About Us – People
Our great sales staff offers you decades of collective knowledge and expertise. Find out who to contact in your area...
Charlene Murdock
Principal
503-357-4992, 800-234-3688
Fax: 866-880-9917
charlene@murdockandwhite.com
Charlene has always had her hands in the dirt -- so to speak. As a child she grew up in a family of farmers and learned the value of real, farm-raised food. As part of her formal education, she spent a year in France and Spain where she gained immeasurable knowledge of European food and culture.
She began her professional career as a bibliographic librarian profiling romance language textbooks. Her passion for food eventually led her back to a small farm in Gales Creek, Oregon, where her goal was to grow, harvest and preserve everything on her family's table. It was through an association with neighboring wineries that she was introduced to several Oregon producers of specialty foods. The inspiration to take these wonderful products to market matched her own dedication to wanting to know where food for her family and friends comes from. The original connection to people through the soil has now been broadened to include products the world over.
Richard White
Principal
503-357-4992, 800-234-3688
Fax: 866-880-9917
richard@murdockandwhite.com
Richard has been in the specialty food business, officially, since retiring from a 21-year career in the US Public Health Service (assigned to the Environmental Protection Agency) in 1987. Prior to that point, Richard's food experience was heavily influenced by his mother's cooking -- wonderful recipes with the best ingredients, which included vegetables from the family's own garden. Even the government travel around the country provided a glimpse of many regional cuisines.
Perhaps the greatest influence to his career was his involvement with the Northwest Enological Society, from 1976 to 1988. In addition to expanding his knowledge of wine, he was introduced to an endless variety of gourmet foods and their preparation. Upon retiring from the Federal Government, Richard immediately jumped into the gourmet food business as a broker of several northwest food producers.
Chris Allen
Seattle Metro Area (except NW), San Juan Islands, Western Canada (BC & Alberta) and Alaska
206-459-5661
Fax: 800-210-1798
chris@murdockandwhite.com
Chris Allen has accumulated 20 years of experience in the Food & Beverage industry from restaurant and retail management to purchasing and product development. Chris is available for employee and consumer product education, category consultation and private label development.
She enjoys gardening, cooking, wine, chocolate and collecting 19th century cookbooks. Being an avid supporter of sustainable agriculture Chris loves to eat the heirloom vegetables that come from Richard & Charlene's Portland Farm!
Ann Gruber
Eastern & S.W. Oregon, Montana & Idaho grocery and gift accounts
ID & MT Accounts, 208-457-1222
Oregon Accounts, 503-939-4989
Fax: 866-217-0978
ann@murdockandwhite.com
Annette Jackson
Eastern Washington grocery and gift accounts, and wineries in Eastern Washington & Oregon
509-735-6350, 877-755-5509
Fax: 509-735-2312, 866-725-2405
annette@murdockandwhite.com
Annette Jackson lives in Kennewick, Washington and comes to us through her involvement in the wine business. She and her husband, Darren, were very involved in the California wine industry, relocating to be a part of Washington's burgeoning wine community several years ago. Annette graduated from the University of California at Davis with a B.S. in Home Economics and Foods and Nutrition specialization.
Her career highlights include catering, restaurant management, winery hospitality coordinator and tasting room manager: before starting her own business as a sales consultant to winery tasting rooms. Having grown up in the Bay Area in CA, Annette loves to cook and dine out. Her other passions are gardening, travel, voracious reading and most of all, raising her young daughter to follow in her parents "foodie footprints."
Chelsea Jess
Olympic Penninsula & South Puget Sound
360-930-0474, 877-930-8132
Fax: 360-930-0472, 877-930-8133
chelsea@murdockandwhite.com
Chelsea Jess has lived in the Pacific Northwest all her life; growing up on the Olympic Peninsula and later moving to Poulsbo with her husband Adam. She started sales in the chocolate business, with Schokinag Chocolate, about 6 years ago. After having a baby and taking some time to stay home she has joined the team at Murdock & White and looking forward to building relationships with her new customers.
Chelsea and Adam love spending time with their daughter Addison, showing her new adventures. They enjoy drinking wine, cooking, traveling and being outdoors together as a family.
Teeter McPherson
Seattle area key gift accounts
206-517-4313
Fax: 206-517-4314
teeter@murdockandwhite.com
Teeter McPherson started working in sales, buying and merchandising 30 years ago in the quiet village of Kailua-Kona, on the Big Isle of Hawaii. The lure of Hawaii and owning her own store, Tickle Pie, kept Teeter's attention until 1986. Upon returning to the Pacific Northwest, Teeter joined the Kerr family at their established interiors business, Keeg's, in the colorful world of Capital Hill. During her 5 years at Keeg's, Teeter was introduced to an up and coming master of the gourmet foods arena, Charlene Murdock. By 1991 Teeter had joined Charlene to embark upon her career at Murdock & White, and she has never turned back.
Kathy Passage
Distribution Support
206-542-4821, 877-753-9289
Fax: 866-295-1316
kathy@murdockandwhite.com
Kathy Passage has worked in the specialty foods industry for over 15 years; in Arizona and starting with Murdock & White in 1997. Her background includes manufacturing of gourmet desserts, owning a restaurant, catering, making gift baskets, giving cooking demonstrations, education and product sales. She is well versed on specialty foods and loves to support the sales of products combined with education classes for staff and consumers, demo suggestions, recipes and POP displays.
Megan Peters
Portland Metro East, South to Salem & S.W. Washington grocery and gift accounts
971-212-5576, 877-218-5576
Fax: 866-373-8503
megan@murdockandwhite.com
Megan Peters grew up in the Bay Area, and in 1999 moved to Portland, Oregon with her husband, Larry. Megan brings with her an extensive retail background and a love for all things "foodie". For many years she has shared her love of food with her close friends Liz Sleeper and Annette Jackson, so when the opportunity arose to join the Murdock & White team she knew it was meant to be.
Megan and Larry enjoy exploring the neighborhoods close to their N.E. Portland home and introducing their grade school aged son to the wonders of the Northwest. Megan really loves the creative outlet that working with her gourmet food customers provides.
Jeanne Quan
National Accounts for The Tao of Tea
503-477-9620, 888-477-9620
Fax: 503-715-5752
jeanne@murdockandwhite.com
Jeanne has been in love with food forever as a chef, wine-country caterer, specialty retailer, import marketer, developer of award-winning specialty foods and throughout it all as a teacher and business coach.
She was the Sales and Marketing Director for the Peloponnese® brand and Founding President of the Mt. Vikos® sheep and goats’ milk cheeses imported from Greece where she was responsible for long-range strategic planning as well as day-to-day operations including sales, product development, customer service and public relations. While living in St. Paul, Minnesota she lead a team to revitalize the image and brand of the city’s 150-year old Farmers Market.
Jeanne serves on the Slow Food-Portland Convivium Steering Committee, Friends of St. Paul Farmers’ Market Advisory Board and is active in N.E.T. (Neighborhood Emergency Teams).
She is nurturing six fruit trees and is gradually taking over both the front and back yards to grow as much food as possible for herself, her family, friends and neighbors. When she’s not gardening, you’ll find her cooking or reading about food!
Liz Sleeper
Portland Metro West to N.W. Oregon Coast grocery and gift accounts
503-901-6425, 877-375-9241
Fax: 866-260-5488
liz@murdockandwhite.com
Liz Sleeper was raised in Dallas, Texas, then spent many years in Palo Alto, California, where she met her husband, Bill. She brought her extensive sales background to Portland, Oregon in 1999, attracted by Oregon's varied produce, fresh seafood, excellent wines and tasty micro-brews.
Liz and Bill love exploring the Pacific Northwest but spend most weekends entertaining at home where Liz very much enjoys tending her vegetable garden and creating new recipes. With two girls in grade school, Liz keeps very busy but thrives on the creativity involved in working with her customers in the gourmet food business.
Richmond Tracy
Selected Seattle and Eastside Metro accounts, retail and food service
206-427-8852
richmond@murdockandwhite.com