Meet Our Dream Team

 

CHRISTIE
Founder/Owner

ERIN
Graphic Design

ANGEL
Social Media

JEREMY
Mixology

Christie J. Lawler

Founder & Owner

christie@cjlconsults.com

“Wake up every day with something to be excited about.”

Christie founded CJL CONSULTiNG in 2009 while completing her MBA as a way to stay engaged in her career while completing her studies. As Founder & Owner of CJL CONSULTiNG, Christie supports clients by creating beverage marketing and training programs for the likes of Alamo Drafthouse, American Social, Arcis Golf, Drive Shack and Flagship Restaurant Group. Christie is also the host of Lawler Out Loud: Mixing up the Mainstream – a weekly podcast featuring trendsetters and newsmakers around the hospitality industry.

Prior to the re-brand of CJL CONSULTiNG in 2017, Christie was consulting with AREAS, Smokey Bones and Shula’s after spending seven years serving as the National Accounts Manager for both Sidney Frank Importing Company and Lavazza. After managing more than 200 accounts across the U.S., she was excited to bring her knowledge of the sales side full circle to help her company’s clients drive their beverage strategy forward.

Before entering the world of sales, Christie worked as a newspaper reporter and went on to create the marketing office for MWR Europe covering Southern Germany while stationed overseas with her active-duty husband. Upon moving back to the U.S. in 2004, Christie got her first taste of national accounts beverage marketing while creating training and beverage programs for HMSHost, Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Outback Steakhouse and House of Blues.

In 2018, Christie discovered her deepest purpose so far as she developed the charitable side of her company founding The WITI Group, a 501(c)(3) foundation focused on supporting and helping the women of the hospitality industry. She is also proud to serve as a CORE Ambassador.

CJL CONSULTiNG is WBENC Certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business and Christie serves on the Board of Directors for the Glancy Wine Education Foundation, the Co-Chair of the CORE Ambassador Welcome Committee and an advisory board member for Datassential’s “The Bar,” she’s a member of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce and volunteers with the Women’s Business Center of Houston.

Christie also speaks publicly on corporate culture strategy, marketing, branding and sales strategy. You can catch Christie’s next speaking engagements on marketing and team-building strategies on March 21st and 23rd in Las Vegas during the Bar & Restaurant Expo 2022. Contact us if you would like Christie to speak to your team.

Read Christie’s story and listen to her interview with Susan Freeman on the Freeman Means Business Podcast here.

Erin Boxberger

Graphic Artist & Designer

“Passion and creativity drive life forward.”

Erin is more than a designer, she is a world-class athlete and brilliant young mind. She has been working as a freelance artist since 2013 and is currently training with the United States Rowing Team, vying for a spot on the 2020 Olympic team to compete in Tokyo.

Erin joined CJL CONSULTiNG in 2018 to work on projects for Buffalo Wings & Rings, The WITI Group and The WITI Conference. She recently graduated with a double major from the University of Notre Dame. When she’s not on the water with her team or sitting behind a computer designing gorgeous artwork, Erin spends her free time reading and enjoys writing about her experiences in training and in life.

Training since 2014 has allowed Erin the unique experience of connecting with a wide range of people interested in rowing and in the pursuits of Olympic athletes. Erin is passionate about graphic design, marketing and branding and enjoys working with clients who share her excitement in tapping into this highly skilled talent pool.

Erin’s work with CJL CONSULTiNG allows her the flexibility to focus on her career development outside of her rigorous training schedule. She has made a huge impact on CJL CONSULTiNG providing brilliant work on short deadlines. Erin’s talent flourishes in her projects and she enjoys working with Christie and CJL CONSULTiNG because the company is passionate about the projects they pitch and that energy and care makes her contributions fun to bring to fruition.

Angel Vasquez

Social Media Guru

“The art of the image is found by illustrating the soul.”

Angel, a photographer by trade, managed to combine her love of the craft with her passion for travel and cocktails into her trade.  She is the brilliant mind behind some of the most followed industry pages on Instagram. The Cocktail Portal was founded in March of 2016, becoming the first video cocktail account and is now the largest original content creator for video craft cocktails. Angel also created BartendersPortal and The Wine Portal and has devoted her career to lifting up others in our industry by highlighting their skills and personalities through her artforms – photography and videography.

Angel has searched and traveled the world for the best bartenders and in doing so, has inspired bartenders worldwide to elevate the craft. She’s traveled to Hong Kong, London, Mexico City, New York, Austin… just to name a few. Angel’s natural curiosity has led her to interview bartenders, managers and owners on what works.

For CJL, Angel runs and develops all of the content for the CJL CONSULTiNG, The WITI Group and JAB MiXOLOGY pages on Instagram and Facebook. She has also served as our official photographer and videographer for all things The WITI Group since joining our organization in 2019. In this time, she has not only created incredible content, but she has captured the beautiful souls of the WITI Mentor Members through their headshots, video reels and candid moments. She also shoots CJL’s client bartenders for her content on The Cocktail Portal to add value to our accounts and create visibility for their team members while promoting their food and beverage programs through our feeds.

Jeremy J. Parsons

Mixology & Culinary Development

“Toast life every chance you get!”

In 2008 and 2009, Jeremy and Christie worked together to entirely revamp the beverage program at House of Blues, traveling together for six weeks training all Foundation Room bartenders on molecular mixology and the new beverage program. Today, they work together in a strategic partnership to help grow each other’s companies.

Jeremy is the founder of two successful international F&B businesses. The first, “Cocktails The Fluid Experience,” involves shaking up cool cocktails and promoting brand awareness with events that pop up anywhere across the country, from swanky restaurants to your local street festival. The second, “Invite Catering,” is a full-service catering company bringing the perfect food and drink pairings to special events and parties. Parsons has also created beverage programs and consulted for many notable clients including The House of Blues, Foundation Room, and Wynn Casinos.  Parsons has the longest resume of brand ambassadorships and product launches in Canada and now brings his recipes, tips and expertise to home-kitchens with his newest cook book, “Invite: Cocktails, Canapés & Company.”  This book is the ultimate home entertaining guide filled with Jeremy’s fan favorites that he has made for exclusive event parties across North America and the Caribbean.  Jeremy is Canada’s top culinary mixologist and a main stay of morning shows nationally.

Jeremy is a regular contributor on TV shows, magazines, newspapers and blogs and is one of the most sought after home entertaining experts because of his vast knowledge of food and drink as well as his experience from running thousands of events over his career. His critically acclaimed co-authored book “Cold Tea At Three” features many of his best entertaining tips and cocktail recipes. His second book, “Invite: Cocktails, Canapés & Company” is now available via Amazon and Williams Sonoma. In the past he was featured in the role of “Entertaining Guru” on CH Morning Live as well as “Come Dine With Me Canada.”

Jeremy has worked with numerous restaurants and bars and brings his unique culinary style to every recipe that lands on a plate or gets poured into a glass that continue to wow audiences and clients alike. His innovation and creativity makes him a leader in culinary mixology and one of the most dynamic personalities in the industry.

Marketing. Support. Transparency.

Connect With Us
832.770.8866
chat@cjlconsults.com
On Facebook @cjlconsulting and @thewitigroup
On Instagram @cjl_consulting_llc and @witigroup
On LinkedIn CJL CONSULTiNG LLC and The WITI Group
A Proud Member of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce and a Certified Woman-Owned Small Business