Our Mission Statement
The world before us entails an endless array of choices that define who we are as people – the way we look, the things we enjoy, the places we go. Within this vast cacophony of choices and ideas and sales pitches, we at Well-Sewn believe in the ability to live our best lives, without necessarily draining ourselves of our financial resources. We hold the idea that people can become connoisseurs of fine living – without being of ample means – sacrosanct, for everyone deserves to experience the pleasures of this world and the full measure of what life has to offer. Our readers particularly deserve a repository of knowledge that can help them make the smartest choices in matters of fashion, culinary delights, travel, wine and spirits, and other quality of life instruments.
Well-Sewn is the culmination of this belief, a belief in helping people lead better lives through better choices.
We reject the notion that experiencing luxuries in life is an ideal restricted to those of special means, for there exists at every station in this world the chance to lead a more fulfilling life. We will bring articles and reviews on the latest in culinary trends, fashion, liquor and spirits, travel, and everything from the finest cigars and tobacco to quality accessories. Our team will help bring you the latest information to improve your health and wellbeing and will present content from a variety of academic disciplines to provide our readers with a balanced, informed, and nuanced worldview. In all these endeavors, Well-Sewn will work to establish itself as the premiere lifestyle enhancement brand, for everyone deserves to live the Well-Sewn life, and truly become a connoisseur of all things.
For a more detailed explanation of what Well Sewn is – and is not – read more about what defines us here.
Our Philosophy
The editors and contributors at Well-Sewn believe in one thing above all else, which motivates our actions here: helping people get the most out of a world with endless opportunity. Our content is produced with the belief that people of all walks, of all financial means, can embrace the choices presented for the betterment of their standard of living. We believe in doing our due diligence, and painstakingly craft each article, review, concept, and offering, with the expectation that our readers can henceforth make the best possible choices. Each member of our team enters into this unspoken agreement, to use their years of experience and knowledge to produce first-class content that reflects on our not only own personal choices and desires, but those of the people we choose to call our family and friends. We seek to live our best lives alongside our readership, for if we ourselves cannot endorse a particular product, service, or idea, we would never want to push that choice of goods onto our readers. Connoisseurs deserve the best from which to choose.
About the Team
In keeping with our philosophy of presenting the best, most researched and endorsed content we can, Well-Sewn has acquired a coterie of writers around the world from various backgrounds that collectively bring decades-worth of experience in their areas of expertise. Each author brings to their specialty a unique purview that can help make our readers’ lives better, and each author works with that singular purpose in mind – to create exceptional content that helps inform their readers to the many goods, products, services, and concepts in the world that can elevate the mundane and the ordinary to the extraordinary. The staff of Well-Sewn work tirelessly to keep up to date both with breadth of knowledge and with the latest trends in a variety of fields to help establish our brand as the first one that readers can trust for quality and honesty.
Team Biographies
Bryan Ergle, Proprietor
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Bryan is a sommelier and business analyst by trade, working in technology within the banking industry for most of the past decade. A graduate of Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina with a degree in international business and published author, he is the creator behind the original concept of Well-Sewn, having worked and researched over the years to bring together the right contributors to bring it to life. He also swears he will eventually finish his MBA from the University of South Carolina, despite the snail’s pace with which he has had the opportunity to work on it.
As one of two sommeliers amongst the contributors of Well-Sewn, Bryan leads our wine section, and heavily contributes to men’s fashion, fragrances, travel, grooming, and opinions, as well as many if not most of our other topics. He also contributes to individual and group audio and video productions. Originally from North Augusta, South Carolina, Bryan has called Charlotte home for the past fifteen years. Outside of work, and his time with Well-Sewn, he enjoys traveling, SCUBA diving, and writing, and volunteers his time as a counselor.
“Well-Sewn, to me, is the re-establishment of an ideal, that people should be driven to better themselves, present themselves well, and grow – not out of pride, but because it was once natural for all of us to go farther, stand tall, and look beyond the horizon… because that’s how we, and through us we hope all of humanity, improves.”
Hannah Flowers, Host and Senior Editor
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Hannah is a residential real estate agent in the Charlotte area, having worked previously as a corporate and commercial real estate paralegal in boutique law firms, and project director for a media company.
Born in Orange, California but raised in the Charlotte area for most of her life, she prides herself on knowing the city inside and out, and always having recommendations for restaurants, activities, or neighborhoods. She graduated UNC Charlotte with a degree in Sociology and double minor in Religious Studies and American Studies (magna cum laude).
In addition to real estate, a few of her passions include red wine, baking, travel, loving every animal in the world and true crime podcasts. Her hobbies include playing music (particularly the fiddle), kayaking the Catawba River, and volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Carolina as a Big Sister. The loves of her life are her rescue dog and cat, Bonnie and Frank.
As a Well-Sewn host and editor, she happily contributes to wine, food, travel, fragrance and fashion, and anything else she can inject her opinion in.
Ben Torres, Associate Editor
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Ben is an established veteran of the hospitality industry, managing a variety of concepts over the last 15 years in the Charlotte and Boston markets. A graduate of Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina with a degree in Business Management, he is excited to contribute to the content of Well-Sewn and provide something elevated and unique for the community. Not one to let the world slow him down, Ben got married to Chelsea in July 2020, and they now have a little bundle of joy named Elizabeth who always keeps them on their toes. He currently works as the Director of Operations for The Menagerie Hospitality Group, which focuses on creating a variety of warm and welcoming concepts for markets in the Carolinas to enjoy.
As a sommelier and executive bourbon steward, Ben often finds himself wandering into a variety of topics that interest him – at Well-Sewn, his focus will often be on the culture and atmosphere
surrounding cigars and other luxury tobacco forms (and finding amazing pairings to go with them). Originally from the Ohio Valley, Ben has spent most of his adult life in the Charlotte market (with a couple detours to Austin and Boston) helping small businesses elevate their operations by being efficient and practical in everything they do. By digging deeper into the story behind brands, products, and services, he has found a niche in managing teams and environments with complete honesty and transparency – something that the hospitality industry has often lacked over the years. Outside of work, he taps into his musical abilities (having played piano for over 20 years and guitar for over 15) by spending time leading music at his church.
“Well-Sewn provides an opportunity for all of us to excel in different parts of our lives that we may have previously felt were out of reach for a variety of reasons. By taking the experiences and education of everyone in our network, this team has stumbled across an amazing chance to both create and share an elevated culture in a society that has strayed drastically from pursuit of that ideal.”
Steve Price, Lead Editor
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Steve is a native of Western North Carolina, having spent all but one month living in his beloved Charlotte home. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s global campus with degrees in journalism and communications, and he also possesses a master’s degree in religion from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He also attended Belmont Abbey College where he majored in English and philosophy and is currently pursuing his doctorate in history from Liberty University.
As a lead editor and senior contributor to Well-Sewn, Steve will be bringing his expertise to the knowledge and skills section in addition to periodically submitting entries in other sections. An aspiring children’s hospital chaplain currently beginning his residency, he is also an avid writer and musician, having spent several years playing locally in Gospel and blues rock groups. In his spare time, he enjoys cigars and fine spirits with friends, listening to his beloved Pink Floyd and watching and writing on sports. He is a diehard supporter of the Boston Red Sox, Carolina Hurricanes, Carolina Panthers and University of Alabama football team.
“Well-Sewn, to me, reflects the passion that we all have for helping people, deep down. There’s not a single person in this project working towards means other than giving people insights into leading a more fulfilling life. It’s why I love this project, and especially love the team assembled to make this project a reality for our readers.”
Elizabeth Janson, PA-C, Associate Editor
Austin, Texas, USA
Elizabeth is a certified physician assistant whose experience spans cosmetology, cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, and non-surgical medical aesthetics. She joined our practice in 2021 from New York City, where she specialized in plastic surgery. She is certified through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is licensed through the Texas Medical Board. She is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, the Association of Plastic Surgery Physician Assistants and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Elizabeth’s journey in aesthetics started in 2004 when she became a licensed cosmetologist. She then chose to pursue her bachelor of science degree at Colorado State University, where she studied nutrition, the health sciences, and cardiac rehabilitation. A native New Yorker, Elizabeth returned to her home state for her medical training as a physician assistant and began her career in New York City in plastic and reconstructive surgery. “We are all unique and diverse individuals, not carbon copies of one another,” says Elizabeth.
Elizabeth enjoys being active by practicing daily yoga, playing volleyball and tennis, sailing, and walking her miniature bernedoodle, Truffles. Volunteerism is important to Elizabeth; she has served as a volunteer in New York and Texas with food pantries, Emergency Medical Services and the Fire Department, and internationally with humanitarian medical clinics.
Eric Gomez, Senior Contributor
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Eric is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina who comes from an eclectic background with both parents’ being from foreign countries. His mom is from Merida, Yucatan Mexico and his father is from Havana, Cuba. Being raised by two diverse cultures in the south has helped Eric discover how to enjoy a variety of food and beverages, which gives him a well-balanced and robust palate. During high school Eric attended the Academy of Finance and began his career in the finance industry. Eric has worked in banking industry for over 24 years with most of his background in risk management.
On his free time, Eric enjoys traveling and trying new cuisines and cocktails around the world. Eric also enjoys cooking and sharing his creative dishes and cocktails with friends and families. In Eric’s early 20’s he had the opportunity to work with Red Bull Energy drink for 6 years, where he immersed himself in different restaurants and bars around the Charlotte area and befriending most of the business owners and employees. Building these relationships with restaurant owners and operators around Charlotte helped to launch Eric’s passion for the service industry and dining.
Eric is a jack of all trades but a master of none! You can find him enjoying a beer at a local dive bar or sitting down enjoying one of the best steaks at one of the top restaurants in Charlotte. He is truly a chameleon and adapts to any environment.
When Eric has a free moment, he dives into learning anything he can about cooking, creating unique dishes, and delightful cocktails. This hobby is a creative outlet for Eric as he combines flavors from different regions to create exceptional dishes and cocktails. When Eric is not in the kitchen or by the grill, you can find him in the gym or by a body of water enjoying a beach or a lake.
“Well-Sewn, to me, is the possibility to enjoy the finer things in life and the pursuit to engage and challenge yourself to become better mentally and culturally.”
Lauren Beasley, Senior Contributor
Lexington, South Carolina, USA
Lauren is known amongst her friends as “the writer,” but even though the gift of words seems to effortlessly flow, she chose a more challenging career path in life. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, with a degree in Biology and Chemistry, combined with 15 years in the field of medicine and research, she is thrilled to provide her healthcare expertise to the world of Well-Sewn. She is currently spending her time traveling to aid in patient care, diagnosis and treatment at hospitals in need.
Although Lauren spends her weekdays in scrubs, her Saturdays are spent in jerseys! As a native of the south, where football is a religion, she has spent as much time on the football field as in the field of medicine. As a member of the media and published sports writer, Lauren has covered teams such as the South Carolina Gamecocks, Charleston Southern Buccaneers, Clemson Tigers, and Ole Miss Rebels. She has contributed to and managed teams of writers for several sports sites. In addition to healthcare, she is excited to join the Well-Sewn team to share news and opinions on sports, especially football, for Well-Sewn fans.
In addition to healthcare and sports, Lauren spends what free time she has writing things from the heart and soul, inspiring others through her words and experiences. Some of those heartfelt writings will be sure to make it to the Well-Sewn site as well!
“When I was asked to join Well-Sewn, the name drew me in and made me think of the time my grandmother taught me how to use her sewing machine to make a blanket. She told me that sewing isn’t always easy; in fact it can be frustrating. But the outcome of making something, one stitch at a time, was beautiful. Life is a lot like that, it may be frustrating at times, but everything always comes together in the end to create a beautiful life. Everything in life is made by hand, requiring effort. That’s what Well-Sewn represents to me— a universal language where effort, creativity, individuality, and sometimes even mending, connects us all.”
David Williams, Senior Contributor
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.
David is a theology professor and higher education administrator, working in Catholic higher education for this millennium and a few months of the last one. He holds a BA in Government from Georgetown University, with an M.A. (Christian Ethics) and two Ph.Ds (Political Science & Theology) from Boston College. Before you ask why, it’s terrible what one must do to avoid law school…
As a dean or vice-provost, he has been instrumental in adding online & graduate education to his institution, choosing their learning management system & other technologies, and managing growth. Probably the most intense & exciting admin challenge: when the COVID pandemic started in 2020, it was his job (with two weeks of runway) to transition all their teaching to remote instruction for the rest of that semester.
As a contributor to Well-Sewn, David is mostly concerned with the education section and may contribute as well to opinions. Originally from Morrisville, New York, he’s been living in Charlotte since 1999. Outside of work, he spends far too much time on the Internet but also enjoys some travel, live theatre, and the arts. Until things got too busy, he even acted regularly in his college’s theatre company.
Nick Santonato, MBA, Contributor
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Nick is systems and data governance, risk, and compliance analyst by trade working in the financial services industry for the last 25 years. It goes to show that technology seems to be in his blood. He is a graduate of Muskingum University, and holds a masters degree in business as well as one in project management.
All Things Technology will be his claim to fame within the Well-Sewn family as he embarks to share how we can work with technology without it interfering with our everyday lives. Technology is all around us and we can either fight against us or make it work for us.
Originally from Rochester, NY, he moved to the state of North Carolina settling in the town of Mint Hill.
“Well-Sewn, to me, is what society needs to lift up those that want to take pride in themselves and share that with the world. It is solely needed during all the chaos occurring in the world, there is a set of people out to make themselves and those around them better, innovative, refined, to create a stronger community.”
Ashley Burt, MBA, Contributor
Columbia, South Carolina, USA
Ashley is a newly appointed business analyst working in Columbia, South Carolina. She possesses an MBA, a business analytics certificate, and a BS in hospitality management from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. An outdoor person who also enjoys the thrill of speed on occasion, Ashley enjoys riding her Yamaha R6 sport bike. During the summer, she enjoys boating with friends and family on the waters of Lake Murray in the South Carolina midlands. As a fiercely loyal alumnus and football fan, Ashley can often be found tailgating on Saturdays in Columbia to cheer on her beloved alma mater.
Formerly in the Office of International Activities at the Darla Moore School of Business at USC, she was granted many travel opportunities and new experiences by virtue of her service there. Ashley brings almost two decades of experience in hospitality, client management, and domestic and international tourism, having been to multiple countries and domestic locales in her travels. These experiences have dually prepared her at Well-Sewn to provide valued insight and instruction to our readership in a variety of fields of expertise, and Ashley looks forward to interacting with the readers in the weeks to come.
(Go Gamecocks!)
Bradley Baker, Contributor
Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Bradley comes from a background replete with customer service. As a veteran of both the travel/hospitality and education fields for the past decade, Bradley is always vigilant for an opportunity to share the gift of knowledge. A graduate of Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina with a degree in History, he is excited to be a part of Well Sewn and bring another perspective to the community.
Always looking at life through the lens of history, Bradley brings to Well Sewn a desire to enhance and inspire what it means to enjoy the “good life”. Working as a travel counselor and library assistant means there will be plenty of anecdotes and insights to share with Well Sewn covering knowledge in all its facets. Born in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, Bradley did not have to travel far to find his life’s calling. A dedicated bibliophile with enough books to build a home, he never leaves the house without a bound friend.
“What does Well Sewn mean to me? It is the very means to become a connoisseur of life. To know what came before oneself and how those before us lived is to stand on the shoulders of giants, living better and more rewarding lives”.
Mari Annus, MD, Contributor
Saku, Harjumaa, Estonia
Mari is a medical doctor who has specialized in family practice. She has worked at a local family practice center for eight years with minor breaks due to having two kids. She has also worked at the ER, participated in developing quality standards and auditing Estonian medical centers’ according to them. More recently she has looked into the principles of family therapy. She is living in Estonia, a small successful state on the coast of the Baltic Sea in Europe. The country is known for its nature, sauna culture and high concentration of startup companies.
On Well-Sewn Mari contributes to physical and mental health topics, but might venture into travel, literature and lifestyle. She offers insight as a woman, Estonian, and European. In her free time she has her hands full raising kids, playing tennis, beach tennis and reading. She also loves animals and nature, keeping chicken, a rabbit, a cat and a dog.
“Well Sewn provides an opportunity for people to develop – the authors to develop themselves, to hone our skills in writing and sharing what is in our hearts – as well as for the readers to learn by new ideas or new nuances of old ideas. The world and its opportunities expand rapidly, so Well Sewn offers a space where the useful information is easily accessible.”