In 1994, Tedde’s daughter, Heather Howitt, approached her with an exotic drink, CHAI, and said, “Mom, I think we can sell this stuff.”  After agreeing to help Heather launch the business, Oregon Chai was born.  For the first three years of the company and nearly one-million in sales, Tedde served as Chair of the Board of Directors.  She was responsible for all manufacturing of Oregon Chai and developed six new beverages for the company of which three were finalists for best new beverage at NASFT’s Fancy Food Show in New York. Their strategy was to hire experienced professionals to help grow the business.  It worked, bringing the company to profitability, the leader of a “new” beverage category and over $35 million in sales when it sold in 2004 to Kerry Group for $75 million!

Tedde has been published internationally in “The Tea and Coffee Trade Journal” and “Tea International” and has written two books:  Million Dollar Cup of Tea, and a workbook:  How To Take Your Food Product to Market.  As co-founder of Oregon Chai, Inc., Tedde has been a featured speaker on the history of chai and the beginning and growth of the company at “Coffee Fest,” a tradeshow for the coffee and tea industry, the “Culinary Alliance, Oregon Gourmet Foods Trade Association” and for groups of business development professionals for the World Affairs Council.  She shared her strategies for success with The Performance Center’s “Breakfast for Excellence Series” and the Beaverton Chamber of Commerce.  Tedde has also presented seminars on the history, lore and benefits of tea with several groups including a presentation at the Annual Meeting of HAFF, Hoyt Arboretum Friends and Family and the Tacoma Yacht Club’s Shipmates.  She has also given seminars on “How to bring your food product to market.”

As a consultant to entrepreneurs in the food industry, Tedde has helped companies with products as diverse as salad dressings, desserts, confections, beverage and animal treats and food. She recently helped develop Hemp Milk for Living Harvest, Inc.  The beverage was a finalist for best, new innovative product at the 2006 Natural Products Tradeshow in Baltimore and best new vegetarian product at Expo West in 2007.  The owner of one business Tedde helped said, “I was impressed by her candor and willingness to help.  Inspiring people (is) something that seems to come naturally to her.”

Tedde has a Bachelor’s degree in Arts & Letters from Portland State University.  She has been married to her husband, David, for over 40 years.  They have two children and two grandchildren.  She is a member and served on the Board of Directors for Portlandia Club a business women’s organization for networking and helping women in transition by providing mentoring and scholarships.  Other volunteer commitments have included the Dove Lewis Emergency Pet Hospital, the City of Portland Pedestrian Advocacy Committee, the Humphrey Boulevard Neighborhood Speed Bump Committee, the Hoyt Arboretum Friends & Family and a judge for the American Food Fight, a competition sponsored in part by the Food Innovation Center, Oregon State University.