Peter Van Stolk - Founder

Marketing maverick Peter van Stolk has a unique, interactive approach to grounding his products, an intense connection to his consumers and an uncanny ability to predict trends. He entered the highly competitive beverage industry, learned the rules and then promptly rejected them. Peter has been able to attract attention by setting his products apart from the rest and developing an emotional bond with his customers. This bond has attracted the attention of the New York Times , CNN , People Magazine and INC . magazine among many others.

For speaking engagements, Peter van Stolk is represented by the National Speakers Bureau/Global Speakers Agency. Please contact their office with any requests. They can be reached at 1-800-661-4110 or speakers@nsb.com.

Download his photo here

Joth Ricci - COO

Hi, my name is Joth…..ok, let's get that part out of the way.  Its short for Jonathan, remove the a’s and n’s and you get Joth.  I've never met anyone or anybody that knows anyone by that name.  If you are out there let me know.  Moving on…… Some of my favorite things to do are hang out in Central Oregon with my family – Robin, Anna and Joe.  For that matter, I like hanging out with them anywhere.  After that I am an activity nut: bike rides, long runs, golf, baseball, all kinds of music, great wine and working with this team to make Jones a great company. 

Judy Schoen - Production Manager, Non-Soda

They told me to write a new bio. Like I have nothing better to do. I am TRYING to make soda here. In a nutshell here I am... I like sunshine, R & B, fresh flowers, mornings, manly men, bawdy talk, interesting artwork, beer, my job, telling people I care about that they are loved, good books and yoga. I dislike cold weather, rudeness, people with no stories to tell, country music, white socks with black shoes, unoriginality, no time to nap, running on a treadmill, fruity drinks, attention hogs, lying and bad cooking.

Joy Rosenthal

Here's a little bit of info about a rad chick named "Joy"
Who rules AR at Jones - believe it - she isn't coy.
Over the years she's built up a rep
Attacking her day with vigor and pep
She works very long hours for very small coin
You have to be a workaholic for her club to join
Her voice it is loud and her laugh it is merry
Some might even say she is never contrary
She's one in a million, she's unique some might say
A Joneser at heart at the end of the day!

Eric Chastain – Wizard of Ops

Gnarly: I enjoy tending to my Billy Idol shrine and collecting Flock of Seagulls posters. Duran Duran are pretty choice. I'm addicted to cheesy commercials (especially that one for the Clapper!) My favorite movies include "Turner & Hooch," "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," "Major League," and "the 'Burbs". Sometimes, I enjoy taking the Camero out for a spin to the local Chuck E Cheese. Psych!

Grody: Germs, nose-hair, and "boy-bands." Sprouts on my sandwiches? Gag me with a spoon!

Laura Blazyk

I hail from the land that's round at both ends and high in the middle. Though my lifelong dream of playing Plinko on 'The Price Is Right' has yet to be realized, I was recently a contestant on 'The Weakest Link' (I didn't win). Piroshkis, road trips, experimental film, black Sharpies and Enid Collins purses are among my favorite things. I'm Polish and proud, frequently loud, and am here to help you with your East coast ordering needs.

Mike Spear – myJones/E-commerce

Hobbies: sailing, vintage motorcycles, art, International (www.internationalarsenal.com), browsing around on Icanhazcheezburger.com, I can read books too.

Sign: Scorpio

Dislikes: meter maids, people who don't pull over for lights and sirens, 2nd Ave Clowns

Favorite Food: Salad with a light vinegarette

Favorite Movie: Bridges of Madison County

Weakness: Talk Radio: Stern, KJR Sports, Dr. Laura, bring it on.

Nancy Bucher – Human Resources/Investor Relations

As the HR person, I have the pleasure of finding more great people for Jones, and taking care of existing Jonesers! A newcomer in the fall of ’04, I’m having a grand time with all the wacky people here, and love what Jones is all about. For all you out there, here’s what I’m all about:

Sign: Gemini (the best, really)

My loves: dogs, the beach, George Clooney, country music, chocolate ice cream, great parking, fast cars, cooking, old homes, guacamole, throwing parties, sexy shoes, holidays, sleeping in, and sunny days.

Could live without: drivers who don’t signal, bad moods, burnt coffee, insurance premiums, extreme personalities, Mondays, bad dates, radio commercials, fake angst, overdramatic anything, and parking tickets

Fave weekend hangout: home!

Frank Barbara - Creative Director

This is Frankie Barbara. FB has been with Jones Soda since 1997 when he drove Tony Hawk and team around the entire country for 2 months straight in the old original RV. Since then he has been a part of the marketing team as the creative director, runs the west coast RV, creates and manages the athlete team, relays the overall vibe of Jones to the action sports world and is with us for the long haul. Frank lives in San Diego. Life is Good.

Melissa Kelley – CS: National Accounts Coordinator

I applied here after I saw Kelly Ripa nearly vomit on live television after tasting a holiday flavor. You can take that as you like. I administrate orders, programs & events for our National Accounts: Panera, Barnes & Noble, Sam’s, and Alaska/Horizon. I have some special projects up my sleeve as well.

Loves: Lucia Beatrice – aka Sweet Lou, my little family, the beach…any beach, cheese, books, traveling, naming sodas, surfing…for real and on the net, The Pre, chocolate, admitting involvement in pranks…especially those against bee-dub, photography, opposites, taters, Watch Out For the Creepy Baby email chain, morning radio, getting a good deal, the word “nuts” & having a moment to breathe at the end of the day.

Dislikes: Throat tickles when I have to be quiet, illogical conclusions, not being a dog owner, most perfumes, being cold, beets, being forgetful, sleep deprivation, and when a hair falls down my shirt.

I Just Don’t Get It: Talking during the movie, bureaucratic inefficiency, dogs carried in handbags, Battlestar Gallactica and parents who don’t watch their children in public places.

Seth Godwin - Marketing Manager

Nickname: SethT
If you ever get the opportunity to meet me, you'll be oddly intrigued by my cheesy charm, but don't let it fool you, there's true genius in there... somewhere...maybe that's why Jones gave me this job!  What I do?  New projects, packaging, product development, media stuff, promotions, taste "interesting" soda, but mostly marketing in its purest Jones form!

I love... Northern Idaho, snowboarding, roller-blading, writing, Scrubs (both the clothes and the TV show), snap shirts, being cheesy, making up words, witty commercials, laughter, karaoke, sarcasm, blowing things out of proportion, Seattle, Spiderman, Whoop Ass, ellipses...and MRH. 

I hope to rise to my full potential one-day and become a full-fledged superhero.  Maybe that's why I love Whoop Ass so much, its got kind of a Seth-esque superhero theme about it...Whoop Ass...Revitalizes attitude and restores faith in mankind...Seth T...always has a witty remark ready as he beats the bad guys and flees the scene with the girl!  Swizz...(that means sweet, cool, awesome, stellar...spread the word...SWIZZ!)

Zac Carr – Marketing Team/Events

Hobbies- Any kind of boarding,  Tony Hawk Project8 (current rank-7), Square Dancing, Cosmic Bowling,  Video/image editing

Music- A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Mobb Deep, M.O.P, EPMD, 3-6, Cee-lo, Willie and the Wake 'n' Bakes 

Shout outs- A-Lord, Parker the Poodle, Dezzy the Bearded Dragon, all my baby's mommas and, of course, my mom

Flavor- Blue Bubblegum

Nickname- Zeke

Sign: Capricorn

Likes: Plotting to take over the world via Global Domination, Music (Grateful Dead and all that it entails, Old Country, Punk, and Classic rock) Hiking/Backpacking/Camping in the great cascade range, Video games (I need an XBOX 360 so if you have a spare give me a call), Rainer Beer and the ever shrinking list of Great Seattle dive bars and restaurants, JP Patches.

Dislikes: Repetitive bass beats, U-Village and all that it stands for, MTV, Donald Trump

Favorite Foods:  Real BBQ, A good ole hamburger, Pizza and pasta, All seafood (fresh Washington oysters mmmm..)

Favorite Movies: Apocalypse Now, Goodfellas, Hero, City of God, LofTR, Master and Commander, Rushmore, Napoleon Dynamite

Chris Milberger - Inventory Control Manager

I am part of a hard working team. We do work. We do it for the feeling we obtain & because we’re in search of something. We want to relive some great moment we had in the past. Moreover, it’s also to create some other incredible moment like the last one but more intense. As long as we reach our limits... but who knows where those are?  Our realm is when we are together against a new dare. It can be anywhere, on snowboards, at the ballpark, in water, in the air... or at the office doing work.

Cory Gettman - CSR Midwest/East

Cory is the Customer Service Rep for the Midwest/East. Before flirting his way into the heart and pants of Jones, he appeared on Broadway in The Secret Gelding (Drama Dust nomination), Six Decrees of Preparation, and Big Rover. Off-Broadway credits include The Destiny of Epp (Flobie Award, Drama Dust nomination), Hello A-Hole (Drama Dust nomination), and Missing Pampers. On TV, Cory was a regular on the public access series Purty Girl. In film, he has been seen in Girl Sixty, Misplacid, Bind of the Hind and Book of Lobe. Cory also adapted and directed Tannis E. Williams' Earthdom of King for the Dewbag Dept. Theatre Co., of which he is a founding member. For writing and performing in Yul’s Wig and the Angry Ankh, Cory received a Flobie Award, the Outer Critics Circle Jerk Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, and Drama Dust nominations for Outstanding Actor in a Musical and for Outstanding New Musical. Mostly all uses of the word “Broadway” refer to sidewalk performances near the Capitol Hill Dick’s restaurant in Seattle and “Off-Broadway” refers to alley performances behind Dick’s, mostly.

He’s pretty good on the phones and stuff.

Shortly after Flanders’ birth, three wise men came from the East, bearing gifts.  “Uncle” Shelly, from Erie, Pennsylvania, brought the gift of Moxie.  Cletus, of Macon, Georgia, brought the gift of Mojo.  Bob, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, wanted to bring Myrrh, but the local Roundy’s was fresh out and he was late for his flight, so he picked up some Licorice Piglets and a box of Pearson’s Original Nut Goodies.  Sadly, Bob’s flight was delayed in Chicago, and Bob was never one to miss a meal, so the kid had to settle for a couple of leftover Nut Goodies and a bottle of cheap Scotch from the duty-free.

Nevertheless, the gifts of Moxie and Mojo served Flanders well (neither the Nut Goodies nor the Scotch lasted very long) as he embarked on his Quest to make the world just a little odder.  He was forced to abandon this quest after a misunderstanding with the League of Concerned Otters, but he assures everybody his intentions were good.

Someday soon, a black fleet car will pull up alongside Flanders as he walks down the street, and the door will open.  Without a word, Flanders will get in.  The door will close, the car will drive off, and none of us will ever hear of him again.

I always sided with the insurgent, not the establishment.  I don't want to be the expert of an old idea, I want to be the creator of a new one. That's what Jones is all about! The good things in life:  traveling, soccer, meeting people smarter than you, a cold beer, all of which superseded by my lovely wife-to-be. The bad things:  parking police (which reminds me to go check on my car), people that think they're smarter than everybody, bad Seattle drivers (and by the way, although polite drivers, they're terrible), no decent public transportation, and a winter with no snow to ride on.  That's me I guess, with peppered in Seinfeld quotes that were played out year's ago but they still gold baby, GOLD!

Joshua Russell – The Wind Beneath Your Wings

What? Another one from Ohio you ask? It’s true. Born where Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia meet I’m happy to say I escaped at an early age. Sadly I landed in South Florida way, way, way before my ideal retiring age. After learning to scurry up palm trees to forage for food and an uncanny ability to navigate the local swap meets in search of aviator glasses and belt buckles shaped like brass knuckles I decided it was time to move on. I arrived in sunny Seattle in 2001. Luckily it was just in time to catch the “grunge” scene in its entirety. Which was awesome! That Layne Stanely tribute band ROCKS!

The year 2007 brought me to the lovely Jones Soda Company. What do I do here you ask? Go check out the super cool shirts and hats in the web store. See those awesome ones there? That was me. Not the ugly ones though. I’m sure I didn’t do those. I would never…

Since you asked I like….

Freshly hopped beers, WEEN, just about any video game made (yes, even the newer Gauntlet remakes), mix tapes made from the heart, any record produced by John McEntire, reading both The Dharma Bums and The Giving Tree at least once a year, owning just enough cats to keep me from being ‘that creepy cat guy’, kickin’ it in Ballard while it’s still Ballard, all things Twin Peaks (except James Hurley), planning to name my first born Holden, a little food and a little drink uh huh. Nothin’ too fancy. Lamb, veal, and some good ole wine this is the life for me.

And in case you’re wondering about what to get me for Christmas, I hate….Black leather driving gloves, cheap plastic bobble heads, romance novels, candles that don’t smell like pumpkin pie, and war for oil.

Jessie Dunn - Production Manager, Variety Packs

Bet you didn’t know: Aside from planning the logistics of making soda, here at Jones in Operations we play CD’s all day, have squirt gun wars as a quick break from the chaos, and collectively prank co-worker Brett Wille.  Our desks are adorned with our colorful soda bottles. The walls are a nice shade of avocado green and the light bulbs overhead are covered with paper lanterns.  The culture at Jones Soda is spunky, just like me…

Likes: Down blankets, gardening, family, ice cream/gelato, snail mail, books, anything artsy, playing with all dogs, especially my dog Max, and the great outdoors.

Favorite places: Alaska, Yellowstone National Park, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Serengeti National Park.

Goals:

• Write more/use my artistic spirit
• Travel to Europe
• Never try Jones Perspiration soda

Wendy Walker - A/R Administrator

After being thawed and re-animated by a deranged Austrian witch-doctor in the wild pampas of Argentina, following her disastrous expedition to the Mole People of Ultima Thule, “Wendy Walker” decided to abandon her career as a professional adventurer to join the financial team at Jones Soda. According to “Wendy” “The pay is steadier, and you’re far less likely to be stabbed in the ankle by a deranged troglodyte.”

When not at work or fending off periodic attacks from subterrans, “Wendy” enjoys knitting, playing with her cat, composing long letters to the editor, creating sculptures out of chicken wire and mashed potatoes, and badminton.

While youthful in appearance, photographic and documentary evidence places “Wendy” in such disparate company as Pu-yi, last Emperor of China, Emperor Joshua Norton of San Francisco, Charles Bukowski, Edith Head, and, of course, Mary Wollstonecraft. Her name appears on the passenger manifest of the Marie Celeste.
Rumors that she bathes in the blood of innocents remain unsubstantiated.

Rob McCormack - Production Manager

Snow, saltwater, mountains, a great lady and the rainy city of Seattle are all things I wake up for. Add to that a challenging and innovative workplace… crap I’m a lucky guy.  I don’t like over-glorified people, over-spending, shirts with portraits of wolves howling at the moon, the word “binder”, spicy tuna rolls, weddings on three day weekends, Ski-to-Sea sandbaggers, or Colonel Sanders. 

My focus will remain on producing the greatest soda in the world, cheering for the underdog, helping Eric think linearly, exploring different places on earth, and making words up out of thin air.  Keep on keepin’ on!

Davin Hanson - Account Logistics Rep

Hello. I’m Davin; pronounced dayvin.  I work in customer service and deal primarily with our National Accounts.  I basically enter and coordinate delivery of our products to clients like Barnes&Noble, Target, and Ruby Tuesday.  I also work with our international accounts and assume that I will be sent abroad someday to act as a liaison with the heathens.  In my spare time, I also work with the e-commerce team.

I joined team Jones, TEAM JONES!!!, in 2006 and especially enjoy the culture, people, and soda-my favorite are our Organics and Grape Soda. I compare the work environment here at headquarters to a reef system.  Production and Operations are like the corals and sponges.  AP is like the crustaceans.  AR is like the schooling fish. Marketing would be the aquatic flora. And Customer Service, where I’m at, we’re the predatory inhabitants like barracuda a reef shark.  And amongst my people, I’m like the mighty, insatiable, all-powerful tiger shark …………..YEESSSSS!!!! HOOORAYYYY!!!.................

Anyway, I like fishing, pizza, macro brews, watching football, reading, swimming, supplements, weightlifting, bulking up, ballet, the tropics, music, camping, and fishing.  Actually, I don’t like the ones on my list between swimming and the tropics.

Come to our Jones and get the free soda you can drink.  Otherwise, just pay for and drink much soda into your tummy.  Peace and love.

It’s confusing on purpose, life; just smile and nod.

Ashley Wilson - E-Commerce

Army of robots.  Army of zombies.  Army of ghouls.  Army of skeletons. Army of ants. Army of clowns.  Army of bees.  Army of aliens.  Army of robots (again). Death ray, gravity ray, heat ray, aging ray, morpho ray.  Time machine. Island base, satellite base, moon base, extradimensional base in the distant past.  Ancient mystical artifacts.  Strange inventions from the far future.  What's a girl got to do to get some world domination around here? "Okay, even I admit that the Army of Mohair was a stupid idea," states Ashley during an exclusive interview from her latest undisclosed location, "it was the 80's.  There were lots of dumb ideas floating around back then. But one of these days, there won't be any meddling kids, or interfering masked marauders, or nosy girl detectives, and then..." her eyes half closed, fingertips pressed together, "perhaps I've said too much."

Nowadays, she works for us. We don't let her go near the production line.

Things I love: downhill Mt. biking, snowboarding, surfing, wakesurfing, and pretty much anything else out of doors. Dressing in costume for no particular reason, spontaneous slurpee runs, late night jam sessions in Pembi, Sea to Sky and anything that happens on the drive to and from Whistler, wearing wet wetsuits to dinner, dinner in general, making funny pancakes, and explaining to concerned strangers why I am covered in bruises – see first 5 activities above. The blue house girls, Chelan girls, mum and dad, all of my new Seattle friends, kids, puppies, and boys who bike, snowboard, and surf, but most importantly smile a lot. Reading, learning foreign languages, going to concerts, rocking out in my car when I forget that people can see me, and playing the piano/guitar. Peanut butter. Taking random lessons like salsa dancing and knitting. Traveling to foreign countries, especially Canada, Italy, and India. Unplanned car trips. Bonfires. Being called Ash.

Amanda Drummond - Marketing Team

The life of an intern at Jones soda is as sweet as the pure cane sugar we put in our soda.  Not only do I get hands-on marketing experience, but I also get to participate in our many events, go to all the home Seahawks games, drink as much 24C as I want and bubble with anticipation as I await my next shipping assignment!  Being an intern also affords me the luxury of time off, which I have taken advantage of to travel around Europe and spend an amazing week in California with some of my best friends.  Basically the recipe for an amazing summer and the perfect job for a freshly graduated UW student (Go Dawgs!). 

Likes:  Red wine, cooking club, seeing the world, good music, stimulating conversations, ballet class, Trader Joes, Wikipedia, anything Italian, game night, going out, hiking, camping, hot cocoa with an endless layer of marshmallows, busting out the robot in awkward situations, reading, arts & crafts, humor, hip hop, HBO on Sunday nights, Madame Shankeypant's random facts, DP’s (dance parties), good beer and good people. And of course giraffes.

Dislikes:  Open cupboards, unnecessary usage of windshield wipers, onions, flaky people, walking over grates and the feel of cotton balls.

Liz Bronson - E-Commerce Customer Service

Liz Bronson here, spanking new member of the Jones Soda Team. I’m the one taking all your calls and making sure they get to the right people. When not manning the front desk I’ve got my nose in a book or my Indie rock up loud. I love getting out of the city in the summer to camp and explore but I’m a city girl at heart and love a rainy day in Seattle. I’m so happy to be a part of the Jones Soda family and look forward to many years of ‘running with the little guy’.

Conor Gentes - Marketing Intern

About me:  A flash of light and shock wave erupted in front of Jones Soda Co.  Suddenly, I appeared naked in the fetal position (much like “The Terminator”).  That was day one; I was immediately hired and have been changing the world one person at a time, sometimes two (Siamese twins), ever since. 

“I’ve never seen anyone work so hard and with such a concentrated sexiness,”                  - anonymous

Likes:  (this is a stream of conscious, there is no particular order) Film, Flight of the Concords, Tenacious D, Skiing, Trivia, Arrested Development, Dancing, South Park, the Office, Seattle Sports, IMDB.com, Cold Pizza, Fresh Snow, Family, Dogs, Dawgs, MacGyver, reminiscing, finding my wallet, Thanksgiving………NHL 94, Sweat Pants fresh out of the dryer.  I omitted about 7,000 things there in the middle due to time constraints.

Dislikes:  Driving, Automated Voice Operators, Pedestrians, selfishness, MTV, WSU, Monopoly, losing my wallet, Mondays after Vacation, Close-mindedness, The bitchy mom who got everyone else in trouble, text abbreviations, and bad impressions.  

June Meehan - Accounts Payable

Write a bio?....okay don’t panic…no don’t panic…You want a picture too?....okay don’t panic…no don’t panic!

Panic Panic Panic!

Hmm a little about me…I’ve been with the same partner for 25years and the one thing I’ve learned is that it is all okay!  He knows all my crap and I know his…we stayed away.

Things that mean the most to me:  Family, friends, having a sense of humor, finding beauty in unexpected places and meditating to get grounded and centered (just think what I’d be like without it…not a pretty picture!).

I love playing cards (poker is my game but I’ll play anything), sleeping in on the weekend, cooking and baking up a storm, laughing until it hurts and my face turns red and I can’t breathe, road trips and long walks on the beach.

Traveling is one of my passions and two of my life long goals are to visit every State (I’ve been to 31 so far) and every Continent (only three to go), yes that includes Antarctica!

So far in life I have been pretty lucky…still breathing, I have people I love and they love me back…and now I’m here at Jones.  I love my job and being part of something that is fun, creative and I think we are making the world a little bit better…one soda at a time.

Rick Elsea - Accounts Payable

Rick joined the Jones Soda team in 2007. Rick has a rich 15 year sales and marketing background in product sales and Real Estate.  Rick has a passion for the myJones product line.  

As a talented musician ( Singer / Songwriter ) and actor with credits here in the Seattle area and Los Angeles. Rick brings a creative vibe to the Jones soda team and you can hear his Jones soda jingle on the My Jones web site. Rick has a desire to join the sales and marketing team for myJones, and hopes to be promoting myJones nationally soon.