Doug Duda, Executive Director

Doug Duda's childhood fascination with the intersection of culture and cuisine was only strengthened by the food-related jobs he held during law school at Boston University and business school at Harvard. His career has always led him back into the worlds of food and wine (he produces culinary travel showcases for the New York Times, Miami Herald, and Boston Globe), though occasionally he has been coaxed from his preferred role as impresario to host A&E's "The Well-Seasoned Traveler", make live personal appearances, and teach, demonstrate, inform and entertain.

Lesley Townsend, Director

Largely unaffected by her Harvard training in mathematics and Chinese history, Lesley translated her disparate interests and insatiable wanderlust into a string of seemingly unrelated work experiences (film editing in New Zealand, ESL teacher training in Hong Kong, AIDS education in Kenya), all to support the pursuit of her one true passion in life: food. She joined the team at Astor Wines & Spirits in 2005 with the intent of rounding out her experience as a proper gourmand with a bit of wine knowledge, only to be lured back into the fold a year and a half later by Astor Center. As one who is happiest when surrounded by chefs, winemakers, and an ample supply of pork products, it seems Lesley has finally found her true home.