Rogers Collection’s approach is simple: source and serve the finest goods from uncompromising, accomplished producers. Our incredible team is dedicated to this.
Carrie Blakeman
Collaborating with others who hold the same ethos and values as she inspires, Carrie builds a conscious community of food creators, culinary authorities, and consumers. Her day-to-day is focused on the importation of uncompromised goods, as well as telling the stories of these goods and their makers –- a task that involves complete transparency of the supply chain from farm or factory to plate. One interaction at a time, a true purist, Carrie champions producers’ work and labor of love–their merchandise – while upholding a smart and independent team also dedicated to this pursuit. She received a B.A. from Hofstra University. A 1988 study abroad trip to Italy confirmed Carrie’s admiration for good food and respect for tradition and culture. She’s dedicated herself to bringing that acumen to Rogers Collection for more than a decade. Whether at the office, meeting chefs and retailers all over the U.S. or venturing to Europe on a sourcing trip, she never goes anywhere without her “Pinch Me” tin of Halen Mon Sea Salt from Wales, and takes every opportunity to travel with, eat with and nurture her two beautiful daughters, Kyra and Teagan.
Jen Bonaccorsi
Jen credits her appreciation for food and importance of quality to her family. Her parents still drive over an hour on the weekends to get cheese and bread; making homemade pasta as a family during Christmas is a daylong event, and apple season evokes memories of taking a turn at her uncle’s hand crank cider press. Food eventually turned from passion into a career when she realized that the most gratifying experiences came when cooking for friends and family. This prompted an early exit from a socially responsibly mutual fund company where she had been working as a social analyst for five years after college, and enrollment at New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, VT. After graduating, Jen spent the next four years acquiring cooking experience at a variety of restaurants from fine dining, bistro, and farm to table to a bakery and had the opportunity to work under James Beard Nominated and awarded chefs. Through word of mouth, she discovered Rogers Collection and hasn’t looked back. “The opportunity to work at Rogers Collection and represent such dedicated and passionate producers making amazing ingredients is a true honor,” says Jen. “The families we work with remind me of my family; food comes first.”
Jason Arela
Jason started working for Rogers Collection in April 2011 as a part time employee. In 2012, Jason became a full time employee. Prior to working for Rogers, Jason spent six years in retail. Jason has lived his whole life in New Jersey and a big passion of his is hockey. Living in New Jersey, he became a fan of the local hockey team the New Jersey Devils. He has been to many different hockey arenas to see the team play during his 20-plus years following the team. His hard work and dedication has paid off because he just became a first time home owner!
Nigel Lindgren
Nigel grew up in Yarmouth, Maine in a food-loving family that encouraged exploring new foods from a young age. Meals were cooked at home and olive oil was used on everything! He was focused on academics, sports, music, and art growing up, and after high school received a B.A. from Wheaton College in Massachusetts. He studied abroad in Cork, Ireland for one semester, where he had Italian roommates, and his eyes were opened to the vibrancy of other cultures. After hearing about the interesting work Rogers Collection was doing helping traditional producers overseas, Nigel met Carrie for a cup of coffee to learn more about the exciting world of food imports. Months later, he joined the team. Nigel’s daily responsibilities focus on maintaining and building quality customer relationships and helping clients source the highest quality ingredients from the beautiful producers that Rogers Collection represents from 10 different countries. When not immersed in the specialty food world, Nigel can be found spending time with his beautiful wife and baby boy, enjoying family nature hikes, sea kayaking, snowboarding, and playing his didgeridoo.
Karen Farber
Hailing from the “other” Portland, Karen has called Maine home for 15 years. Prior to joining Rogers Collection in the fall of 2015, Karen wrote software, wrote words, argued for civil rights and held down the office at one of Maine’s small batch, craft distillers. A dabbler in travel, Karen has taken multiple cross-country trips (by car and train) and eaten her way around and about the Mediterranean region. Currently, she is daydreaming about her next venture—the only certainty is that deep, full-bodied red wines and new foods will be involved.
Lydia Burns
Lydia comes to Rogers Collection with many years of experience working in the cheese world, and brings her expertise and adventurous approach to life and food as our self-titled Cheese Maven for Education & Outreach. She has a professional theatre background and has experience living and working on a biodynamic farm in New Zealand. Lydia got her degrees in Art History and History of Philosophy and Science; the former led her to Amsterdam where she fell in love with cheese and a subsequent decade and a half working at some of the most esteemed gourmet shops in New York City and Chicago. She spent six years working for Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread and Wine in Chicago as Senior Manager of Procurement and three years at Marion Street Cheese Market as Director of Wholesale Cheese Program. These gigs allowed Lydia–as she fondly puts it– “to schlep cheese all over the city to some of the best restaurants around.” Through these experiences, including international trade shows, is where she was introduced Rogers Collection. Lean on Lydia for her amazing energy and input on any of your sample selections, tasting notes, educational materials, or orders!
Tess Dunlap
Introduced to the gourmet food world through her interest and work in sustainable food systems management, Tess is happy to have found Rogers Collection, where she can merge her love for food and knack for storytelling. She was managing domestic logistics for Rogers starting in 2016, and has since transitioned to the role of managing creative media content for RC’s online platforms and marketing. Tess has lived on both coasts, graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 2014, and has experience working in food distribution in the Hudson Valley, NY. She can also be found designing living art with flowers for weddings. Her favorite Mahjoub item from the collection is anything artichoke!
Jhon Gutierrez
Jhon defines himself as an entrepreneur, a dreamer clinging to reality, with many aspirations and challenges to meet. He is passionate about nature, working, traveling and discovering new destinations. He likes to exercise and walk in the morning, and his favorite sports are soccer and basketball. Jhon is a father of two children and he is passionate about sharing special vacations with his family. He joined Rogers Collection in 2021.
Ken Crerar
What they say about Italian-American mothers is true – and Ken’s mom is no exception. Ken’s passion for good food and appreciation for high quality ingredients was taught to him by his mother who presided over the kitchen of the family home in Hamden, CT. Her sauce recipe along with the ritual of the family meal and honoring the traditional foods of the seasons and holidays allowed Ken to understand food as a cornerstone of life with meaning greater than sustenance alone. Extensive travels abroad further grew this appreciation and delight in discovering new tastes. Ken wears many hats, including President/CEO of the Counsel of Insurance Agents and Chairman of Rogers Collection. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his husband and two sons and can usually be found in the kitchen.