Meet the Volunteers
Official Conference Cheesemongers
Meet the 2026 Official Conference Cheesemongers (OCCs). This team is a vital part of making ACS Annual Conference successful!
Austin Coe Butler, ACS CCP®
Austin is the Public Events & Education Director at France 44 in Minneapolis, MN. He grew up holding onto the hem of his grandmother's apron, and she instilled an early love of food, gardening, and books in him. In a former life, he was a lecturer at a German university but faced disillusionment in academic institutions and returned to working in food after a sabbatical botanizing New Zealand. He credits his time with cheesemakers in rural Virginia and the Italian Alps for his reverence for cheese, its stories, and the people and animals that sustain it.
Lindsey Fougeron, ACS CCP®
Inspired by her mother’s own passion for service and hospitality, Lindsey began working at H-E-B Grocery in 2012 as a Deli Representative, eventually making her way into the adjacent specialty cheese shop, and later gaining her ACS CCP certification in 2019. While studying for the ACS CCP Exam, Lindsey found a deep appreciation for American artisan cheesemakers and a passion for sharing the stories behind the cheese. This passion has led Lindsey to seek opportunities within the cheese community, including traveling to volunteer for the last two years at the ACS annual conference. Lindsey is celebrating 14 years with H-E-B Grocery, currently as a Cheese Shop Lead, alongside helping to train new and existing Cheese Shop associates in the Central Texas region.
Felix Mockler, ACS CCP®
Felix was raised to love good food, eating across cuisines from early childhood. While initially disliking cheese as a kid, his passion for it was sparked by a 5-year-aged Parmigiano Reggiano. Since then, his appreciation for cheese has only grown. After several years in fine dining, Felix discovered the cheese industry while working at a specialty food store. Joining Orrman’s Cheese Shop in Charlotte, NC, in 2018, he fell in love with cheese’s perfect balance of flavor, history, science, and artform. Felix became a CCP in 2020. Striving to make artisan cheese accessible to everyone, he enjoys watching a customer light up upon discovering a new cheese they love and sharing nerdy cheese facts. When not spreading a love for cheese, Felix works with LGBTQ+ mutual aid groups in Charlotte. He enjoys crocheting, listening to music, and petting friendly dogs he passes on the street.
Meet the Volunteers
Back of House Team
Meet the 2026 Back of House Key Volunteers. This team is a vital part of making the ACS Annual Conference successful!
Alice Larkin, ACS CCP®
Volunteer Coordinator
Originally from a small town outside Syracuse, NY, Alice spent much of their early years around animals and agriculture. Alice moved around chasing career curiosities for a few years until stepping behind their first cheese counter in 2012. Since then, they have worked at larger grocers and neighborhood shops in mongering, management and wholesale capacities. Intrigued by tradition meeting innovation, Alice became a CCP in 2017 in Denver. Alice has volunteered at past conferences and is excited and humbled by the opportunity to lead folks again through this year’s events as Volunteer Coordinator in Louisville!
Evan Talen, ACS CCP®
Inventory Manager
Evan's career has taken him from web designer and camp director to cheesemonger and restaurant general manager. Over the past 15 years, he's immersed himself in the world of cheese. In 2015, Evan earned his CCP certification from the American Cheese Society and served as an OCC in 2019. That year, he also won 1st place at the Cheesemonger Invitational, later competing at CMI Masters in 2023 and 2025. Evan is now the owner of "The Flavor Sherpa," a cheese-centric events and catering business in Grand Rapids, MI. While cheese is still a passion, he mostly loves spending time hiking or at a park with his wife, Hope, and daughter, Frankie.
Erin Connolly, ACS CCP®
Receiving Manager
Erin is thrilled to be returning in her role and brings a wide range of food and beverage experience. She grew up professionally with Whole Foods Market as a Specialty retail buyer, trainer, and team leader and is currently living in Minneapolis working as a freelance cheesemonger providing sales and marketing support through education, events, and in-store demonstrations. Erin achieved ACS CCP® certification in 2017 and is also a Cicerone® CBS and Cheese State Scholar.
