Oregon artisan cheesemakers. Jones also took time for an internship at London’s revered cheese merchant, Neal’s Yard.
In November, 2005, Jones opened Steve’s Cheese, a compact wonderland of fine cheeses, cured meats and related hand-made food products. He is currently collaborating with a Portland restaurant on a new, high-end Italian deli. Read an interview with Steve here.
CPA/entrepreneur Jackie Babicky-Peterson has launched and assisted literally thousands of small businesses. She is a business advisor (and former Director of Business Education) at Portland Community College’s Small Business Development Center, and teaches business seminars and entrepreneurship programs. Jackie is a legend among Oregon’s independent businesses for her sage advice and clear-eyed analysis of the financial, management and personal challenges which affect business success.
Jackie has owned her own business for over 30 years and currently chairs the City of Portland Small Business Advisory Council. She holds a BA in Economics and a Master’s in Organizational Management.
Amy Brown, founder of SEED Public Relations, currently develops marketing and public relations programs for clients such as Organic Valley Family of Farms, YOLO Colorhouse, Ecotrust Food & Farms Program, Sustainable Harvest Specialty Coffee Importers and Portland Farmers Market. She counsels clients on the integration of advertising, online marketing, grassroots campaigns, collateral development, strategic alliances, and special events to ensure a comprehensive approach to reaching their target audiences.
With more than 20 years experience in marketing and public relations, and a strong background in consumer product marketing, agri-business and sustainability, Amy has been recognized by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Oregon Department of Agriculture with numerous awards of merit. Over the years, Amy has helped numerous food and restaurant companies blossom in the marketplace, including Burgerville Restaurants, Oregon Country Beef, Albertson’s Nutrition Program, Maryhill Winery and Freddy Guy’s Hazelnuts.
For 25 years, Heidi Yorkshire, founder and director of Food by Hand Seminars, has had a unique view of America's artisan food revolution as a journalist, author and entrepreneur. Heidi contributed travel, wine and food features to Bon Appetit for almost two decades, and her work has appeared in many other publications. She wrote the weekly wine column for The Oregonian, and is the author of Wine Savvy (an IACP/Julia Child Cookbook Award finalist) and Simply Wine. She was a long-time judge for the James Beard Foundation Restaurant Awards.
Heidi has studied cheesemaking and business development in the dairy industry, and worked as a business advisor helping entrepreneurs plan new specialty food businesses. She was a co-developer of "Bringing Your Recipe to Market," a course for entrepreneurs offered by the Food Innovation Center of Oregon State University. She has been a sought-after speaker at national conferences, including the International Pinot Noir Celebration and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.
Read an article by Heidi here.
Other experts on cheese, specialty foods and business will also participate in the seminar.
* Food by Hand Seminars LLC reserves the right to substitute other qualified instructors if necessary.