 John-Paul Lee, co-founder and CEO of Tavalon Tea, was honored by the Asian American Business Development Center as one of the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business. Lee was honored at the Outstanding 50 Awards dinner, held June 10 at the Hilton New York.
Lee, who was born in Fairfax, Virginia, graduated from James Madison University in 2001 with two degrees. He received a BBA both in Finance and in Computer Information Systems. His first job was for Accenture, a global technology consulting and technology outsourcing company.
In 2005, still employed by Accenture, he experienced an epiphany while drinking a caffe latte in Covent Garden, London. He noticed that those around him were not sharing his coffee-drinking experience. They were enjoying sipping tea. Accustomed to the manic lifestyle inspired by fast-paced American coffee bars, Lee found this strange yet fascinating. On his return to the US, he shared his idea of tea with Sonny Caberwal, another Tavalon Co-founder.
They both quit their corporate jobs for the tea business. Lee sold everything he owned including his car, his house, and his stocks. He cashed in his 401K. used for credit cards, and took out two loans. Through their business skills and with the addition of Chris Cason, tea sommelier and third Co-founder, they have succeeded in creating and running an outstanding tea business. Tavalon has recently celebrated its fifth year.
The Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award is not Lee's first honor as a businessman. He was previously featured in Entrepreneur Magazine and is listed on America.gov as one of the successful start-up entrepreneurs who started their businesses in their teens and twenties.
Tavalon takes its name from the letter T in tea and Avalon, the mythical isle of Arthurian legend where wounded warriors go to be healed by Morgan Le Fey. It is analogous to Celtic Otherworld.
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