Meet the AWS Team

Marianne Frantz, CWE, DipWSET, FWS, Advanced Sommelier
Founder & President of American Wine School

After several years of producing wine events across the country and leading wine tours in Bordeaux, France for American Express, Marianne founded the American Wine School in 2001. A Certified Wine Educator, Marianne holds a Diploma in Wine & Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) of London, and has also earned the Advanced Sommelier qualification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. After successfully participating in an educational competition sponsored by the Wines of Australia in the spring of 2008, Marianne became an educational Ambassador for Wine Australia USA. She is also a Certified Spanish Wine Educator, a Certified Rioja Educator, and a Certified Bourgogne Educator. She launched the Wine Scholar Guild courses in Chicago and is a French Wine Scholar.

Marianne has always been drawn to education. Prior to discovering her passion for wine, she taught high school chemistry after graduating with a Bachelor of Science from Wright State University. Most recently, Marianne completed a 2-year graduate program resulting in a Master of Education in Instructional Design for Digital Learning and is currently developing digital wine modules for online learning. In addition to teaching, she has produced culinary events across the U.S. with the world’s top chefs and winemakers. Outside of the classroom, Marianne contributes to various wine publications and conducts speaking engagements for corporate clients.

Shannon Crowley-Avella
WSET Program Manager

A graduate of Dominican University with a degree in Nutrition (2009), Shannon works with our team of educators and hundreds of American Wine School students each year to keep registration and bookings running smoothly. Shannon has an extensive background in restaurant accounting and over 15 years of food and beverage experience working at 312 Chicago in the Hotel Allegro. She is extremely passionate about wine and has completed both Level 1 & 2 of the WSET. When Shannon is not enjoying wine, she is enjoying time with her two young children, Rose and Luke.

Christy Fuhrman, DipWSET
Diploma Coordinator & Wine Educator

As a native of New Orleans, Christy Fuhrman developed an early affinity for the culture surrounding food, wine, and the arts. A childhood surrounded by art, she attended art school at Columbia College and Chicago quickly became her home.  Like many students living in a thriving metropolis, Christy began bartending to supplement a degree in the arts. The beverage world struck a chord with Christy and fueled her need to learn and grow. After learning the ropes in retail, and making the books to bottles connection, Christy set out to hone her skills in the restaurant world taking a job on the service and wine team at the iconic Charlie Trotter’s. On that small stretch of Armitage Avenue, working with Chef Trotter, Christy was able to marry her love of the arts with fine dining and gain a new appreciation for food, wine, and genuine table service. After leaving Charlie Trotter’s Christy worked at many highly regarded restaurants in Chicago and New York.  She was the Chicago Reader’s 2016 Best of Chicago Best Sommelier.  Christy currently holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wine & Spirits and an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers as well as a Certified Sake Professional.

Eamon Byrne, DipWSET
Wine Educator, Chicago

Originally from Ireland, Eamon moved to Chicago in the summer of 2013. His passion for wine developed over 10 years ago while studying for his undergraduate degree and working part-time for Ireland’s largest wine retailer. There, the manager took him under her wing, passed on her enthusiasm for wine, and pointed him towards the WSET qualification. In 2009, Eamon moved to New Zealand where he worked and conducted tastings in Central Otago. Having spent almost 4 years as a corporate trainer in financial services in Dublin, Eamon is thrilled to share his trainer skills by teaching for the American Wine School. Eamon currently works as Area Manager for Taub Family Selections. He holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines.

Kristen Ellis, DipWSET
Wine Educator, Chicago

A Midwest native, Kristen Ellis started her career in education by earning a teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee after studying history and political science. Instead of jumping right into the classroom after graduation, Kristen sold all of her belongings and moved to Rome, Italy. It was in Rome, while working as a tour guide in the Vatican Museums, she began to develop her passion for wine, food, and the culture of the wine industry. In 2013, after years of travel and exploration, her studies with the WSET brought her to Chicago, where she began to teach at the American Wine School. After serving as Wine Educator for Binny’s Beverage Depot for six years, Kristen wanted to gain knowledge on the production side of the industry and journeyed to New Zealand to make wine in Marlborough and Central Otago. Kristen has traveled extensively studying wine, is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), a French Wine Scholar, and holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. Currently, she resides in Glenview with her husband and serves as Illinois Market Manager for Caymus Vineyards.

Silvia Ortega Franco, DipWSET
Wine Educator, Chicago

Silvia came from Barcelona in 2015, changing the vineyard views of the cava country in her homeland for Lake Michigan in Chicago. In Spain, Silvia developed a career in the European environmental industry for 14 years, getting a vegetal biology and ecology science degree and an MBA, but it was after a wine trip when she decided to change her path, joining a 101 wine class in La Rioja in 2013. After that, there was no way out: she studied Oenology and Pairing in Granada and began to develop her passion for wine over her previous career. In 2016 she decided that WSET was the best way to build solid and critical knowledge about wine. Silvia is very excited to join WSET educators in the American Wine School. She holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines.

John Obrist, DipWSET
Wine Educator, Pittsburgh

John holds WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines as well as a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from Penn State University and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Psychology from Ithaca College. In addition to being an educator for American Wine School, John works as Sommelier for The Vineyards at Pine Lake in Columbiana, Ohio, and recently served as a Wine Judge for WineMaker Magazine’s 2024 Winemaker Competition. Previously, John owned online wine retailer WineJug LLC, wrote wine blogs for a prominent US producer, and led frequent wine tastings for both corporate and private clients. Outside of wine, John enjoys family, fitness, food and travel.

Evie Olson
Wine Educator, Chicago

Growing up in Minnesota, Evie came to Chicago as a television journalist, and when she was assigned to present a wine and spirits tv segment she discovered her passion for wine. Soon after Evie enrolled in the WSET program and made her way to becoming a Level 4 Diploma candidate. She has also had a multifaceted wine career working in nearly all aspects of the industry including retail, distribution, restaurants and even working a wine harvest in Willamette Valley. Her many roles, as well as her many travels to wine regions around the world, has given her the opportunity to taste an array of extraordinary wines and talk with the winemakers behind them. Having had a career as a television journalist before entering the wine industry, it’s always the stories behind the wines that entices her, and it’s these stories that she is passionate about sharing with others.

Jill Zimorski, Master Sommelier, DipWSET
Wine & Spirits Educator, Chicago

Born and raised in Charlottesville, VA, Jill Zimorski got her start in the hospitality industry while in studying sociology and biology at the University of Virginia. After graduating, she served in management roles in two local restaurants before moving to Washington, D.C. to work for several nationally-recognized chefs; notably Charlie Palmer & José Andrés. After two years at Charlie Palmer Steak on Capitol Hill, Zimorski left to work as a Sommelier for Andrés at his Penn Quarter restaurant, Café Atlantico, ultimately becoming the first beverage director for his company. As Beverage Director, she oversaw the award-winning wine and cocktail programs at José Andrés’ popular Washington, D.C. restaurants, including Café Atlantico which, under her direction, was named one of the most innovative in the country by The New York Times. In 2013, Jill assumed the role of Wine Director at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen. Once in the Windy City, Zimorski accepted a position as Sommelier at Chicago’s culinary gem and Michelin-starred, Alinea Restaurant. Within six months, she was promoted to Wine Director of the Alinea Group (Alinea, Next, Aviary & Roister). In 2016, Zimorski left the restaurant world to take an education-focused position of Champagne Specialist representing the Champagnes of the Moët Hennessy portfolio (Krug, Ruinart, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot & Moët & Chandon). Currently, Jill is the lead wine educator for DePaul University. Outside of work, Zimorski enjoys baking, gardening and entertaining and in September 2018, passed the Master Sommelier Exam. Jill is one of 273 professionals in the world (and one of 29 women in the United States) to earn this prestigious accreditation.  Jill successfully completed the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines & Spirits in 2019.

G. Anthony “Tony” Gatti, DipWSET
Wine Educator, Cincinnati

Tony took a circuitous path to his wine career. Originally from Cincinnati, he left at 17 to serve four years in the US Army as an Arctic infantryman and survival specialist in Alaska. In the years after, he lost track of time in the Caribbean, got a degree from the University of Arizona in Latin American Studies and Creative Writing, and traveled abroad with a wild abandon while working for adventure travel companies. He eventually settled down on St. Croix in the USVI, got married and had children. Wine came into the picture when Tony was offered the chance to run an all-Italian import company. Soon he built and managed an import/distribution business with global wine, spirit and beer products. In 2012, Tony left St. Croix for Chicago where is studied wine at the American Wine School. Tony is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), Certified Sommelier as authorized by the Court of Master Sommeliers, a French Wine Scholar, and holds a WSET Level 4 in Wines & Spirits. Currently, Tony is the Midwest/Great Lakes Regional Sales Manager for Hall Winery and, in a full circle move, resides in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Deborah Myers, DipWSET
Wine Educator, Cleveland

For Deborah, her career as a Travel Agent eventually sparked her passion for wine. She says it all started in New Zealand after visiting many wineries and falling in love with Sauvignon Blanc. After that trip, her pursuit for wine knowledge began. Shortly after she returned home from her trip, Deborah attended Wines of New Zealand hosted by Marianne Frantz. She was hooked. “Marianne was so terrific. I took the (WSET) Intermediate Immersion class the following month.” Deborah now holds the Level 3 WSET Certificate, is a Certified Specialist of Wine from the Society of Wine Educator, a Spanish Wine Educator offered by the Wine Academy of Spain and a French Wine Scholar. Outside of wine and travel, Deborah is a book worm who enjoys cooking! She holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines.

Giordana Sobel
Wine Educator, Detroit

Giordana is a Detroit-based wine educator and marketer that has lived, worked, and tasted around in the world. With a Masters in Wine Marketing from Bordeaux, she has worked for a winery in Tuscany, has completed wine harvests in Australia and Napa, and done consulting and wine exporting everywhere else in between! She is a Certified Specialist in Wine (CSW), holds her WSET Level III certificate, and is going for her Certified Wine Educator’s certification. Giordana is currently a candidate for the WSET Diploma. Champagne is her favorite wine and she always has a bottle chilled, ready to make the occasion!