About NTP

Committee Members

Current Members

Michael Blake

Team Lead, NTP Wine Selection, Web Design

Mike is an American Wine Society Member for 17 years, a Certified Sommelier, Certified Wine Judge, WSET Level 3 and CSW. He has judged Wine Maker Magazine, Pennsylvania Winery Association Wine Competition, and American Wine Society Conference Amateur and Commercial. He was Chapter Chair for 8 years and is currently Regional Ambassador of Eastern Massachusetts. He is the 2022, 2023 & 2024 National Tasting Project Coordinator.

Charlie Landino

NTP Assistant, NTP Wine Selection

Charlie is a long-time wine enthusiast and collector who has been active in the American Wine Society (AWS) for 17 years as the co-founder of the Hudson, MA chapter, were he is currently the chapter chair. Prior to his AWS involvement, he studied wine at the Wine Society in Nashua, NH, completing the Wine Master class.
He is a Graduate Wine Judge with the American Wine Society, first certified in 2013.
He has these certifications: WSET Level 3 Wine certificate, Italian Wine Scholar (Wine Scholar Guild), French Wine Scholar (Wine Scholar Guild).
He has been active in wine competitions, judging at Winemaker Magazine, the American Wine Society amateur and commercial competitions and several other competitions.

Debbie Sayles

Web & Education Reviewer

Debbie’s adventures with American Wine Society began in 2016 in Central Massachusetts. The monthly chapter meetings enhance her novice enjoyment of wine. Debbie has attended all NTP and conferences offered since her enrollment. Inspired to expand in the area Debbie founded the Princeton Uncorked Chapter in 2018. She has led chapter meetings including NTP with enthusiasm. Previously, when asked what her favorite wine was, Debbie would reply “dry red”. Now, if asked, she might reply, “it depends on my mood”. Cheers.

Jeanna Boothe

NTP Assistant, NTP Food & Wine Pairings

Jeanna is an active member of American Wine Society for the past 10 years and is in year three of the AWS Wine Judge Certification Program.  She completed WSET 2 with Merit in 2023 and successfully completed the Côtes du Rhône and Republic of Georgia Online Wine Certificate Courses with Napa Valley Wine Academy. Jeanna is currently serving on the AWS National Tasting Project Committee working with Food and Wine Pairings.  Her wine judging got started with an opportunity at the Tennessee State Fair Wine Competition in 2023 and she was honored to judge at Wine Maker Magazine Competition in 2024 and 2025.  Judging opportunities also included Georgia Trustee Wine and Spirits in 2024. Jeanna enjoys traveling and particularly likes to travel to wine regions around the world.  Wine centric trips include: California, New York, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Chile, Argentina and France. Jeanna has been an active member of the North Alabama Chapter of AWS where she has served as Secretary and is currently serving as the Chapter Programs Coordinator.

Leigh Boothe

NTP Assistant, NTP Food & Wine Pairings

Through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, Leigh completed WSET 2 with distinction in 2024.  Leigh has since successfully completed the Côtes du Rhône and Republic of Georgia Online Wine Certification Courses with Napa Valley Wine Academy.  Leigh has been an American Wine Society (AWS) member for 10 years and recently passed year two of the AWS Wine Judge Certification Program.  He has served on the AWS National Tasting Project for the last two years working with Food & Wine Pairings.  Leigh has judged wines at the 2023 Tennessee State Fair Wine Competition, 2024 Wine Maker Magazine Amateur Competition and the 2024 Georgia Trustees Wine and Spirits Commercial Competition.  He also worked the backroom at the AWS Annual Conference for the Commercial and Amateur Wine Competitions and served as Table Captain at the ‘You Be the Judge’ sessions for the last two AWS Conferences.    Leigh is an avid wine and food lover, having been studying wine through tastings, classes, and world travels to wine regions.  Wine centric trips include: California, New York, Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Chile, Argentina and France.  Leigh has been an active member of the North Alabama Chapter of AWS having served as the chapter Newsletter Publisher and current Facebook Administrator.

Dr Karen Caroe, Ed.D

NTP Assistant, NTP Education

Karen joined AWS in 2022. She has been serving as the Education Director on the board of the Mesilla Valley Chapter in Las Cruces, New Mexico and was recently elected as Chapter Chair. Karen is a WSET 3, Certified Specialist of Wine, and a Level 2 Sommelier. She is wine writer for several publications and, although she enjoys traveling to global wine destinations, she loves traveling the United States consulting with small, boutique wineries and meeting winemakers. When she isn’t traveling, Karen works as the wine educator and VIP event planner for La Viña winery in La Union, New Mexico.

Jim Franklin

NTP Assistant, NTP Education

Jim has been a casual wine drinker since moving to the SF Bay Area in 1990. Now based in eastern MA, he discovered the AWS in 2019 and wine took over his life. He is a member of three local chapters and has chaired two of his own over the years. In 2021 he moved to London for 6 months to attend a food and wine school, and the mysteries and science of pairing has been a major focus of this newfound avocation ever since.

Previous Project Coordinator

Sharyn Kervyn

  • ^Rhone Rangers 2016
  • ^Sustainable Organic, Biodynamic 2017
  • ^Portugal 2018
  • ^Napa Valley Vintners 2019
  • ^Washington Wines 2020
  • ^Croatia & Bosnia 2021