The Cupboard is a collection of diverse people who work together to order, receive, price, stock, sell, and wrap up each customer’s purchase. Some are younger. Some are not. Some have been here 20 years and some are just starting. Some grew up in Fort Collins, but many have not. The following profiles of The Cupboard staff will give you an insight into the role each person plays in bringing this ever-changing selection of merchandise to you our customers.
Carey Hewitt
Carey started The Cupboard in 1972 and has been active in its daily operation since that time. He still enjoys seeing new merchandise presented well and then being well received by our customers, but the highlights of the business are the staff he works with and the customers who frequent The Cupboard. As a former junior high school teacher, he is excited to teach retailing to staff members, and is particularly enthused about working with his son Jim, who has recently joined The Cupboard team.
Jim Hewitt
Jim is a part owner of The Cupboard who grew up in Fort Collins and in The Cupboard itself. He returned to work at the store in 2007 after several years of school and work in California. He especially likes the super automatic espresso machines from Capresso, for they make a great cappuccino quickly. In his spare time, Jim loves to spend time with his wife and daughters.
Janet Jewett
Janet is a recently retired kindergarten teacher who has helped us part time since 1980. Working at The Cupboard has been her adult playtime though she might see us all as just big kids. Janet is co-authoring a book about children and their school journey. She loves spending time with her husband and recently married daughter, in addition to helping us at The Cupboard in her spare time.
Phoebe Weitz
Phoebe grew up in Timnath, went to Fort Collins High School, then to Colorado College, and eventually came to The Cupboard in 1984. She currently orders Japanese ceramicware and cast iron accessories, plus organizes our staff of 30 with her monthly master schedule. As an art history major she is especially attracted to the handcrafted, uniquely decorated Japanese pottery that she selects from over 200 potteries in Japan. Away from the store Phoebe enjoys friends, family, and her two beautiful border collies that take her on walks throughout the city.
Teresa Alexander
Teresa has been instrumental in the evolution of The Cupboard since her arrival in 1987. She is now our buying coordinator and space technician, which means attractively fitting more merchandise into the same space. She particularly likes the colorful, attractive, functional Le Creuset cast iron ovens, which can be used on the stove or in the oven and then brought directly to the table. In her limited spare time Teresa enjoys her husband, their two children, three cats, four fish, and one dog, as well as photographing barns and doing puzzles.
Debbie Homan
Debbie has been active in the continuing development of The Cupboard since coming to work here in 1989, and now she is responsible for purchasing mugs and tea accessories plus organizing our evening cooking classes. As an avid reader and cook Debbie is particularly attracted to our cookbook selection, which has over 2000 different titles. She enjoys hiking, skiing, and traveling, as well as spending time with her husband, son, and pet golden retriever.
Maureen George
Maureen has been an integral part of The Cupboard’s expansion since joining us in 1990, and she has been the cutlery buyer for most of that time. Living downtown for the past two decades, Maureen enjoys dining, working, and shopping all within a few blocks of her home on Mountain Ave. She loves orchids, art, jokes, and especially Maryland blue crabs, in addition to her husband, daughter, and two wild Westies.
Patty Snyder
Patty has worked in many capacities since coming to The Cupboard in 1991, but now she is the store manager, which means she is qualified to herd cats. She enjoys cooking, eating good food, and drinking good wine. Patty is particularly attracted to the beautifully decorated stoneware dishes from Poland. Off hours Patty is outside running, hiking, biking, skiing, and enjoying time with her husband and two daughters.
Kathie Harper
Kathie started working retail in her home town of Billings, Montana, but joined The Cupboard staff in 1992 where she has been assisting customers ever since. She loves dishes, and as the Portmeirion buyer for the store and her home, her only problem is finding enough cupboard space for all her favorites. Kathie loves to read, cook, garden, and go antiquing, as well as spend time with her husband, two children, and five grandchildren.
Jennifer Davey
Jennifer joined us in 1993 but left for a year to teach in Japan, returned, then taught art at Johnstown High School for two years, and has returned again to fill the role of training and event coordinator. She loves to cook and her All Clad 5-quart saute pan with its quick, even heating is her favorite pan. Jen also enjoys art, reading, traveling, shoes, as well as adhering to Joseph Campbell’s motto: “We must be willing to get rid of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
Cherie Willey
Cherie can troubleshoot anything from espresso machines to food processors and has been solving problems at The Cupboard since 1995. After returning from CSU as a full time student in landscape architecture, she now is in charge of buying coffee and coffee accessories. Her favorite Cupboard product is the Vitamix blender because it will do everything you want it to do and then some. She loves to garden, play with her dog Lucy, and spend time with Jason.
Polly Erickson
Polly has had many responsibilities since coming to The Cupboard in 1996 after graduating from CSU, but now she in charge of dinnerware, cutlery, and the sale corner. In addition, she manages our receiving room. She loves Fiestaware, eating, cooking good food, jumping on the trampoline, knitting, leaving town, and coming back again. Polly spends her time outside The Cupboard with her husband, two daughters, mother, two cats, and two dogs.
Kari Beth Short
Kari started working at The Cupboard in 1996 and is now responsible for ordering our extensive selection of specialty foods. Working with local vendors is a highlight for her, and she is partial to our retro towel collection. In her spare time she enjoys reading, baking, spending time with the family, riding with her husband on their motorcycle, and eating blue corn pancakes with pinon and blueberry compote.
Robyn Hammond
Robyn joined The Cupboard in 1997 after her last child went off to college. She was the buyer of our many kitchen gadgets for ten years, but is now responsible for ordering the candy in our refrigerated case. Like so many of us, she is partial to our selection of chocolate, but also to her Le Creuset dutch oven. Robyn loves being outdoors, walking, biking, motorcycling, and spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren.
Cathy Farmer
Cathy grew up in Lamar, Colorado, where she had a children’s clothing store for 14 years, but she has been working at The Cupboard since 1998 as our buyer of linens, rugs, throws, baskets, candles, glassware, holiday accessories, and Polish pottery. She is truly passionate about this beautiful pottery from Boleslawiec, Poland, and in fact has twice taken staff members from The Cupboard to visit this historic pottery co-op. Cathy enjoys traveling, reading, antiquing, and staying in touch with her four children scattered about the west.
Steve Hureau
Steve has worked in retail (primarily book stores) since 1985, but joined The Cupboard in 1999 where he is the buyer of cookbooks, kitchen electrics, and wood carts. He coordinates the store’s music selection, and his concern for the environment has resulted in our ongoing recycling effort. His favorite products include Ritter Sport chocolate, his Henckels santoku knive, Abdullah caramels, and Snickerdoodle coffee. Steve enjoys reading, music, biking, running, and spending time with his wife, two children, a dog, and a cat.
Amber Linnenburger
Amber arrived at The Cupboard in 2000 and is now responsible for ordering paper goods, salt and pepper mills, and all things wood. The Epicurean cutting boards are one of her favorite products, as they are both functional and attractive. Amber adheres to the motto “live how you want to be remembered,” and loves the time she spends with her husband, two daughters, and their big goofy dogs. She also loves reading, family history, and being outdoors.
Marcia Hobbs
Marcia came to Fort Collins and The Cupboard in 2002 and is responsible for ordering all of our necessary office and bathroom supplies. She is partial to chocolate and the polished metalware from Wilton Armetale and Beatriz Ball. Away from the store Marcia enjoys decorating, working in her flower garden, and spoiling her grandchildren, who live nearby.
Joyce Waller
Joyce retired from nursing and followed her daughter, Polly, to The Cupboard in 2002 where she is behind the scenes receiving and gift wrapping merchandise. She loves the intricately decorated Polish pottery that is both attractive and functional dinnerware and serveware. Joyce enjoys gardening, decorating arts and crafts, but she is passionate about her daughters and their families including her six grandchildren.
Diane Field
Diane has been shopping at The Cupboard since 1978, but joined our staff in 2003 after 20 years in the food service industry. She is partial to the store’s specialty food selection, but chocolate is her weakness. This is fitting because she orders (and tests!) all of our chocolate and other candy. Diane loves to mountain bike, hike, knit, sing, and hang out with her husband, three children, a dog, and a cat.
Kim Cruz-Rodenbeck
Kim put herself through CU as a barista at a local coffee shop, but since coming to The Cupboard in 2004 she has found a new love. Her dilemma at the store is that she loves chocolate, but there are too many kinds to choose from! As a recent mother Kim spends most of her time taking care of her two children, being with her husband, and if time permits, reading and watching movies. She orders all of our kids merchandise.
Ingrid Parsons
Ingrid joined The Cupboard staff in 2006 after much marketing and retail experience and is now responsible for ordering barware. She loves to cook and entertain, often using the Colorado Cache Cookbook, the first of four excellent cookbooks from the Junior League of Denver. Ingrid enjoys golf and tennis in addition to spending time with her husband, her two grown children, and her two cats.
Maya Kahn
Maya was born and raised in Hawaii but came to college at CSU and eventually joined The Cupboard in 2007 where she is responsible for buying hundreds of kitchen gadgets. Her weakness at the store is our chocolate case where we have a wide selection of truffles, petit fours, nut clusters, toffee, and many seasonal candy delights. Maya and her husband enjoy snowboarding, sushi, and their two ball python snakes.
Ashlin Pickle
Ashlin was born in Colorado and attended school in Texas, but came back to Colorado in 2008 and soon joined The Cupboard. She is excited about decorating and merchandising our products. She loves Fiesta dinnerware and the multitude of colors that it comes in. She loves family, working out, reading, and spending time in the mountains. Ashlin is the mother of a girl born in March of 2011.
Jami Ryba
Jami arrived in Fort Collins and at The Cupboard in 2008, where her love of baking has inspired her to be bakeware buyer. She is partial to the store’s bakeware selection and in particular, she likes the Emile Henfy lasagne bakers that works well in the oven, but also looks good on the table. She came to Fort Collins from Arizona and loves teaching sociology, reading, baking, and learning about different cultures.
Nate Glossi
Nate grew up in Fort Collins and is the proud husband of Jami Ryba. He is in charge of the cookware and loves all of the unique and specialty foods The Cupboard carries. He joined us in 2009 and is especially partial to Family Traditions zesty garlic pasta sauce.
Alisha Koehn
Alisha worked at The Cupboard for 6 months in 2008 and has joined us again in 2011. She is transitioning into the role of candy buyer. An interesting fact is that she is the youngest of 6 kids, and she loves our selection of Irish and English breakfast teas. Yorkshire Gold being her favorite.
Carley Moreng
Carley was born in Fort Collins, attended CSU, and joined The Cupboard staff in 2011. She is involved in the all important job of stocking food and gadgets, so you may not always see her. One day, she wants to be a nurse to special needs kids, but we are happy to have her here until then. She loves our diverse hot sauce selection, as well as our gluten-free mixes.
Emily Peterson
Emily joined The Cupboard staff in 2011 after having worked several years in retail. She loves her three year old daughter, as well as experimenting in the kitchen, running, good wines, going out with friends, and yoga. She uses her bamboo steamer daily, and loves our vast cookbook section. She also loves the smell of our ground coffee.
Ben Thomas
Ben joined The Cupboard staff in 2011. He has an extensive background in retail as well as graphic design. He loves the outdoors, and especially likes hiking, biking, and fishing. He is also passionate about cooking, screen printing, and tie-dying. He loves Jackie’s Java and Charlie Coffee, and has a fondness for licorice caramels and salt licorice buttons.
