Jan Carscallen ~ President

The wine and liquor business has been part of my life for over 40 years. Now I have the pleasure of watching my daughters Shannon and Lesle and her husband Matt, continue on with our family tradition. My father, John, originally started our family in the wine business.
I have been all over the world tasting wines from Italy, France, Ireland, California, Oregon, Washington State, just to name a few places. It gives me great pleasure to bring new wines to our customers. My goal is to have a place where my customers feel at ease, comfortable and confident. A place where they know they have the best and knowledgeable customer services to assist in any of their needs.

Lesle Heubach ~ Director of Operations/Sales Consultant

Since high school I have been working with my father, and thus gained over 25 years of experience. My passion for wine started over a bottle of Lodi Zin with some close friends. And has been growing ever since. Instead of returning to college, I chose to follow my passion for wine and follow in my family’s foot steps. The hands-on experience with my father than I could have gained from school. Now I am Director of Operations pertaining to ordering products, floor sales and bookkeeping.
In 2004 I went to Italy on a wine tour. Being there for 10 days allowed me to fall in love with their culture and their style of wine making. This was a wonderful experience in learning more about wines. I have to say that one of my specialties is Italian wines. Since Italy I have been to Napa Valley twice. Enjoying the culture so much, my husband and I chose to have our honeymoon in Napa Valley. I have participated in teaching a beginners wine class at Erie Community College (with Bridget) and also have done private home tastings.
I feel that there is a wine for everyone, even those who say “I don’t care for wine”. I tell them they have not had the right wine. You just have to have the right bottle and fall in love (Lodi Zin did it for me).
Some of my other specialties are French Champagne, Bourbons, after dinner liquors and California wines.

Matt Heubach ~ Manager/Sales

I have over 13 years of experience in the wine and liquor industry. I started working or Gates Circle at the age of 19 and shortly after that is when I fell in love with wine. Over the years I have found that I enjoy all types of wines reds, whites, domestic and imported but French still entices my pallet more than others. I also have a knack for pairing wine and food.
I have taken a large interest in Single Malts, especially, 12 year old and older whiskeys.
I have noticed that over the years more and more friends and family have been coming to me for advice on wines and spirits. I really enjoy this, knowing that I have learned quite a bit from working with Jan and the excellent staff at Gates Circle.
I am also very involved with the ever changing and growing wine selection at Gates Circle. PS I have become very knowledgeable on Gin’s and Irish Whiskey’s.

 

Shannon Carscallen ~ Manager/Sales

Being in my family business, since 2004, I have learned from them how to get intrigued by wine. This has influence me to develop my skills and knowledge through wine courses and world traveling. What surrounds wine, such as the culture, the taste, and the experience, helps me to gain my goals of helping people understand each wine. Then they can make their own wine choice to fit their palate and gratification. FYI... it’s rare I wear my hair straight.

Rich Cole ~ Sales Consultant

I have 33 years experience in the wines & spirits industry.
I was the prior owner of Main Place Liquors, located in downtown Buffalo, for 25 years. I served on the Board of Directors for Main Place Mall. In addition, I served on the Board of Directors for the Retail Liquor Association for 20 years.

Tyler Levitt ~ Sales Consultant

I spent my college years working back of house fine dining, mostly behind a sushi bar. I truly enjoyed and appreciated the fresh flavors, and felt like an artist at times combining them to achieve a finished product. This practice taught me more than just how to roll maki. I learned how to respect, and therefore please, my palate. After completing my schooling with a degree in economics, I wasn’t surprised to find few jobs in the area utilizing my skill-set and newly acquired expensive piece of paper. No economists needed in an upside-down economy. Feeling the need to escape the work hard play hard life in a kitchen, I looked to see what else I could find. I looked to see what my over privileged palate could do for me, and, what I could do to further my palate. Deciding to enter the fine world of wine, I applied to Gates Circle. I applied only to Gates Circle. Why anywhere else? Since then I have spent my days, on or off the clock, tasting, talking, reading about, and living wine. Life is good. Interests include drinking wine with friends, drinking wine with strangers, drinking wine alone, music, classic cars, and talking about ANYTHING. Try me.

Cynthia Paulnits ~ Front-end Associate

I’ve been with Gates Circle since 2007. I love working in this family orientated business. I have met so many wonderful and exciting people. I hope I can continue to be a part of all their lives.

Josh Kaplan ~ Front-end Associate

I moved from Florida about 8 years ago. After being an auto mechanic for several years, I decided to go for a change. I called up my uncle and asked him if he had an opening at the liquor store. It was just my luck that he was looking for help. I decided to pack up my belongings and truck up to Buffalo. Over the years of being at Gates I have learned much about wines and spirits. I really enjoy the customers and my co-workers.

David Zmitrewicz ~ Manager/Sales Consultant

After spending the first twenty years of my working career as a corporate accountant I decided to pursue my passions of food and wine by doing more than just eating and drinking. So in 1997 I opened Peabody's restaurant on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo as part owner and executive chef. Since 2001 I have been working in the retail side of wine and spirits and in 2010 I found a home at Gates Circle Wine & Liquor with other people who share my passion for wine. Come on down and share our passion..

Shelly Hewitt ~ Front-end Associate/Sales Consultant

I started working here in February 2010 after being a long time customer. I spent the first 10 years of my career in the food and beverage industry.  The last 5 years were in fine dining atmospheres that provoked a desire for more knowledge on wines and their affiliation with food.
In my short time here I have been fortunate enough to try wines from all over the world as well as fine scotch’s, whiskeys, and champagnes. 
I truly enjoy working for a family owned business right in my own neighborhood, and community. The people that I have met here have made this an enjoyable career and life experience.  I look forward to tasting and learning much more as well as meeting more of our valuable customers.

Brandon Schlia ~ Manager/Sales Consultant

I am a graduate of SUNY Fredonia with a BA in English, a minor in Music Business, and am currently pursuing an MA in Psychology. My experience with wine and spirits, up to this point, has been purely recreational but I've always had an interest in learning more about the subtle differences responsible for such a diverse industry. The more I learn, the more I enjoy the opportunity to share that knowledge with our customers.