Building on a culinary career starting in her teenage years, in 2014 Alli Keyser-Marti fell in love with exploring the world of milk, salt, enzymes, and microbes. Her cheese journey includes managing Cowgirl Creamery’s original Pt Reyes shop, overseeing the Oliver’s Market Stony Point cheese department, as well as being awarded an ACEF Scholarship to attend the Portland conference in 2022, where she successfully completed the CCP® exam. She has followed this passion from her backyard in California to small farms all over France, rural Ohio, roadside stands in Sardinia, and ferries in Croatia. Most recently you’ll find her skillfully pairing cheese with olive oil or apple tastings at the farm in Sebastopol. 

Jennifer Cox is a native of San Antonio and has a passion for all things cheese including a south Texas favorite, queso!  She started her food journey in catering and quickly discovered her passion for cheese when she became the deli and cheese shop manager at Central Market.  After a few years in the role, she decided to further her education through the Mons Academie so she flew to France to learn affinage, milk goats and make cheese in the countryside.  It was here that her passion for learning everything she can about the process of cheesemaking and supporting cheesemakers was really solidified.  She earned her CCP in 2019 in Richmond, Va and is also an IDDBA Certified Salumiere.  Some of her favorite people are American Artisan cheesemakers and her goal in life is to make sure their cheeses are in every home in Texas!  She is currently an Account Manager for Gourmet Foods International. 

Maria’s love of cheese started in Colombia while growing up.  She enjoyed eating fresh cheese bought directly from the local farms.  Her professional career started in the design world but she decided to leave that life to follow her passion for food.  She managed a small organic garden in Arizona where she worked with volunteers and taught classes in desert gardening.  Her career in cheese began with a cheesemaking course in Murray’s Cheese, New York.  Her curiosity and eagerness to keep learning about cheese led her to apply for a position in the Specialty Department in Whole Foods, and then she found her forever home with cheese.  She has worked her way from team member to cheese buyer into a lead position, and she also has completed the ACS CCP Exam.  Maria loves traveling and learning from other cultures and people. 

Erin is thrilled to be returning in her role and brings a wide range of food and beverage experience. Originally from Philadelphia, she grew up professionally with Whole Foods Market as a Specialty retail buyer, monger, trainer, and team leader in Denver. Since relocating to Minneapolis last year Erin has been working with Alemar Cheese Co. and other Midwest makers to deepen her knowledge and provide them with sales and marketing support through education, events, and in-store demonstrations. Erin achieved ACS CCPⓇ certification in 2017 and is also a CiceroneⓇ CBS and Cheese State Scholar. When not slinging cheese, you’ll find her at home in the kitchen, garden, or library.

Jake is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Service Management and an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts. With over fifteen years of progressive culinary and food service management experience, he is an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional®, ACS CCP®, Level One Sommelier, and a Freelance Cheesemonger.

Joe has been at the Cheese Shop of Salem in Massachusetts since the store opened in 2015 (on the charcuterie counter), but has been working with cheese since the start of the pandemic. Now the lead cheesemonger, Joe has competed at the Cheesemonger Invitational NY in 2023 and plans to again in 2024. Joe’s most recent adventure was to Spain as an Essex St intern to learn about Manchego. When Joe isn’t in the shop, he’s coaching high school track & field, or trying to wrangle friends into playing some ridiculous board games.