Meet Our Team
Our Team
Shana Race
Owner
Owner Shana Race has been bartending professionally for almost two decades, all around the world. Her experience, beginning in dive bars, has led her to managing award-winning cocktail programs and even creating a bartender themed podcast. Shana has created a mixology class format that teaches the craft and history of making cocktails while also being fun, hands-on, and engaging. Shana “brings the spirits” to everything she sets out to accomplish!
Nathan Howard
Operations Manager
Nathan Howard has been working in the Hospitality industry for 15 years now. He brings his sense of humor and conversational style to the forefront when bartending, aiming to make a connection with folks over the cocktails he prepares for them. Now, as the Operations Manager of TalkTales Entertainment, Nathan gets to share his love of crafting delicious flavor pairings with the groups he leads.
Cameron Johnson
MixMaster and Whiskeypedia host
Being born and raised just outside of Atlanta Georgia, Cam moved to Los Angeles after graduating from the University of Georgia with the dream of working in Hollywood. After serving as a Creative Development Executive at Paramount Television Studios, Cam pivoted his career to follow his other passion for the world of food and drink. Through years of working in the craft beer industry, gaining an encyclopedic knowledge of whiskey, and becoming a bit of an historian on mixology, Cam brings his knowledge and passion to the forefront of each and every class he teaches. Cam is also in the midst of studying to become a wine Sommelier.
Riley Chandler
MixMaster
Riley is a Los Angeles based bartender who has been mixing and shaking for 10 years now. Having worked in numerous craft cocktail bars, his main area of expertise is the American classics. He loves discussing things like the history and science behind the Old Fashioned or the origin story of the Manhattan and it’s many cousins! He has worked with TalkTales in some capacity since 2018 and is so excited to shake things up with you!
Joewell McKenzie
MixMaster
Joewell McKenzie is TalkTales’ Bay Area Mixologist extraordinaire! Based in San Jose, Joewell is the bar lead at Wild Rose as well as a co-host of 2coinTV. He aims to make people feel comfortable and confident in his mixology sessions, sharing his passion for beverage creation with the world. Joewell was just crowned the winner of the 3rd Gran Coramino Cup bartending competition! He now is a lifetime partner bartender for the Gran Coramino brand and will lead activations around the country.
Kelsey
Executive Bourbon Steward
Kelsey is an Executive Bourbon Steward from Louisville, KY. She has been in hospitality/food and beverage for over a decade, and has a passion for American Whiskey and Bourbon. Kelsey has been able to learn from the best whiskey destinations in Louisville, giving tours at both Stitzel-Weller Distillery (The home of Pappy VanWinkle) and Michter's Fort Nelson on the historical Whiskey Row. She is currently the Bourbon Steward for Hard Truth Distillery in Indiana. Let’s have some fun and learn a little while we’re at it!
Jay Calvert
MixMaster
I don’t consider myself an amazing bartender. To me bartending just ticked all the boxes I wanted from a career. You get to learn a lot about wine, beer, spirits, and their history and techniques. There is constant activity, and at times the job can be quite physically demanding. Also, in my career I’ve had the privilege to work with some talented and hard working chefs and kitchen crew who helped me further my understanding of flavors, both behind the bar and in my home kitchen. For many of our guests I’m their guide through the dining experience. Getting the right beverage in front of them, detailing specials and menu items, all the while keeping up with service bar tickets, washing glassware, and running the bus tubs up to dish. It can be a chaotic and crazy place behind the scenes, but wouldn’t have it any other way.
Edward Katzka
MixMaster
Edward Katzka has tended bar at craft cocktail spots on both coasts over his many years in Hospitality. He aims to please and entertain, spinning stories and sharing his trademark trivia facts for guests. While he’s not shaking things up, he’s spending time with his son, Gabriel.
Matthew schmuck
MixMaster
With over a decade of bartending experience, Matthew Schmuck has shaken, stirred, and poured his way across bars in Atlanta, Portland, Los Angeles, and even around the world through Zoom. As the General Manager of TalkTales Headquarters, with Pal's Beer Wine & Spirits. Matthew brings his deep knowledge of mixology, leadership skills, and passion for hospitality to the forefront, ensuring top-tier service and innovation behind the bar. Previously the Beverage Director for The Grant in LA, he has developed a keen expertise in crafting memorable drink programs. A true agave enthusiast, Matthew believes in the healing power of a well-made margarita and is always ready to share his love for exceptional cocktails with guests and industry professionals alike.
Sari Grossman
MixMaster
Sari Grossman is a seasoned bartender with a passion for crafting exceptional cocktails and delivering top-tier hospitality. With experience at renowned establishments like **The Varnish** in Los Angeles and **Cure NOLA** in New Orleans, she has mastered the art of balancing classic mixology with innovative techniques. At The Varnish, she refined her expertise in speakeasy-style cocktails, focusing on precision, balance, and storytelling through drinks. Her time at Cure NOLA deepened her appreciation for ingredient-driven mixology, further shaping her creative approach behind the bar. Whether she’s mixing a timeless classic or a bold new creation, Sari’s dedication to quality, guest experience, and the craft of bartending shines in every pour.
Dominick Dolnack
MixMaster
My name is Dominick Dolnack and I am a bartender from Orlando, Florida. I have a combined 11 years worth of experience inside the service industry, with 8 of them specifically focused on bartending. I bring a wide perspective of the craft, having worked in a variety of venues that include Micro Breweries, Hotels, Stadiums/Sport Events, Weddings, as well as traditional Restaurants, and I am enthusiastic about sharing what I have learned. The whole point to bartending is having fun and providing an environment that allows your guests to be comfortable and vulnerably themselves. And it is in the forming of these relationships and connections that the true rewards of bartending are found.
Rachel Pirana
MixMaster
Rachel is a seasoned bartender with over a decade of experience. Based in Miami, FL, she creates signature cocktails for events as well as top restaurant bar menus. Her passion goes beyond the Industry scene, however. Rachel is dedicated to teaching everyone how to become amazing mixologists if they want to learn! She loves sharing her insider knowledge and expert techniques to empower others to shake, stir, and pour like the pros
Morgan Stana
MixMaster
"With over 15 years of hands-on experience behind the bar, Morgan Stana brings a deep passion for mixology and a strong foundation in both classic and contemporary cocktails. Throughout her career, she's worked in a variety of high-paced environments - from lively neighborhood bars to award-winning cocktail destinations - developing a keen understanding of spirits, flavor profiles, and cocktail creation. Her goal in teaching cocktail classes is to share that knowledge in an approachable, fun, and informative way, helping others build confidence and creativity in their own cocktail-making skills. Based in Washington, D.C., while not behind the bar you can typically find her playing video games while hanging out with her dog Porter and cat Hyperbole."